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Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale: 89

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1848-1849 Retaliatory R

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3121
Symbol:

image 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. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 220.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:01:24 EST
Sold For 0

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1848-1849 Retaliatory R

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3122
Symbol:

image (Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Jun. 23) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. Blue folded cover bearing G.B. 1s green embossed, large margins to touched, cancelled by "7" barred oval, London "LS, 23JU23, 1848" maltese cross datestamp on flap, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Jun. 24th to New York arriving Jul. 8th, bold red "New-York 'Ship, 29cts.' Jul 9" retaliatory due cds for 5¢ inland under 300 miles, fresh and Very Fine, with 2005 Knopke certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING IN THE RETALIATORY PERIOD, THE EARLIEST RECORDED RETALIATORY COVER TO PHILADELPHIA. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Opening US$ 550.00
Sold...US$ 550.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:01:44 EST
Sold For 550

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3123
Symbol:

image (Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Jun. 30) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cover with red octagonal "Paid At Liverpool, Ju 30 1848" octagon datestamp and red "1/" due handstamp for 1s packet rating, endorsed "Per Niagara", carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Jul. 1st to Boston arriving Jul. 12th, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jul 12" cds with matching "34" cents due handstamp representing the 24¢ packet rate plus 10¢ inland for half ounce over 300 miles; with original enclosure, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 425.00
Sold...US$ 425.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:02:03 EST
Sold For 425

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1848-1849 Retaliatory R

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3124
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

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image (Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Jul. 19) Liege, Belgium to Philadelphia Pa. Docketed folded cover with "Société, De La Vieille, Montagne" double-oval and privately to Liverpool, entered mails with red "Paid at Liverpool, JY 22 1848" octagon datestamp and matching "1/-" due handstamp for 1s packet rate, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Jul. 22nd to New York arriving Aug. 4th, Philadelphia blue "29" due handstamp for 24¢ retaliatory packet rate plus 5¢ inland, docketed as received Aug. 5th; file fold reinforcement, Very Fine and attractive, One of only 12 single-rate retaliatory covers recorded to Philadelphia.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 675.00
Sold...US$ 675.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:02:22 EST
Sold For 675

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1848-1849 Retaliatory R

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3125
Symbol:

image 1848 (Aug. 7th) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter with red London "Paid" (8.18) cds and red manuscript "1/" prepaid rating for 1s packet rate, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Aug. 19th to New York arriving Aug. 31st, red "New-York, Ship 29 cts., Aug 27" integral-due cds; some file fold reinforcement, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 120.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:02:39 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3126
Symbol:

image (Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Sep. 2) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded cover with part letter bearing Great Britain 1841 1d red (3) strip of three and 1847 1s green embossed (5) vertical pair, both mostly well margined, prepaying two-times the 1s packet rate plus 3d late fee, tied by barred numeral "486" cancels, matching Liverpool (9.2) backstamps, endorsed "pr Europa via New York" routing at lower left, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Sep. 2nd to New York arriving Sep. 14th, New York blue manuscript "58" due rating for double the 24¢ retaliatory packet rate and 5¢ inland; file fold through right 1d and fold through top 1s, Very Fine and rare late fee use.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR COVERS RECORDED TO PHILADELPHIA AT THIS RATE.

The late fee for Liverpool was on an experimental basis and charged 1d for 15 minutes after the time of clearing the letter box and 3d after 15 minutes up to 10 minutes prior to the time of dispatch from sometime in 1847 to 1 March 1849, when this rate was put into effect in several towns.
Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 750.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:02:55 EST
Sold For 0

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1848-1849 Retaliatory R

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3127
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image (Retaliatory Period) 1848 (Sep. 18) Philadelphia Pa. to Paris, France via G.B. Folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Sep 18" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with blue "34" rating handstamp for the 24¢ packet rate plus 10¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston Sep. 20th to Liverpool arriving Oct. 2nd, red London (10.3) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed accountancy, red Boulogne (10.8) entry cds and manuscript "15" décimes due rating.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

ONE OF THREE OUTGOING COVERS PAYING THE 34¢ RETALIATORY RATE.

