Lot
1376 
1852 (Dec. 12) Augusta, Ga. to Belfast, Ireland, folded letter with blue "Augusta Ga. Dec. 13" cds with matching "Paid" and "24" rating handstamp, New York red "3" credit handstamp to G.B., carried by Collins Line Arctic from New York Dec. 20th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 1st, Liverpool (1.1) backstamp and "ABOVE ½ Oz." straightline handstamp, manuscript "1" due rating for additional rate only, London (1.2) and Belfast (1.2) backstamps, Very Fine, ex-Winter. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
From February 1849 until December 1852, an informal agreement existed between the Liverpool and New York post offices regarding insufficiently prepaid mail. This agreement was not sanctioned by either government. Contrary to the wording of the postal convention which prohibited partial prepayment, these two exchange offices allowed letters prepaid at least one full rate to receive credit for the prepayment and be forwarded to the other office. Here they were marked for the unpaid additional postage. This resulted in some examples of both credit and debit markings on the same letter, and in a collection of less than the full amount. When the two governments discovered this private arrangement, the tried unsuccessfully to agree to a modification to the convention to legally permit this practice. By the end of 1852, each ordered its exchange office to cease the practice.
One of only six recorded covers showing this part-paid treatment. New York considered the letter required only one rate and sent it to Liverpool with a 3¢ credit for the single rate prepaid. Liverpool marked the letter "ABOVE ½ OZ." and allowed the single prepaid rate. One shilling for the second rate was the only postage due.
Realized: $900
Lot
1377
1852 (Dec. 28) New Orleans La. to Barcelona, Spain, blue datelined folded letter with red "New Orleans, Dec 28" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "73¢" rating, red crayon "68" credit to G.B. for the rate to Spain via British open mail, carried on Cunard Line Asia from New York Jan. 16th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 26th, London Paid (1.27) transit cds and sent via French mail, red Calais transit cds and matching "P.F." handstamp to denote payment only to the Spanish border, red Barcelona Catalina (2.2) backstamp and blue "10 Rs" reales due for postage from the French border, a Very Fine example of the 73¢ rate to Spain via British Open Mail and French Transit. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $290