Switzerland to the United States via Prussian Ciosed Mail

A very scarce example of mail from Switzerland to the United States through the Prussian closed mail route appears in the Illustration. In 1867 such Trans-Atlantic letters could go via France for llOc., via Bremen for 95c. or via Prussian closed mail for 170c. or 180c., depending on the Swiss zone of departure. With such a high price, the Prussian way was unlikely to attract much business. Nevertheless, a writer in Brienz picked this most expensive route to send a valuable letter bearing five wax seals on the back and weighing 25 grams. The postage rate from Zone I in Switzerland was 170c. per 15 grams, effective from November 26, 1859, to March 11, 1868 (see Richard Schaefer's new book on Swiss postal rates to foreign destinations 1849-1875). This double-weight letter required 340c. in postage and 20c. for the registration fee, a total of 360c. However, a notation in the upper left corner states that the sender had not paid enough for (Prussian) closed mail via Cologne and Ostende. The righthand 50c. stamp in the bottom row appears to have been added to make up the shortage. The postmarks on the letter show that it left Brienz on July 10, 1867, traveled by the Bern-Zürich railroad on the same day (backstamp) and the Baden railroad the next day (backstamp), passed through Aachen on July 12, and reached New York by British packet on July 24. The letter was fully paid to its destination, the town of Jeffersonville, which appears to have been in the state of New York. The spelling of the address makes it difficult to be certain.