Lot
2057 
1914, 1¢ green, used with 2¢ carmine, both tied by "Port Arthur, Tex. Dec 18 - 17" machine cancel after arriving on a non-contract ship, pencil "Ship Mail, Due 2c", addressed to New York City, upon arrival 2¢ postage due added and tied by New York "HT" oval cancel, correct rate for the letter was 2¢ postage doubled = 4¢ to cover the ship letter rate plus 1¢ war rate tax totaled 5¢ and a credit of 3¢ was given, Very Fine. Scott No. 424d Estimate $500 - 750.
THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE "SHIP MAIL" RATE IN THE PERIOD OF 1908-1923.
Ship mail is mail that arrived in a port of the United States on private vessels that did not have mail carrying contracts with the Post Office Department. Postal laws as early as the postal resolution of the Continental Congress effective April 15, 1788 provided for additional postage charge and for payment to ship captains for handling ship letters. Laws were still active for such during the Washington-Franklin period.
Realized: $550