US Scott #11A - Unusual Red Date Stamp With Large 7 At Top

Can anyone provide more info on this date stamp with a large numeral 7 at top? There also appears to be some more markings after the 9 at the bottom, but I can't make it out. Can't tell for sure whether this has a rim either, as the line at top right doesn't seem to have much of a curve to it, if at all. I didn't find it in Simpson.

It's one of the postmarks for German transatlantic mail (Prussia: service from October 16, 1852 on, Bremen: from August 15, 1853 on). This is in a style and rate used by New York or Boston. Red color and "7" indicate a 7c credit to Prussia or Bremen. The cds is big enough so that none of the ring may show on the stamp here. The line at upper left is in a different color than the rest and is from another marking, I believe.

Looking for pictures of this though perhaps just a similar one; check back.

Following hy-brasil's lead, the American Stampless Cover Catalog, 4th ed, vol II, has the following listings on pages 103 and 106. The tail of the K shows to the left of the 7, thus it appears to match one of the New York devices.

hy-brasil and John,

Thanks for the excellent work in tracking this down. It never occurred to me to look at the American Stampless Cover Catalog (which I don't have a copy of anyway). This is important documentation for my collection records, and I really appreciate the time you both spent providing this information to me. Brilliant!

From Tracy Simpson's U.S.Postal Markings 1851-1861 (revised 1979):

One of the larger size markings as yours is. Note that it's only struck once on a cover. And the cover above has an incorrect use besides; should have been a 12c credit to Prussia.



There is another Boston type not shown in the style of the NY ones given by John Becker, but yours definitely seems to have a "K" next to the "7" rather than an "N".

hy-brasil, Thanks for the image of the cover with the New York marking. I agree that mine is the New York version. Well done!

Very cool item! Wish I had seen it, but imagine if it had still been on cover... sigh. I only have a couple of foreign mail uses of 10s/11s.

Thanks, Bill. Yeah, on cover would have been sweet, especially with this strike.