10c Yellow (116). Intense shade and perfectly centered, barely noticeable sealed tear at right, tied by bold circle of V's cancel and red "New York Apr. 5" (1870) circular datestamp with matching "Too Late" straightline handstamp on small cover to Paris, France, sender's routing "Per Stm. Lafayette via Brest", blue Cherbourg transit (Apr. 17) and "8" decimes due handstamp, receiving backstamp

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE 1869 PICTORIAL COVERS ARE REPORTED WITH THE "TOO LATE" HANDSTAMP.

A two-part article in Chronicle 88 and 91 discusses the "Too Late" handstamp and records only three examples on 1869 issue covers. It was used to indicate that the letter missed the designated sailing. The Lafayette sailed Apr. 2 and this cover was carried on the HAPAG's Hammonia II, illustrated in North Atlantic Mail Sailings 1840-75 (p. 186).

Ex Haas and Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

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