Lot
2617 
Cunard Line Steamship "Acadia", Printed Matter Wrapper, Boston January 1st - Liverpool January 15th 1846. Wrapper utilizing previously used letter sheet posted at Newark on December 31st 1845 and prepaid the 2 cent printed matter rate to Britain with "PAID" stamp applied. Addressed to Bolton. At Liverpool the "AMERICA / L" applied (2 years later than recorded by Tabeart) with that offices "2" charge stamp. Delivered at Bolton on January 16th. Atlantic Transit 14 days; couple small tears at left and missing sideflaps, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $170
Lot
2618 ()
Cunard Line Contract, "Niagara", Boston - Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cover front (including part of top flap) prepaid to Halifax, Nova Scotia franked with the 1847, 5¢ red brown (four clear to large margins, small faults) cancelled with the Boston grid obliterator. The Cunard sailings were used by the USPO to improve cross border deliveries. Reverse bears the Halifax Exchange Office datestamp, F.-V.F.; with 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 1 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
2619
Pioneer Steamship "Washington" & Discriminatory Rate, Second Voyage, N. Y. September 23rd - Southampton October 9th 1847. Entire dated "Habana 20 de Agost 1847" and forwarded by Daniel Curtis Jr. of New York who endorsed the letter "p. Mail Steamer Washington". Stamped by the New York office as "PAID" but on arrival at Southampton manuscript rated at 1/- to be paid by Frederick Huth & Co. in London as the Discriminatory Rate. Reverse bears London arrival of October 9th 1847 & Curtis manuscript forwarding endorsement, Atlantic transit of 16 days., Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
The Ocean Line was awarded the first USPO contract for US mails under the Foreign Mails Act of 1845. Two steamships were built, the Washington and the Hermann and they operated the contact over its 10 year term between New York and Bremen with a stop at Southampton. The Washington inaugurated the service leaving New York June 1st 1847 arriving Southampton June 15th.
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.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
2620
Cunard Line Retaliatory Rate Period, Steamship "Canada" Westbound Maiden Voyage. New York - Liverpool 25th November - 14th December 1848, Wrapper addressed to Boston Prepaid 1 Shilling packet rate using 6 x 2d Blue Plate 3 adhesives. On arrival at New York that offices "NEW YORK / SHIP / DEC 14 / 29 cts" was applied charging recipient 24 cents packet rate plus 5 cents inland ignoring the British prepayment. Atlantic transit of 16 days, Very Fine, a spectacular franking. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
During the Retaliatory Rate period the New York Foreign Mail Office treated incoming prepaid mail as Ship Letters. The packet rate of 24 cents was charged plus the appropriate inland rate with the New York Ship Letter arrival stamp applied. This policy was applied to letters originating in Britain and to European mails which transitted Britain.
Realized: $2,600
Lot
2621
Pioneer Steamships "Washington" & Discriminatory Rate, Fourth Westbound Voyage. Southampton March 21st - New York April 7th 1848, Entire from Baring Brothers, London headed "Duplicate Origl. per. Caledonia" and dated "London 10 March 1848" addressed to Bath, Maine. Endorsed "p Washington" and posted prepaid 1/- on March 20th to be put onto the Washington. On arrival at New York rated as unpaid and charged "34" cents being 24 cents sea post plus 10 cents inland. Atlantic transit of 17 days, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Whilst letters on the eastbound route during the Discriminatory Rate period are relatively rare, those on westbound voyages are exceptional. Where prepaid letters were endorsed to be carried by an Ocean Line vessel they should have been charged 8d. It was however the practice of the British PO to charge these letters the full 1/- packet rate.
Such westbound letters are rare and on arrival at New York were charged the full US sea post rate of 24 cents plus the appropriate inland rate for delivery. This action predated the well known Retaliatory Rate period.
