Lot
169 
1848 (Sep. 28) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with red "Halifax, Paid, Sep 27, 1848, Nova-Scotia" tombstone postmark and manuscript "1/-" prepaid packet rating, carried by Cunard Line America to New York arriving Feb. 29th, New York red "24" cent due handstamp for the 24¢ retaliatory fee; some magenta docketing, Very Fine, ex-MacDonald. Estimate $500 - 750.
Great Britain raised its ocean rate to 1 shilling from 8 pence to protect the Cunard Line after the American Congress established an American Transatlantic Packet service. The United States in turn cancelled the closed mail arrangement and passed an act on June 28th 1848 with a 24¢ retaliatory fee for all letters arriving by British packet service. The two countries resolved the dispute on January 26th 1849.