Forwarded by U.S. Consul, Kanagawa, Japan. Double-oval and stars handstamp perfectly struck on cover to Reverend James B. Ramsay, Lynchburg, Virginia, sender's directive "Per 'Oriflame'"--carried on the California, Oregon and Mexican Steamship Co. Oriflamme, departing Shanghai January 1, 1866, arriving Yokohama January 6, departing Yokohama January 10, and arriving San Francisco February 4; the Oriflamme carried the first news of the new treaty between the U.S. and Japan (https://www.maritimeheritage.org/ships/Oriflamme.html )--bold "San Francisco Cal. Feb. 5" (1866) double-circle datestamp and "SHIP 6" handstamp, sent by overland stage, with original letter enclosure datelined "Yokohama, Japan, Jan. 5th, 1866" from Reverend James H. Ballagh, who writes of the Civil War, life among the Japanese, the diversity of their community, church work, presence of soldiers, departure of the Wyoming in pursuit of the Confederate raider Alabama, and intention of U.S. to send vessels to Yokohama, neat receipt docketing, expertly repaired tears and edge faults at bottom (one small sealed tear just into oval)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE KANAGAWA OVAL HANDSTAMP ON MAIL FORWARDED BY THE U.S. CONSUL BEFORE THE POST OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN JULY 1867. ONLY THREE KANAGAWA HANDSTAMPED COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO FEBRUARY 5, 1866, ARRIVAL DATESTAMP.

There are three recorded covers with the oval handstamp used as a forwarding marking, originating in Yokohama in January 1866 during Col. George S. Fisher's term as U.S. Consul. Two of the January 1866 covers, including this one, are illustrated in the Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 40). The third is shown in the Riddell pamphlet (p. 3). Very few covers with the Kanagawa oval are recorded during the rest of Fisher's term, which ended December 31, 1866 (see lot 2077). In August 1867, during General Julius Stahel's term as Consul and the first U.S. postmaster in Yokohama, the first use of the Kanagawa oval as an official U.S. Post Office marking is found on five recorded covers carried on the August 24, 1867, trip of the PMSS Colorado (see lot 2075).

Ex Ishikawa, Kramer and Walske.

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