First class letter in the era before free forwarding. The first stamp Cincinnati to Mt Vernon, Ohio. Then the second 3 cent stamp added to get it from Mt Vernon to Newark, Ohio
Free forwarding does not begin until July 1, 1866 - and yes, some are pre-paid and some are collect, depending on individual circumstances.
Good sources for rates and forwarding are: Tony Wawrukiewicz's "The Forwarding of Mail by the U.S. Post Office Department, 1792-2001", the Wawrukiewicz/Beecher U.S. and foreign rate books, and the intro section to the "American Stampless Cover Catalog".
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