Lot 4103 Cap de bonne-espérance

1855/63: 4 d. blue on white paper, a pair (Pos. X 3 B/A) with just shaved to good margins, used on 1857 double rate entire letter from Graaff Reinet to Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA neatly tied by CGH obliterator in black. Reverse with oval framed "GRAAFF REINET" despatch datestamp in red (July 29), oval framed CAPE TOWN and CAPE TOWN / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE cds in red (Aug 3). Carried on the bark "Chieftain" which left Cape Town on August 5th, arriving in London (Oct 15) with red cds on reverse and "ART - 2" Convention marking in black (Van der Linden surprisingly omitted) referring to GB-US Treaty of 15 Dec 1848. Thence via Liverpool and carried on Cunard Line steamer "Persia" to New York with circular "NEW YORK / BR. PKT." arrival (Oct 28) in black. A delightful entire of great rarity (the Dr. Guy Dillaway census records just 10 Transatlantic Cape Triangular covers) this being one of the finest and most attractive of the few known. Note: Rates - Cape of Good Hope 8 d. paid for internal double rate cover under 1 ounce (the port fee charge of 4 d. was abolished on 1 Ausgust 1857, just two days earlier). Manuscript "1/4 d." would have been charged (double the 8 d. ship fee) had the letter been delivered to England, thus deleted. However the "2/6 d." manuscript charge is made up of the original 1 s. 4 d. + a further 1 s. for postage to USA + 2 d. for the cover being handled twice by the British P.O. = 2/6 d. This translates as 60 cents American (crossed through) plus double the inland charge of 5 cents = 70 cents to pay upon receipt.