U.S. and Worldwide Stamps and Postal History

1865 large cover (opened for display) from Wiener Neustadt, Austria, 13 May to Mexico, franked with 3kr green (2), 10kr blue (2) and 15kr brown (7) for a total of 131kr, addressed to a lieutenant in the Hussar regiment of Austrian Volunteers at Puebla, Mexico. The letter was intended to be sent via Paris and St. Nazaire, but the French ship had departed (red boxed "apres le depart" hs), so it was sent instead by British ship "Seine" departing Southampton May 17th and arriving at St. Thomas May 31st, then by "Conway" departing June 17th, with a stop at Puerto Rico, arriving at Veracruz June 27th. The 1/2r concessionary rate (applied by a black handstamp) was charged - the only recorded instance of this on inbound mail. A remarkable cover, of importance to both Mexican and Austrian philately
Estimate: $7500