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1859 Prussia, German States, Germany, Folded Letter with Prussian Closed Mail Service to the United States, Red Transit and Arrival Postmark

Germany / German States

 This item from 1859 is a fascinating example of transatlantic postal history. It is a letter sent from Germany to California via Prussian Closed Mail.

The folded letter started from Potsdam (Prussia) with departure postmark December 10th. It arrived at the exchange office in Aachen on December 11 (red double-circle stamp "25 ct. Paid"). Aachen was the Prussian exchange office for mail to the USA. The "AACHEN / PAID / 25" postmark is a crucial accounting mark from the Prussian-U.S. Postal Treaty of 1852.

It traveled via Belgium and England to catch a British Packet (Cunard Line) steamship. It reached New York on December 30, where it received the red "30 / DEC / 28 / PAID / BR. PKT." arrival postmark.
The "30" in the New York postmark indicates the 30-cent rate for a 1/2 ounce letter. Due to the "25ct.Paid" in the red Aachen postmark it means that 5ct kept by Prussia (to cover German inland postage) and 25cent were credited to the United States

Catalog: Michel 1859
Condition: Used. very fine
Readable Postmark Postal History
Current Bid:
$8
3 bids
Your maximum bid:
$9
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Auction Information
Rare Stamps and Postal History of The World
Auction 58
October 12 - 26, 2026
United States United States , Black Mountain , NC

A major auction showcasing exceptional rarities and distinguished collections. 9,570 lots of valuable stamps and postal history from around the world — a record-breaking auction and the largest sale in our history.

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Lots 1 - 731
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Lots 732 - 1397
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Lots 1398 - 2051
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Lots 2052 - 2672
German States
Lots 2673 - 2930
Germany 1871–1945
Lots 2931 - 3307
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Lots 3308 - 3750
Germany: WWII Occupations
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Russian Civil War: South Russia
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Yevhen Vyrovyi Tridents Collection
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