Lot
175 
(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Dec. 26) Halifax, Nova Scotia to New York, N.Y., folded letter endorsed "pr Boston via Boston", letter taken directly to British schooner Boston that was en route to California with a call at Boston, it departed Halifax Dec. 27 to New York arriving Jan. 3, red "Boston Mass. Jan" cds with matching "Ship" handstamp and red crayon "21" due rating for 5¢ inland postage and retaliatory 16¢ ship fee, Extremely Fine, ship letter retaliatory rate usages are exceedingly rare. Estimate $500 - 750.
Retaliatory regulations imposed a 16¢ fee for letters brought in by British ship, the same charge as the British imposed (8 pence). The retaliatory ship letters are scarce since most mail was carried by contract steamships (24¢, 29¢ or 34¢ retaliatory fees) or American sailing vessels for which no retaliatory fee was charged.
Realized: $2,800