Lot 72397 – Crowned “Paid at Panama” red hs graces “prices cur

Crowned “Paid at Panama” red hs graces “prices current” (published March 15, 1853) from San Francisco to Lima, dated by British P.O. Panama bs of AP 8 / 53, some 6 months before the USA-GB convention superseded the old USA-PSNC agreement for a 50c per half ounce rate. This item, dated well before the agreement with GB, shows original rating of “50” overwritten with “32” and with red crayon “6” (the fee for British carriage from Panama to Callao). Delivered free of charge to Lima per the tariff then in effect. Bold USA “PAID” hs, a classic postal history showpiece, very fine Note: a rather long transit time of one month, though 12 days were lost between the arrival of the “Golden Gate” from California and the departure of the PSNC steamer “Quito” for Callao