Lot 20
U.S. 1847, 10¢ black (2), horizontal strip of three, margins to cutting, tied by red grids on Aug. 15, 1848 folded cover to Pictou, Nova Scotia, paying the 5c rate from Boston to New York and the 24¢ packet rate to Nova Scotia with a 1¢ overpayment, additional manuscript. "1/8" due: 8 pence to Pictou (101 to 200 miles rate) plus 1 shilling retaliatory rate, red "U.S. Express Mail Boston Mass. Aug. 15" c.d.s., manuscript. "pr. America via New Yk." at upper left, tiny hole from erosion, Fine, an important and rare usage.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
Expertization: 1985 P.F. Certificate.
From 1840 through 1846, the Cunard steamship line, subsidized by the British government, enjoyed a monopoly on transatlantic mail. In a misguided attempt to discourage carriage of mail by subsidized U.S. steamships, which had begun in June, 1847, the British authorized receiving offices to collect British packet postage on prepaid letters carried by American mail steamers, effectively treating such letters, whether they went to, or beyond England, as unpaid. The attempts by the United States to rescind or even modify this blatantly anti-American tariff were unsuccessful.
On November 16, 1847, the United States retaliated by suspending closed mails between Canada and the United Kingdom through the U.S. Then Postmaster General Cave Johnson petitioned Congress for the power to establish punitive charges for mail carried by foreign packet (in essence, only British ships, resulting in the retaliatory act of June 27, 1848. By this act, the Postmaster General was authorized to charge and collect packet postage on letters conveyed to or from the U.S. by foreign packets. Since only the British utilized such packets, a clear message was thus sent to Great Britain, and effectively countered their discriminatory fees. Now, American packet postage would be charged regardless of whether or not an American vessel was used. Six months later, on December 15, 1848, a new postal treaty between Great Britain and the U.S. was signed in London, and in January 1849 the President revoked the retaliatory rate legislation.
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| Realized $52,500 |
