Lot 1152
1847, 5¢ red brown (1), horizontal pair, large margins to touched or just in, tied by matching pen cancels and British transit markings on white 1850 envelope to Egypt, red "Bardstown Ky. Dec. 4" c.d.s at left, originally addressed to London, then reposted to Alexandria, Egypt in Jan. 1851, red "19"credit and manuscript. "2/1" shilling due, straightline "VIA MARSEILLES" applied in England, from Alexandria it was forwarded to Cairo, Fine.
Estimate 30,000 - 40,000
ONE OF THE GREATEST AND MOST EXOTIC DESTINATIONS OF THE 1847 ISSUE AND THE ONLY COVER TO THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA.
Expertization: 1993 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: Kapiloff
When the cover arrived in London, it was reposted, hence the 2/1 due mark, and paid for, as attested to by the British transit mark. The cover must have arrived too late for the next British ship and was marked "Via Marseilles" and apparently put on a French steamer.
Joseph Holt was the Postmaster General of the United States in 1859. He also served as Secretary of War and was the prosecuting judge of Lincoln's assassins. He was from Bardstown, Kentucky, making this the unique 1847 usage from Bardstown.
|
| |
| Realized $75,000 |
