[RICHARD]

[b]1858, 5¢ brick red, type I (Scott 27),[/b] a wonderfully bright, fresh [b]vertical strip of 3[/b], tied by New Orleans and red "New Paid York/12" c.d.s.s on an 1859 folded letter to Nantes, France; blue sender's double oval and French entry c.d.s. and three different French backstamps; the striip has blunted/clipped perforations at the top and right, but is otherwise exceptionally well centered and Very Fine.