This neat, uncommon cover(w/ interesting, 10-page letter!) was sent on April 3, 1895, from Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A., to London, England, addressed to an Ensign Frank H. Schofield, U.S.S. Marblehead. It was sent in care of United States Despatch Agents: B.F. Stevens(a pretty nice example of theeir purple cachet!), London, England, and had to later be forwarded on to the U.S. Consul, Naples, Italy! Then-Ensign Schofield, would eventually achieve the rank of admiral in 1930! As for  U.S.S. Marblehead, it was a Montgomery-class cruiser, originally commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 1894. At the time that this cover was sent, the ship was operating on the European Station.

To continue, as for the two, red, 2-Cent, "Washingtons," they are in very good condition! The gray-blue, 1-Cent, "Franklin," is also in fine condition! The black, machine cancel from the Brooklyn P.O. is very fine! The black, transit cancel(4/3/95) from the New York P.O. is fine, too! The black, receiving CDS(4/15/95) from the London-S.M.P. P.O. is also great! Intriguingly, the mail was actually not forwarded on to Naples, Italy, until May 2, 1895(a great example of the squared-circle cancel from Charing Cross W.O.!)! It arrived there on May 5, and received a great, Italian, squared-circle cancel!

Lastly, as for the envelope and letter, they are in great condition! There are some minor stains on the envelope. The envelope has been reduced some at the right side due to having been opened there. The back flap is 90% intact, though. Noted imperfections aside, this is a neat, piece of U.S. Naval postal history connected to the future, U.S. Admiral, Frank H. Schofield, and the U.S. cruiser, U.S.S. Marblehead!