Lot
3121 
1848 (Jun. 19) Philadelphia Pa. to London England, docketed folded cover with blue "Philada Pa. '5cts' May 19" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp and red crayon "5" rating to New York, although endorsed for American Packet Hermann, actually sent by Cunard as American packet rate was not prepaid, carried by Cunard Line Acadia from New York Jun. 21st to Liverpool arriving Jul. 5th, London red (7.6) cds backstamp and manuscript "1/-" due rating for 1s packet fee; file folds, F.-V.F., ex-Hugh Feldman. Estimate $300 - 400.
In March 1845 Congress authorized a 24¢ sea-postage rate for letters carried on American contract vessels, a charge to be added to inland postage. The first contract was awarded in June 1847 to the Ocean Line. Great Britain immediately began charging their one-shilling packet rate on incoming American packet letters, rather than treating them as unpaid ship letters. Because eastbound letters sent during this period were effectively charged double, most letters were sent on Cunard sailings.
No American packet letters from Philadelphia during this period are recorded.
The sender endorsed for American packet Hermann via Southampton, but paid only inland postage, so the New York post office sent via Cunard steamer as an unpaid ship letter.
Lot
3122
(Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Jun. 23) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., blue folded cover bearing G.B. 1s green embossed, large margins to touched, cancelled by "7" barred oval, London "LS, 23JU23, 1848" maltese cross datestamp on flap, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Jun. 24th to New York arriving Jul. 8th, bold red "New-York 'Ship, 29cts.' Jul 9" retaliatory due cds for 5¢ inland under 300 miles, fresh and Very Fine; with 2005 Knopke certificate. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING IN THE RETALIATORY PERIOD, THE EARLIEST RECORDED RETALIATORY COVER TO PHILADELPHIA.
Realized: $550
Lot
3123
(Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Jun. 30) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cover with red octagonal "Paid At Liverpool, Ju 30 1848" octagon datestamp and red "1/" due handstamp for 1s packet rating, endorsed "Per Niagara", carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Jul. 1st to Boston arriving Jul. 12th, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jul 12" cds with matching "34" cents due handstamp representing the 24¢ packet rate plus 10¢ inland for half ounce over 300 miles; with original enclosure, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $425
Lot
3124
(Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Jul. 19) Liege, Belgium to Philadelphia Pa., docketed folded cover with "Société, De La Vieille, Montagne" double-oval and privately to Liverpool, entered mails with red "Paid at Liverpool, JY 22 1848" octagon datestamp and matching "1/-" due handstamp for 1s packet rate, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Jul. 22nd to New York arriving Aug. 4th, Philadelphia blue "29" due handstamp for 24¢ retaliatory packet rate plus 5¢ inland, docketed as received Aug. 5th; file fold reinforcement, Very Fine and attractive, One of only 12 single-rate retaliatory covers recorded to Philadelphia. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $675
Lot
3125
1848 (Aug. 7th) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter with red London "Paid" (8.18) cds and red manuscript "1/" prepaid rating for 1s packet rate, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Aug. 19th to New York arriving Aug. 31st, red "New-York, Ship 29 cts., Aug 27" integral-due cds; some file fold reinforcement, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Lot
3126
(Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Sep. 2) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded cover with part letter bearing Great Britain 1841 1d red (3) strip of three and 1847 1s green embossed (5) vertical pair, both mostly well margined, prepaying two-times the 1s packet rate plus 3d late fee, tied by barred numeral "486" cancels, matching Liverpool (9.2) backstamps, endorsed "pr Europa via New York" routing at lower left, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Sep. 2nd to New York arriving Sep. 14th, New York blue manuscript "58" due rating for double the 24¢ retaliatory packet rate and 5¢ inland; file fold through right 1d and fold through top 1s, Very Fine and rare late fee use. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR COVERS RECORDED TO PHILADELPHIA AT THIS RATE.
The late fee for Liverpool was on an experimental basis and charged 1d for 15 minutes after the time of clearing the letter box and 3d after 15 minutes up to 10 minutes prior to the time of dispatch from sometime in 1847 to 1 March 1849, when this rate was put into effect in several towns.
Lot
3127
(Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Sep. 18) Philadelphia Pa. to Paris, France via G.B., folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Sep 18" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with blue "34" rating handstamp for the 24¢ packet rate plus 10¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston Sep. 20th to Liverpool arriving Oct. 2nd, red London (10.3) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed accountancy, red Boulogne (10.8) entry cds and manuscript "15" décimes due rating. Estimate $300 - 400.
ONE OF THREE OUTGOING COVERS PAYING THE 34¢ RETALIATORY RATE.
Only 7 strikes of the Philadelphia small "34" retaliatory handstamp are recorded, with only three in blue.
Realized: $425
Lot
3128
1848 (Oct. 23) Philadelphia Pa. to Paris, France via G.B., folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Oct 23" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with blue "29" rating handstamp for 24¢ packet rate plus 10¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Oct. 25th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 11th, red London (11.12) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed accountancy, red Boulogne (11.14) entry cds and manuscript "15" décimes due rating, Very Fine and rare outgoing retaliatory cover. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $450
Lot
3129
1848 (Nov. 7) Philadelphia Pa. to Cognac, France via G.B., blue folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Nov 7" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with pencil "58" cent rating for double the 24¢ packet rate and 5¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Nov. 8th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 20th, red London (11.21) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed accountancy, Boulogne (11.22) entry cds and manuscript "43" décimes due rating for 20 dec. to G.B. and 23 dec. for 15-20g 600-750km; light fold toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $120
Lot
3130
1848 (Dec. 31) Manchester, England to Philadelphia, Pa., folded letter endorsed "pr. 'Cambria' ", posted with red "Manchester DE 31 1847" cds and red manuscript "2/-" shilling prepaid rating, Liverpool (1.1) backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Jan. 1st to New York arriving Jan. 18th, red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Jan 19" cds, Very Fine and choice, ex-Winter. Estimate $200 - 300.
CARRIED ON THE FIRST DIRECT MAIL VOYAGE TO NEW YORK BY THE CUNARD LINE.
New York ship-letter postmarks appear on Cunard covers for only six months in 1848 and two months in 1849, prior to 8 March 1849 New York arrival of the first Cunard steamer to sail under the United States - Great Britain postal convention.
In January 1848 Cunard added New York as a second American terminus, after which sailings alternated between Boston and New York. Both west and eastbound sailings called at Halifax for Canadian mails. By April 1848, sailing frequency had increased to weekly. By the winter of 1852-1852 service was year-round.