Only 7 strikes of the Philadelphia small "34" retaliatory handstamp are recorded, with only three in blue.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 425.00
Sold...US$ 425.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:03:13 EST
Sold For 425

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3128
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1848 (Oct. 23) Philadelphia Pa. to Paris, France via G.B. Folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Oct 23" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with blue "29" rating handstamp for 24¢ packet rate plus 10¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Oct. 25th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 11th, red London (11.12) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed accountancy, red Boulogne (11.14) entry cds and manuscript "15" décimes due rating, Very Fine and rare outgoing retaliatory cover.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 450.00
Sold...US$ 450.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:03:26 EST
Sold For 450

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3129
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

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image 1848 (Nov. 7) Philadelphia Pa. to Cognac, France via G.B. Blue folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Nov 7" cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp with pencil "58" cent rating for double the 24¢ packet rate and 5¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Nov. 8th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 20th, red London (11.21) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art. 13" framed accountancy, Boulogne (11.22) entry cds and manuscript "43" décimes due rating for 20 dec. to G.B. and 23 dec. for 15-20g 600-750km; light fold toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 120.00
Sold...US$ 120.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:03:39 EST
Sold For 120

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1848-1849 Retaliatory R

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3130
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1848 (Dec. 31) Manchester, England to Philadelphia, Pa. Folded letter endorsed "pr. 'Cambria' ", posted with red "Manchester DE 31 1847" cds and red manuscript "2/-" shilling prepaid rating, Liverpool (1.1) backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Jan. 1st to New York arriving Jan. 18th, red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Jan 19" cds, Very Fine and choice, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

CARRIED ON THE FIRST DIRECT MAIL VOYAGE TO NEW YORK BY THE CUNARD LINE.

New York ship-letter postmarks appear on Cunard covers for only six months in 1848 and two months in 1849, prior to 8 March 1849 New York arrival of the first Cunard steamer to sail under the United States - Great Britain postal convention.

In January 1848 Cunard added New York as a second American terminus, after which sailings alternated between Boston and New York. Both west and eastbound sailings called at Halifax for Canadian mails. By April 1848, sailing frequency had increased to weekly. By the winter of 1852-1852 service was year-round.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 150.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:03:50 EST
Sold For 0

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849 Restored Rate Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3131
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

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image (Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Jan. 8) Philadelphia, Pa. to Paris, France via G.B. Folded letter endorsed "pr Steamer Europa", blue "Philada. Pa. '5' Jan 9" integral-rate cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Jan. 10th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 22nd, red London (1.23) and "Colonies &c Art 13" framed accountancy handstamp, red Boulogne (1.24) entry cds with manuscript "15" décimes due rating; Very Fine., Very Fine and desirable maiden eastbound restored rate usage, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Letter carried on 1st of only 3 Cunard mail eastbound voyages to Liverpool during six week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective. The eastbound restored rate usages are far scarcer than westbound.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 300.00
Sold...US$ 300.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:04:03 EST
Sold For 300

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849 Restored Rate Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3132
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image (Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Jan. 12) Birmingham, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter with green "Birmingham, JA 12 1849" double-arc cds and bold magenta manuscript "2/-" prepaid rating for double the 1s packet rate, Liverpool "L, JA 13, A" oval transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Liverpool Jan. 13th to New York arriving Jan. 29th, New York large red "12" cents due handstamp for double the 5¢ inland rate for under 300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Letter carried on 2nd of only 4 Cunard mail westbound voyages to the United States during the six-week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective.

After the U.S. British Postal Convention was signed in December 1848, the retaliatory rate was rescinded by the Postmaster General on 3 January 1849. Rates reverted to those in force pre-June 1848, so incoming British packet letters were again treated as unpaid ship letters.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 150.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:04:16 EST
Sold For 0

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849 Restored Rate Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3133
Symbol:

image (Restored Rates) 1849 (Jan. 22) Philadelphia, Pa. to Schiedam, Holland. Folded letter with blue "Philada. Pa. '5' Jan" integral rate cds and matching "Paid" framed handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Jan. 24th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 4th, London (2.5) transit backstamp and manuscript "1/8" 1s8d debit to Holland, red script "Engeland/over Rotterdam" backstamp and manuscript "120" Dutch Cents due rating, Schiedam (2.8) arrival backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce eastbound restored use to Holland, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Philadelphia erred in collecting only 5¢ as distance to Boston was over 300 miles and required a 10¢ prepayment. Postal clerk may have been thinking of the new British Open Mail rate of 5¢, which had been announced but was not yet effective. Scarce example of restored rate to the Netherlands, a rate in effect for six weeks only from 3 Jan-15 Feb 1849.

Letter carried on 2nd of 3 Cunard mail eastbound voyages to Liverpool during six week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 170.00
Sold...US$ 170.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:04:33 EST
Sold For 170

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849 Restored Rate Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3134
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image (Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Feb. 8) Falmouth, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter with red "Falmouth, Fe 8 1849" cds and red manuscript "1/-" prepaid rating for 1s packet rate, Liverpool "L, FE 10, A" oval transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Feb. 10th to New York arriving Feb. 24th, bright red "New-York, Ship, 7cts, Feb 24" integral-due cds for 5¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee superimposed over Falmouth cds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Letter carried on the last of only 4 Cunard mail westbound voyages to the United States during the six-week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 160.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:04:44 EST
Sold For 0


Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849-1852 US-GB Treaty

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3135
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1849 (Feb. 20) Leeds, England to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter with red Liverpool (2.23) cds and manuscript red "1/-" one-shilling packet rating, Liverpool (2.24) backstamp and red "5" cents credit to the U.S., carried on Cunard America from Liverpool Feb. 24th to Boston arriving Mar. 8th, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

THIS WAS THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING UNDER THE 1848 US-GB TREATY.

