Forwarded Letter from Naples via Welles & Co., Paris and Gracie & Co., New York, 1839 to Philadelphia

Folded letter datelined Naples, April 28, 1839, carried under separate cover to Welles & Co. in Paris, likely by way of Marseilles and French rail, then forwarded through Le Havre to the U.S. with a red oval "Forwarded by Y. Ob. Servants Welles & Co." handstamp. In New York, the cover was received by Gracie & Co., who struck their own red oval "Forwarded by Gracie & Co. New York" handstamp before inserting the letter into the U.S. mails to Philadelphia. Red manuscript "12 1/2" rating reflects the domestic postage from New York, and the absence of any U.S. "Ship" marking indicates it bypassed typical incoming ship mail handling.