Lot
3132 
(Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Jan. 12) Birmingham, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter with green "Birmingham, JA 12 1849" double-arc cds and bold magenta manuscript "2/-" prepaid rating for double the 1s packet rate, Liverpool "L, JA 13, A" oval transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Liverpool Jan. 13th to New York arriving Jan. 29th, New York large red "12" cents due handstamp for double the 5¢ inland rate for under 300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried on 2nd of only 4 Cunard mail westbound voyages to the United States during the six-week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective.
After the U.S. British Postal Convention was signed in December 1848, the retaliatory rate was rescinded by the Postmaster General on 3 January 1849. Rates reverted to those in force pre-June 1848, so incoming British packet letters were again treated as unpaid ship letters.