£440
U.S.A./BELGIUM/BRAZIL - 27c RATE COVER TO BELGIUM REDIRECTED TO BRAZIL WITH "F/23" MARK: 27 Sept. 1865 env. (with original contents; some edge wear) from "Germantown" (Philadelphia) to the "U.S.S. Shawmut, Care American Consul, Antwerp, Belgium" franked by 1861 24c Lilac plus 3c Rose (faults) tied by "PHILADELPHIA/PA" duplex (28 Sept.); the transit marks include red "N.YORK AM.PKT./7 PAID" (30 Sept.), Antwerp (14 Oct.), "ETATS UNIS PAR OSTEND" (17 Oct.; with "AM.PACKET" alongside), "9/NEW YORK" (4? Nov.), "ETATS UNIS/ SERV .AM. CALAIS" (18 Nov.). It appears that the letter was returned from Belgium to the US and then sent a second time (via Calais) to Brazil because it has been readdressed in red to "Rio de Janeiro". The very rare "F/23" accountancy mark was presumably struck in transit in France on this second journey from the US to Rio, because no additional postage had been paid and there is a blue crayon "54/5" postage due charge at top left. Spectacular & extraordinary cover with this v.rare accountancy mark. (Salles 3157 "Inconnu"; VDL 1147 - "10") Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, BELGIUM, BRAZIL
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