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.