Lot
1254 
1849 (Feb. 19) New York, N.Y. to Schiedam, Netherlands, folded letter sent at 5¢ open mail rate, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Feb. 21st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 6th, London (3.7) backstamp and manuscript "1/8" 1s8d debit to Netherlands, Schiedam (3.8) arrival backstamp and manuscript "120" Dutch Cents due rating, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
When U.S.-U.K. convention went into effect it lowered the transatlantic sea portion of the rate from 1s to 8d; however, the British and Dutch did not recognize this reduction until 21 March 1849. London debit to Holland consisted 1s transatlantic packet fee + 8d U.K. portion under 1843 convention (equivalent to 100 Dutch Cents), to which was added 20 Cents for the Dutch portion under the convention. Scarce combination of rates in effect only five weeks.
Realized: $475