Lot 1465
1917, 12¢ claret brown (512), pair tied by Long Beach, Cal. ovals on large part parcel wrapper bearing an A.E.F. "Christmas Package Coupon" to a soldier 52nd Pioneer Infantry in France, also attached is a Long Beach Red Cross inspector's label; one stamp damaged, file creases in coupon, extremely rare.
Estimate 300 - 400
By General Order No.166, Sept. 13, 1918, each soldier in France received a coupon and a mailing envelope to send to his family in the U.S. The family could then send "one Christmas package not heavier that three pounds and not larger than 9 by 4 by 3 inches" which would "be carried free from Hoboken, N.J. to each American Soldier in Europe". Postage had to be paid to Hoboken. The Red Cross supplied standard boxes for such shipments upon request. The wrapper offered here came from one of those boxes.
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| Realized $150 |
