Frank Chapman Pellett 
in History of American Beekeeping

states:

"The first queens to be sent by mail probably 
were sent in 1863, by CJ Robinson, of Richfield,
to Langstroth. ... The bees reached Langstroth
in good condition and, in return, he sent a fine 
Italian queen to Robinson." <end>

Conflicting information...

I located  writings from Robinson stating that he 
had sent the first queen thru the mail to Langstroth
during the time Parsons first stock of Italian bees 
was 'in transit' across the Atlantic from Europe.

Parsons stock of Italians were in transit in either
1859 or 1860 

Best Wishes,
Joe Waggle
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/

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