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from San Francisco to Lima, dated by British P.O. Panama bs of AP 8 / 53, some 6 months before the USA-GB convention superseded the old USA-PSNC agreement for a 50c per half ounce rate.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