Realized: $800
Lot
2622
Cunard Line "Europa" Final Retaliatory Rate Period Sailing, Liverpool December 16th - New York December 31st 1848. Entire dated "28 Threadneedle Street, London 15th December 1848" prepaid double letter rate of 2/- with 2 x 1/- embossed issue SG H1 adhesives (trimmed to frame line). Put into the Lombard Street office on same day endorsed "Europa", Paid an additional 6d. in cash for Registration, during Retaliatory Period Registration was very rare. At New York a retaliatory double rate of 48 cents applied ignoring British prepayment. Atlantic transit 17 days via Halifax to New York; file fold, otherwise Very Fine; with 2004 P.F. certificate. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $700
Lot
2623
Cunard Line Steamship "America" Maiden Voyage. Two covers; Maiden Outbound Voyage, Liverpool April 15th - New York April 29th 1848, Entire dated "London 14 April 1848" with Liverpool transit of April 15th on reverse addressed to Boston. A rare stamped example from this voyage. Prepaid the 1/- packet rate using an G.B. 1sh embossed issue (SG H1, cut to shape). On arrival at New York charged 7 cents being 2 cents ship letter plus 5 cents inland to Boston. Atlantic Transit 14 days.Maiden Return Voyage, New York May 10th - Liverpool May 22nd 1848, Envelope addressed to Woodbridge, Suffolk and charged the packet rate with the Liverpool mark. Reverse bears the "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL / MY 22 / 1848" arrival stamp and London transit of May 23rd. Arrived Woodbridge May 24th. Atlantic Transit 12 days., Very Fine.
Estimate $600 - 800.
Realized: $525
Lot
2624
Cunard Line Steamship "Niagara" Retaliatory & Restored Rates. Two covers"Niagara", Last Eastbound Retaliatory Rate Voyage, Boston December 27th 1848 - Liverpool January 8th 1849, Entire dated "New York Decr. 10 1848" addressed to Cognac and endorsed "per Steamer Niagara for Liverpool via Boston". Reverse bears the Liverpool "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL / JA 9 / 1849" arrival stamp. Transited through London to receive the "COLONIES & ART. 13" stamp. Routed through Bolougne and Paris with arrival at Cognac January 14th. Atlantic Transit 12 days; file fold"Niagara" Restored Rate Period, Liverpool January 27th - Boston February 11th 1849, Entire dated "London 26 Jany 1849" endorsed "Steamer via Halifax" and prepaid double letter packet rate of "2/-" and addressed to New York. On arrival at Boston rated at "12" cents being the 2 x 5 cents inland plus 2 cents ship letter. Letters carried on this voyage are very scarce. Atlantic Transit 17 days via Halifax to New York, Very Fine.
Estimate $400 - 600.
The Niagara made the final eastbound voyage of the Retaliatory Rate Period and made its next outbound sailing during the Restored Rate Period.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
2625
Cunard Line First Retaliatory Rate Sailing by "Britannia", New York June 5th - Liverpool June 19th 1848. Entire copy of "Shipping and Commercial List New York, Wednesday July 5th 1848" with the printed heading "Per Steamers BRITANNIA or SARAH SANDS". Addressed to Schiedam, Holland. The sender wrote a letter on the blank portion and therefore not treated as a Prices Current British manuscript charge of "2/2" and one of "220" Dutch cents at Rotterdam. Reverse bears London transit of July 20th, the Rotterdam "England / over Rotterdam" (Van der Linden 1025) and Schiedam arrival of July 24th. Atlantic Transit of 14 days, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
On July 5th 1848 Cunard?s "Britannia" left New York for Liverpool carrying the first mails to be subjected to a Retaliatory Rate on letters for delivery in Britain. The mails addressed to European destinations were not however subject to the Retaliatory Rate.
Realized: $525
Lot
2626
Cunard Line First Retaliatory Rate Sailing by "Britannia", New York June 5th - Liverpool June 19th 1848. Entire dated "New York 4th July 1848" and endorsed "p Britannia". Addressed to Cognac, France with address panel endorsed "via Paris". At the London Foreign Branch Office the "COLONIES &c./ART 13." credit to Britain stamp was applied. Routed through the Boulogneexchange off stamp for July 21st and manuscript "28" Decimes charge applied. Reverse bears London transit of July 20th and Cognac arrival of July 21st. Atlantic Transit of 14 days, Very Fine.
Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $325