Grass Valley Cal. Dec. 18, 1860. Mostly clear circular datestamp with red manuscript "Paid 58" rate on illustrated six-horse stagecoach cover to Wetter, Prussia, "From San Francisco via Los Angeles" banner and Wm. K. Spencer imprint, red "N. York Brem. Pkt. 24 Paid Feb. 23" (1861) credit datestamp and blue Bremen transit, backstamped with German transits (Mar. 11-13), backflap slightly refolded (originally folded over thick contents) and some minor edge wear

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE TRANSATLANTIC USE OF AN "OVERLAND MAIL" ILLUSTRATED STAGECOACH ENVELOPE.

The 58c prepayment marked on this cover by the Grass Valley postmaster does not correspond to any prevailing rate to the German States at this time. It was probably an error based on the 29c rate to England (24c plus 5c for West Coast origin), which was doubled for this letter weighing between one-half and one ounce. The New York foreign-mail exchange office treated it as a double 15c rate Bremen Packet letter, applying a 2 x 12c credit (24c) and sending it on the North German Lloyd's New York, departing on Feb. 23, 1861, and arriving in Southampton on Mar. 7 (the steamer was docked there for repairs and did not carry mail any further eastward; thus the delayed Mar. 11 arrival backstamp). Our Levi records and other sources consulted contain only six examples of an illustrated stagecoach cover (of any design) addressed to a foreign country. A similar stampless cover from San Francisco to Germany is illustrated in Letters of Gold (p. 136).

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate.

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