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Sale 50: United States Postal History

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Transatlantic Mail to France (1837 to 1854)

Lots 191-200 Lots 201-210 Lots 211-213

Lot 191    

1837 (Jun. 12) Canton, Mass. to Paris, France, folded letter with red "Canton Mass. June. 12" cds with manuscript date and matching "Free" h.s., manuscript "J.J. Johnson, P.M." free frank endorsement, carried by Union Line Charlamagne from New York June 16 to Havre arriving July 14, Paris "11" decimes final due rating, Very Fine, Free franks used on transatlantic mail are quite uncommon.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Letter sent without U.S. inland postage because postmaster of Canton, Mass. was entitled to free postage and used his free frank privilege with the endorsement in the upper right corner. When the letter arrived at France it was marked for 11 decimes postage due (1 decime sea postage plus 10 decimes inland postage). The "decime du mer" was a 1 decime charge for an incoming ship letter, to which the inland fee had to be added.

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Lot 192    

1843 (May 15) New York, N.Y. to Lyon, France, folded letter with red "Harndens Boston" oval h.s., carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston May 16 to Liverpool arriving May 28, manuscript "1/-" British debit to France, red Calais (5.31) entry cds with manuscript "33" decimes due rating, Paris (5.31) and Lyon (6.2) backstamps, choice and Very Fine, This was the maiden return voyage of the Cunard Line Hibernia.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $525

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Lot 193    

1843 (May 31) New York, N.Y. to St Etienne, France, folded letter carried privately to Boston, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Boston June 1 to Liverpool arriving June 13, red London (6.14) backstamp with framed "Colonies/&c.Art.12" accounting h.s., red Bolougne (6.16) with manuscript "25" decimes due rating, St. Etienne (6.18) arrival backstamp; Very Fine, This is the earliest recorded use of the "Colonies &c. Art. 12" marking on a transatlantic letter from the United States.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The convention requiring the use of Article 12 for unpaid letters "From other Colonies and Countries beyond sea" for France went into effect on June 1, 1843.

Realized: $220

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Lot 194    

1845 (Jan. 19) New Orleans, La to Paris, France via Boston, folded letter carried out of mails to Boston, red "Forwd. by T.W. Ward, Boston" forwarders oval with matching "Pr Cambria" directional h.s., carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Boston Feb. 1 to Liverpool arriving Feb. 13, boxed "Packet Letter" h.s., red London (2.14) backstamp with matching "Colonies/&c.Art.12" accounting h.s., red Boulogne (2.16) entry cds with manuscript "15" decimes due rating, Very Fine, a scarce T.W. Ward ship name handstamp use.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Boxed "Packet Letter" handstamp applied at Foreign Office in London, but served no purpose since April 1843 Anglo-French Treaty exchange rates of transit letters through U.K. were the same for incoming letters by private ship or packet.

Realized: $450

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Lot 195    

1845 (Dec. 30) Philadelphia, Pa. to Paris, France, folded cover with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Dec 30" cds with matching "Paid" and "10" rating h.s., carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Acadia from Boston Jan. 1 to Liverpool arriving Jan. 14, red London (1.16) backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art.12" framed h.s., red Boulogne (1.18) entry cds with manuscript "15" decimes due rating, fresh and Very Fine, Mails from this voyage reach London on January 16, 1846. This is the latest recorded use of the "Colonies/&c.Art.12" marking on mails from the United States.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

The combination of the U.S. 5¢ and 10¢ internal rates and the "Colonies/&c.Art.12" marking was possible during a period of only about six and one half months. Less than 6 examples have been recorded.

Realized: $550

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Lot 196    

1846 (Apr. 30) New York, N.Y. to Marseille, France, folded letter bearing New York, N.Y., 1845, 5¢ black on bluish, crisp impression, three margins, just in at bottom, tied solely by bold strike of red "New-York '5 Paid' Apr 30" cds, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Boston May 1st to Liverpool arriving May 14th, red London (5.15) backstamp and matching "Colonies &c. Article 13." accountancy h.s., red Boulogne (5.17) entry cds and manuscript "21" décimes, Marseille (5.20) arrival backstamp, Very Fine; signed Ashbrook.
Scott No. 9X1    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

London marked COLONIES/&c.ART.13 to indicate G.B. was debiting France 3 shilling 4 pence per 30 grams bulk letter weight. Paris marked 21 decimes postage due, 10 decimes payback to G.B. plus 11 decimes French internal fee for a simple rate letter going 840 km. from Boulogne to Marseille.

Realized: $3,250

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Lot 197    

1848 (Feb. 17) Philadelphia, Pa. to Paris, France, blue folded letter endorsed "pr Steamer Washington", blue "Philadelphia Pa Feb. 19" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with red crayon "29" cent rating for 5¢ inland postage and 24¢ packet fee, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Feb. 21 to Southampton arriving Mar. 7, letter put off near Southampton and carried by auxiliary steamer to Havre, red "Outre-Mer, Le Havre, 8 Mars 48" cds and "9" décimes due rating, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Although the 1 shilling discriminatory rate was applied to all letters brought to England on American packets, this letter was not sent to London and therefore didn't receive the extra charge.

Realized: $475

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Lot 198    

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Sep. 18) Philadelphia, Pa. to Paris, France, folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Sep 18" cds with matching "Paid" and rare "34" rating h.s. for 10¢ U.S. inland and 24¢ packet fee, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston Sep. 20 to Liverpool arriving Oct. 2, the rating overstruck with London red "Colonies &c Art. 13" framed handstamp; Paris "15" décimes due rating, attractive and Very Fine, Philadelphia blue "34" is quite scarce with less than five examples recorded.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Carried on the 12th of 26 Cunard eastbound mail voyages to Liverpool. Had this letter gone by steamer from New York only 29¢ would have been required.

Realized: $220

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Lot 199    

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Dec. 19) New York, N.Y. to Cognac, France, folded letter endorsed per "Canada", carried by Cunard Line Canada from New York Dec. 20 to Liverpool arriving Jan. 3, London (1.5) backstamp, partial red "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed h.s., Boulogne (1.6) entry cds with manuscript "19" decimes due rating, Very Fine, This was the maiden return voyage of the new steamship Cunard Line "Canada".
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Retaliatory fee of 24¢ avoided by taking letter directly to ship letter bag instead of the New York post office. Postage due in Cognac of 19 decimes included 10 decimes pay back to G.B. and 9 decimes French internal fee for a simple letter (< 7½ grams) travelling 585 km from Boulogne to Cognac.

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Lot 200    

(Restored Rates) 1849 (Jan. 8) Philadelphia, Pa. to Paris, France, folded letter endorsed "pr Steamer Europa", blue "Philada. Pa. '5' Jan 9" integral rate cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Jan. 10 to Liverpool arriving Jan. 22, red London (1.23) and "Colonies &c Art 13" framed accountancy h.s., red Boulogne (1.24) entry cds with manuscript "15" décimes due rating; Very Fine and desirable maiden eastbound restored rate usage.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Letter carried on 1st of 3 Cunard mail eastbound voyages to Liverpool during six week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective. The eastbound restored rate usages are far scarcer than westbound.

Realized: $375

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Lots 191-200 Lots 201-210 Lots 211-213

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