No rating handstamps were available in Liverpool for the first four westbound sailings. For details of the confusion surrounding early treaty mails see the 1992 article by R.F. Winter in Chronicle 154.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 190.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:04:51 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3136
Symbol:

image 1849 (Feb. 22) Glasgow, Scotland to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined blue folded letter with red "Glasgow, Paid N, Feb 22, 1849" datestamp, endorsed "Paid at Glasgow 22 Feby / 49" at top and "p R.M. Steamer 'America' from Liverpool 24 Feby" at bottom, Liverpool (2.24) transit backstamp, red manuscript "1/-" one-shilling packet rating and matching "5" cents credit to U.S., carried on Cunard Line America from Liverpool Feb. 24th to Boston arriving Mar. 8th, Very Fine, ex-Needs.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

THIS WAS THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING UNDER THE 1848 US-GB TREATY.

No rating handstamps were available in Liverpool for the first four westbound sailings. For details of the confusion surrounding early treaty mails see the 1992 article by R.F. Winter in Chronicle 154.
Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 240.00
Sold...US$ 240.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:05:15 EST
Sold For 240

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849-1852 US-GB Treaty

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3137
Symbol:

image 1849 (Mar. 16) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England. Folded cover with blue "Philada. Pa., Mar 16" cds and matching crude "24" unpaid rating handstamp, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line America from Boston Mar. 21st to Liverpool arriving Apr. 3rd, red London (4.3) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/-" due rating for 1s packet rate; minor file fold toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Philadelphia used this large crude "24" rating handstamp on mail from March 16th to Jun. 4th 1849 only. This is the earliest recorded use of this Philadelphia crude "24" rating handstamp.
. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 325.00
Sold...US$ 325.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:05:43 EST
Sold For 325

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849-1852 US-GB Treaty

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3138
Symbol:
Cat No: 8

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1849 (Apr. 6) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa. Blue folded cover with red "Liverpool Metal Review, Newspaper, One Penny" tax handstamp on flap, bearing Great Britain 1d red (3) tied by "466" barred oval, matching Liverpool (4.6) cds and oval transit, "19/Cents" debit handstamp to U.S. carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Apr. 7th to New York arriving Apr. 19th, New York black "24" due handstamp for 19¢ debit plus 5¢ inland postage due.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

THE EARLIEST SURVIVING CIRCULAR TO PHILADELPHIA UNDER THE 1848 TREATY.

Articles XV and XVI of the 1848 treaty specified that newspapers and circulars could be sent for 1d from Great Britain, or 2¢ from the United States. No accounting was required. Written matter was not permitted, and if found resulted in the full letter rate being charged. Each item had to be unsealed to allow easy inspection. The red handstamp paid no postage, but signified that a newspaper tax had been paid at 1d per 4 ounces.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 500.00
Sold...US$ 500.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:06:14 EST
Sold For 500

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849-1852 US-GB Treaty

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3139
Symbol:

image 1849 (Jun. 22) Philadelphia, Pa. to London, England. Folded letter, blue "Philada Pa. Jun 25" cds with matching framed "Paid" handstamp and crude "24" rating handstamp, New York large red "19" credit to G.B. handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from New York Jun. 27th to Liverpool arriving Jul. 10th, red London (7.11) arrival cds, Very Fine, The earliest recorded use of this crude Philadelphia "24" rate handstamp, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Examples of the large red New York 19¢ credit marking are recorded from April 1849 to February 1850, an uncommon marking. Philadelphia struck the crude blue handstamp "24", the smaller of two crude blue "24" handstamps. This marking is also uncommon, recorded in use from March - October 1849 only.
Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 220.00
Sold...US$ 220.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:06:55 EST
Sold For 220
Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1849-1852 US-GB Treaty

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3140
Symbol:

image 1849 (Sep. 7) Calcutta, India to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter in care of Baring Bros. at London with red Calcutta (9.7) framed backstamp and matching "INDIA" framed handstamp, manuscript rating, red London (10.27) transit backstamp, Liverpool (11.2) Maltese cross datestamp and black "19 Cents" debit rating to U.S., carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Nov. 3rd to New York Nov. 17th, New York black "24" cent due rating for 19¢ debit plus 5¢ inland postage, Very Fine and scarce use from India.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Opening US$ 400.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 14:07:12 EST
Sold For 0

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