10c Yellow, 12c Green (117). Used with 6c Carmine (148), each stamp has brilliant fresh color, tied by three strikes of Negative 5-Point Star in Circle fancy cancel, "Stroudsburg Pa. Aug. 3" (1870) circular datestamp on immaculate cover to naval office aboard the U.S. Flag Ship Delaware in care of the U.S. consul at Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, sender's route instructions "Via Southampton", red "24" credit handstamp and matching "New York Aug. 4" backstamp, red London transit (Aug. 16) and red crayon "1" British colonial rate, "Cape Town Cape-Colony F SEP 26 70" receiving datestamp ties 10c, flawless in every respect

EXTREMELY FINE AND SIMPLY SPECTACULAR. THE USE OF THREE DIFFERENT COLORFUL STAMPS FROM THE 1869 PICTORIAL AND ITS SUCCESSOR 1870 PORTRAIT ISSUE IS RARE IN ANY FORM. HAVING THEM ON A 28-CENT BRITISH MAIL RATE COVER TO SOUTH AFRICA IS EVEN MORE DESIRABLE. FINALLY, THE CONDITION OF THIS PALETTE OF COLORS IS IMPECCABLE. IN OUR OPINION, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL 1869 PICTORIAL FOREIGN-MAIL USAGES.

Illustrated in Rose book (p. 97) where described as one of two known 12c 1869 covers to South Africa (there are only a few other 1869 Pictorial covers to this destination). Illustrated in color in the 1869 PRA Census (p. 130).

Ex Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables