Lot
1298 
1847 (Jun. 1) New York, N.Y. to London, England, folded letter with red "New York Jun 1" cds with matching arced "Paid" handstamp, endorsed "per Washington", carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Jun. 1st to Southampton arriving Jun. 15th, red "London 16 JU 1847" arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/" shilling discriminatory due rating, Very Fine, ex-Winter. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE LETTER CARRIED ON THE INAUGURAL VOYAGE OF AMERICAN TRANSATLANTIC PACKET SERVICE.
The commencement of the American Packet service led to Britain imposing a "Discriminatory Rate" on mails landed at Southampton with all US prepayment ignored and the One Shilling Packet Rate charged to the addressee. There are four recorded examples to Great Britain, each showing the discriminatory fee. There are also three recorded covers on this voyage to France and Germany.