1898 5c Grant Singles (Scott #281) Used on 1900 Cover to Uruguay

1898 5c dark blue Grant singles used with September 24, 1900, Schenectady, New York, duplex cancel on cover. Sent from Dr. Williams Medicine Co., Spanish-American Department, to Montevideo, Uruguay, with Oct 9, Montevideo receiving backstamp. The two stamps paid the 10c double weight Universal Postal Union rate. After the addressee could not be located, postal authorities applied a...  more

1898 5c dark blue Grant singles used with September 24, 1900, Schenectady, New York, duplex cancel on cover. Sent from Dr. Williams Medicine Co., Spanish-American Department, to Montevideo, Uruguay, with Oct 9, Montevideo receiving backstamp. The two stamps paid the 10c double weight Universal Postal Union rate. After the addressee could not be located, postal authorities applied an "INCONNU" handstamp and appropriate transit backstamp, sending the cover back to the United States. The cover came back into the U.S. at Washington, D.C., on April 10, 1901, with a receiving postmark, purple Dead Letter Office receiving backstamp and "Return To Sender" pointing hand. The cover returned to Schenectady the following day, seven months after the cover was originally sent! An excellent cover  to a rare South American destination combined with the unusual route back to The States.