Lot
3135 
1849 (Feb. 20) Leeds, England to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter with red Liverpool (2.23) cds and manuscript red "1/-" one-shilling packet rating, Liverpool (2.24) backstamp and red "5" cents credit to the U.S., carried on Cunard America from Liverpool Feb. 24th to Boston arriving Mar. 8th, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
THIS WAS THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING UNDER THE 1848 US-GB TREATY.
No rating handstamps were available in Liverpool for the first four westbound sailings. For details of the confusion surrounding early treaty mails see the 1992 article by R.F. Winter in Chronicle 154.