Sale 89: The John Barwis Collection of Philadelphia Postal History

Lot 3026    

1774 (Apr. 5) Philadelphia Pa. to Ballymoney, Ireland via London, folded letter with light "PHIL/DELPHIA" two-line red backstamp with matching light "5 AP" Franklin mark backstamp, "New-York" straightline backstamp and red manuscript "To pay 6" rating as a debit to London for colonial inland postage, carried by packet Mercury from New York Apr. 7th to Falmouth arriving May 26th, London "28/MA" bishop mark backstamp and "IN^D. AND PAC^T./POSTAGE two-line handstamp applied and manuscript "1/6" due for 6d Colonial inland plus 1sh packet postage, London rerated "Inall 2/4" to include 6d to Ireland plus 4d Irish inland, Dublin incorrectly rerated "2/8" due; staining and faults, Fine and rare, ex-Hugh Feldman.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY NINE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE LONDON "IN^D. AND PAC^T./POSTAGE".

In February 1756, William Franklin, GPO Comptroller in Philadelphia, issued a notice that packet letters from New York to London must be prepaid for both packet and American inland postage; single rates were 4dwt (1/-) and 2dwt (6d), respectively. This edict was not regularly followed, and Britain did not demand prepayment of incoming packet letters from America until 1784. In the early 1770s London used three different handstamps to inform addressees of their additional postage due.

Realized: $1,800