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Sale 73: The March Sale

Table of Contents

Foreign Mails - 1848

Lot 1307    

(Discriminatory Rate) 1848 (Mar. 21) New York N.Y. to London, England, Rothschild correspondence folded letter with red "New-York Mar 18" exchange datestamp and pencil "48" prepaid rating for two-times the 24¢ American packet rate, endorsed "Paid",carried as endorsed on Ocean Line Hermann from New York Mar. 21st to Southampton arriving Apr. 11th, red London (4.12) arrival backstamp and manuscript "2/-" shilling rating for two-times the 1s packet fee; some edge splitting at top, Very Fine and scarce use, Carried on the Maiden Voyage of the Ocean Line Hermann.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Beginning June 1st 1847, the United States provided its first contract steamship service for carrying mail to and from Europe, via the Ocean Line. The fee associated with this service was 24¢ per ½ ounce, plus the U.S. internal postage to New York (5¢ for distances less than 300 miles, or 10¢ for greater distances). The commencement of the 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 leading to the Retaliatory Rate period. Since the letter cost was so high due to discriminatory rates, very few letters were sent from the United States to England on the American contract mail steamships before 1849.

Realized: $625

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