Lot
1465 
10¢ Black, two slightly overlapped singles, large to huge margins, cancelled by matching manuscript and cork cancel, on blue folded cover to Halifax, Nova Scotia, manuscript "Bay Route, Feb 23" manuscript route agent postmark, blue "Baltimore Md. Feb 24" cds, endorsed "p. British Steamer from New York to Halifax N.S.", red "Halifax, Paid, Feb 29, 1848" arrival leap year postmark, manuscript "2/-" shilling due rating for two-times the 1 shilling packet fee; cover refolded at top and extensively restored, Very Fine appearance. Scott No. 2 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED USE FROM THE CHESAPEAKE BAY ROUTE AGENT.
This letter was handed to the route agent aboard a steamboat carrying mail on Postal Route #2462. This Chesapeake Bay Route provided mail service over the 200 miles between Baltimore and Norfolk. The three route agents received 1,500 5¢ and 300 10¢ 1847 issue stamps. The 20¢ postage prepaid the double-weight rate for over 300 miles to New York City. The route agent delivered the letter to the Baltimore post office where it was postmarked Feb. 24th. There it was placed in a bag for the New York City post office, where it was delivered to the British mail steamer "Hibernia" departing Feb. 26th to Halifax and Liverpool. The letter was charged two-times the 1 shilling packet fee upon arrival.
The astonishing U.S. equivalent of 68¢ was charged for this letter from its origin on Chesapeake Bay to Halifax - evidence that the British postal reform of 1839-40 emphatically did not apply to ocean mails carried by British ships.
Realized: $4,250