Lot
165 
1849 (Sep. 20) New Orleans, La. to Antwerp, Belgium, folded letter with red "New Orleans La. Sep 20" cds with matching "Paid" and partial "5" cent rating h.s. for open mail rate, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from New York Sep. 29 to Liverpool arriving Oct. 13, London (10.14) backstamp and manuscript "1/4" 1s4d debit to Belgium, Anvers (10.16) backstamp arrival with blue manuscript "20" decimes postage due rating, Very Fine, One of three recorded letters from short 10 month period for this rate combination. Estimate $200 - 300.
"Hibernia" carried mail on this "extra" voyage as she returned to England after repairs in New York. Very faint Belgian accounting stamp shows 1/4 in blue ink on top line for the foreign tax, conversion of this to 16 decimes on the second line, and 4 decimes Belgium internal fee on the third line. Total postage due was 20 decimes, marked in blue ink.