Philadelphia – New York – Liverpool – Aachen – Stuttgart – Rottenburg – Hirrlingen – July 13, 1853

From Philadelphia, Pa. postmarked July 13, 1853 (PAID) and "PAID 30" is called, paid 30 cents, the full postage for a half ounce (2 Prussian Loth). - Via New York, same date, "7" (cents to Prussia), also "PAID" and Br.(British) Packet. So via "Prussian Closed Mail", means in a closed bag from New York to Aachen (railroad mail) and was reopened there. Therefore no postmarks from Great Britain. On the same day with the steamer "Africa" of the Cunard Line to Liverpool. Arrival 24. July across the Channel to Belgium and with the railroad mail "Vervier - Aachen" to Germany. Postmark "AACHEN 27/7 FRANCO". So also fully paid. Back: Railway postmark of Württemberg dated 28 July (train 13), Stuttgart 29 July 1853 - Rottenburg 29 July 1853. The addressed town "Hirrlingen" had no own post office, therefore "Oberamt Rottenburg" via which delivery was made.

To Winter in the southern German states: 6 kr. German postage - 39 kr. foreign postage - total 45 kr. (Table for the "Prussian Closed Mail").