1866 Hamburg, German States, Germany, prephilately, Cover from Hamburg to New York, Red HAPAG Postmark, Steam Ship Transfer

1866 Letter from Hamburg to New York with rarer red circular postmark "HAMBURG PACKET / JAN 20 / PAID." This indicates the letter was sent via the Hamburg-American Packet Company (HAPAG) and that the postage was prepaid. 

The handwritten "pr. Bavaria" at the top specifies the ship. The Bavaria was a prominent HAPAG steamship that operated the route between Hamburg and New York during the 1850s and 60s.

The letter is addressed to Mr. Henry Ehrhorn at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York. Historical records from the late 1860s list a Henry Ehrhorn, originally from Hamburg, serving as a treasurer at St. Luke’s.