Lot
241 
(French Retaliatory Rates) 1853 (Jan. 17) Marseille, France to New York, N.Y., folded letter with "13" decimes prepaid (not shown), carried by Cunard Liner Canada from Liverpool Jan. 22 to Boston arriving Feb. 5, black "Boston Br. Packet 6 Feb" exchange cds with matching "21" due h.s. for French retaliatory rate, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $200 - 300.
Only three eastbound and two westbound Cunard steamship voyages were made under the 16-day period of this French retaliatory rate period.
Realized: $525
Lot
242
1855 (Jun. 12) Bordeaux, France to New Orleans, La., folded letter with orange Bordeaux (6.13) origin cds and matching "P.P." framed handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Jun. 23 to Boston arriving Jul. 6, black "Boston Br. Pkt. '5' Jul 6" debit exchange cds, black "N.O.U.S. City Post Jul 13" for carrier service, Very Fine and scarce New Orleans City Post use. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $525
Lot
243
1856 (May 26) Havre, France to Big Flatts, N.Y., cover bearing France 1853-54, 10c. and 20c. each four margins, prepaying the 30c. outgoing ship letter fee, tied by "1495" lozenge cancels, Havre (5.26) cds with framed "P.P." h.s., carried by Havre Line Arago from Havre Jun. 4 to New York arriving Jun. 17, partial New York 20¢ due cds, Big Flatts "Due 20" manuscript due rating, Very Fine and attractive. Scott No. France #14, 15 Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $160
Lot
244
1856 (Jul. 15) Havre, France to New York, N.Y., blue folded letter bearing France 1853, 10c. yellow orange and 80c. carmine, tied by dotted diamonds for prepaid of triple rate, red Havre (7.15) and matching "P.P." framed h.s., carried by Cunard Line Alps from Havre Jul. 15 to New York Jul. 29, New York large "6" circled due rating h.s., Very Fine, A scarce non-contract steamship voyage. Estimate $150 - 200.
Cunard built two iron screw steamships in 1853 to use as auxiliary steamers for merchant cargo carriers rather than contract mail carriers. In 1856, a short-lived service from Havre to New York was inaugurated. 'Alps' made only two round voyages on this service before it was terminated in 1857.
Realized: $200
Lot
245
1857 (Feb. 19) Havre, France to Philadelphia, Pa., folded letter bearing France 1854, 80c. lake, margins to cutting, tied by "495" lozenge, Havre (2.21) cds and red "P.P." framed h.s., London (2.24) and Liverpool (2.24), carried by Inman Line Kangaroo from Liverpool Feb. 25 to New York arriving Mar. 12, partial "New-York 'Ship 5cts' Mar 12" debit exchange cds, Very Fine, Carried on the maiden voyage of the Inman Line Kangaroo. A scarce non-contract steamship voyage. Estimate $100 - 150.
Although endorsed to go by the steamer "City of Manchester", another Inman Line steamer from Liverpool, letter was actually carried by "Kangaroo". The rate by contract packet from England was also 80 centimes. The endorsement placed this letter on a non-contract steamship, an uncommon routing.
Realized: $85
Lot
246
1857 (Mar. 25) Havre, France to New York, N.Y., blue folded letter bearing France 1854, 80c carmine, four margins, large except close at right, tied by "1495" dotted diamond cancel and red London Paid (3.26), red "Ship-Letter" straightline h.s., carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Mar. 28 to Boston arriving Apr. 11, "N. York Br. Pkt. '5' Apr 12" exchange debit cds for British open mail by British packet, Very Fine and interesting use. Scott No. France #19 Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried on private ship to London, where it was included in the mails on the 13th and last Cunard voyage from G.B. to the U.S. during the three-month period. When Government packets were not available for cross-channel service, the Havre post office could send letters by private ship to England.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
247
1859 (Apr. 19) Bordeaux, France to Vera Cruz, Mexico, folded letter with Bordeaux (4.19) cds and prepaid manuscript "24" decimes rating on back weighed "10" grams, Paris re-weighed "12" grams, red manuscript "20" cent credit to U.S. and "P.P." framed h.s. with "Br. Service" framed h.s., carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Apr. 23 to Boston arriving May 6, "Boston Paid B. Pkt. May 6" exchange cds with red crayon "44" cent rating, Very Fine, Uncommon French treaty letter via U.S. to Mexico. Estimate $200 - 300.
When posted at Bordeaux, letter marked on reverse for 10 grams weight and 24 decimes postage paid. Paris re-weighed letter at 12 grams, marked upper left corner. Credit to U.S. marked on left side, in red ink, 2 x 10¢ = 20¢. Manuscript "44" in upper right corner written by Boston clerk indicated double paid rate of 2 x 22¢ for French mail to Mexico via U.S.
Realized: $210
Lot
248
1863 (May 12) Paris, France to New Orleans, La., cover bearing 1860, 80c. rose on pinkish, four margins, just clear top left, tied by lozenge, Paris (7.12) cds and red "3c" h.s. as 3¢ credit to the U.S., London red "Br Service" framed h.s., carried on Allan Line Hibernian that departed Londonderry May 15 to Quebec arriving May 25, red "Portland Me. 'Paid 15' May 27" exchange credit cds; some light aging, F.-V.F., a scarce Portland exchange use. Scott No. France #20 Estimate $200 - 300.
Paris marked 3¢ credit to U.S. using a 3 centime postage due handstamp and red ink. While this is not a scarce usage of this marker, it is uncommon. Under the U.S.-French postal convention mails carried on Allan Line steamers (American mail contract) were accounted for as mails carried on British steamers. Letter in closed mail bag put off at Riviere du Loup on the St. Lawrence River and taken by train to Portland for distribution.
Realized: $290
Lot
249
1863 (May 15) Paris, France to New York, N.Y., blue cover with Paris (5.15) cds with "24" cent debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Asia from Queenstown May 17 to Boston arriving May 27, New York "40" depreciated currency rating h.s., Very Fine, an early depreciated currency use. Estimate $200 - 300.
During May 1863, New York introduced depreciated currency rate but had not starting using a dual rate cds.
Realized: $450
Lot
250
1865 (Feb. 10) Boulogne-sur-mer, France to Pikesville, Md., orange buff cover bearing France 80c, scissor trimmed & small tear, tied by "Folkestone, FE 10 '65" duplex, London (2.11) backstamp and black "19/Cents" debit h.s., carried by Cunard Line China from Queenstown Feb. 12 to New York arriving Feb. 21, "N.Y. Br. Pkt. '24 or 47 U.S. Notes' Feb 22" depreciated currency cds, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Letter posted in moveable mail box on board cross-channel steamer to Folkestone. Upon arrival in Folkestone adhesive cancelled with British circular datestamp and attached killer and sent to London. London considered letter insufficiently paid (perhaps overweight) and sent to U.S. as wholly unpaid letter in British mails debiting U.S. 19¢. New York marked 24¢ postage due in coin or 47¢ due in depreciated greenback currency. Mobile box datestamp of Folkestone only partially struck in lower left corner. Scarce cover showing Folkestone processing.
Realized: $600