STAMPED COVERS OF GREAT BRITAIN

Unique 1868 Trans-Atlantic Cover with Mixed Franking
on Unlisted Blue "24" Chicago American Packet Cover with 3¢ Due

4d is Scott#34,SG#80, 1d Pair are Scott#20 white paper perforated 14x14

Great Britain 4 pence Vermillion 1864 Issue plus a pair of 1 Penny Reds perforated 14 on white paper on short paid Trans-Atlantic cover with Chicago American Packet cancel from Darlington, England to La Crosse, Wisconsin. Cancelled with unlisted blue "CHICAGO.AM.PKT/MAR/24/24" & black "3/CENTS" postage due handstamp. Stamps tied by Darlington cds with "233" numeral obliterators. A marvelous and scarce cover. This is a mixed frank British Tran-Atlantic cover with 6 pence paid in part by a scarce #34 on US cover. It is then marked with an rare unlisted blue Chicago "24" American Packet Cancel to La Crosse, Wisconsin. A unique piece.

The rate in effect as of January 1868 from the UK to the US was 6d or 12¢. This cover which includes the entire letter (mentions Turnbull's, Bainbridge's, Pickering's,& Gowland's) weighs just 0.2 ounces, so was not overweight. The "24" in the Chicago Am Pkt cancel would normally indicate that the entire rate was 24 cents, but as there are 12¢ in stamps, the postage due would also be 12¢, which does not explain the black 3 cents which usually means 3¢ due. However, it is to be noted that those crazy American postmasters did not always abide by the Red/Paid, Black/Due, rule employed in Britain and the Colonies. It is possible that the 3¢ is merely the packet accountancy mark reminding the postmaster that they get a share of the take. I leave this intriguing cover to your research.

Scott values a single #34 on cover @ $200, Stanley Gibbons values a single @ £200, or $375. The American Stampless Cover Catalogue (last updated in 4th Edition in 1987) values known Chicago American Packet cancels from $90 to $200 (This type known from 1863-1870). This "24" cancel is not known in blue. Black wax seals on reverse but no marks.

Stamp Detail - Pair of #20 white paper perforated 14x14

Stamp detail - #34

Rare Unlisted Blue Chicago American Packet "24" cancel dated:  March 24, [1868]

Black "3 CENTS" due mark

Darlington, England Origin Cancel
March 24, 1868

Reverse
Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd.

OUR 5 YEAR PHILATELIC GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY

As a Life Member of the American Philatelic Society and in association with the American Philatelic Society's new guidelines on expertization, Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd. will guarantee the authenticity of this philatelic item to the purchaser of record for a period of five years from the date of sale. You will receive a full color receipt with our written guarantee of authenticity - signed and sealed. Please note that our five year Guarantee of Authenticity does not apply to condition issues such as centering, cancel, gum, paper or other aspects of the item. It is the buyer's responsibility to promptly examine the material upon receipt for any vices, defects or other dissatisfactions and return it within our seven day examination and "return-for-any-reason" period. However, if at any time during the five year period you receive an opinion from the American Philatelic Expertizing Service that this item is not authentic, please return the item in its original condition along with the written guarantee and contrary opinion and we will refund you the original purchase price and the cost of the opinion

[References: Hargest, History of Letter Communications between US and Europe 1845-1874, Starnes, US Letter Rates to Foreign Destination 1847-GPU; Tabeart, United Kingdom Letter Rates 1657-1900; Moubray, British Letter Mail to Overseas Destinations 1840-1875, Arnell, A History of Mail Service between Great Britain and Canada to 1889, Campbell, Canada Post Offices 1755-1895, American Stampless Cover Catalogue]