Lot 162
1857 (Jul. 23) Washington D.C. to Cape Verde Islands, cover addressed to "U.S. Ship St. Louis…Care of American Consul" at Porto Grande, Isla St. Vincent, bearing 5¢ red brown (12) rich color, ample to large margins, used with 12¢ black (17) two vertical pairs and single, all with bottom sheet margins but touched on one or more sides, tied by matching strikes of "Washington D.C. Jul 23" c.d.s., red New York Am. Pkt. Jul. 25 c.d.s. backstamp and red British "Paid 6 AU 1857" transit, magenta 44 credit; small stamp faults including tiny margin tear on 5¢ cover faulty at top, slightly restored, backflap and part of side flap removed, Fine and exceptional franking, the 65¢ British mail prepaid rate via England per ½ ounce. Illustrated in Frajola and Mayer, p. 144, fig. 14-4.
Estimate 20,000 - 30,000
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 1856 5¢ USAGES TO THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS.
The New York City exchange office endorsed the cover with a manuscript credit to Great Britain of 44¢ for carriage on the American packet. The United States share of the 65¢ rate included 16¢ for sea postage plus 5¢ for inland postage. The cover was carried by the Havre Line steamer Fulton, which departed New York on July 25 and arrived at Southampton on August 6. The cover was then carried by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company on the trip leaving August 10, 1857.
The U.S.S. St. Louis was dispatched from New York in November 1855 to help suppress the slave trade along the western coast of Africa. It remained on station until 1858. The Island of St. Vincent served as a coaling station and point of supply for both the British and American vessels.
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| Realized $29,000 |
