(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Aug. 2) Philadelphia, Pa. to Sondeshausen, Schwarzberg-Sondershausen, folded Aug. 2nd cover with blue "Philada Pa. '5cts' Aug 2" cds with matching "Paid" framed h.s. and red crayon "5" cent rating, carried by Black Ball Line United States from New York Aug. 5 to Havre arriving Aug. 19, Havre (8.19) entry cds, Prussia red manuscript "8½ See breif" rating and final large red manuscript "13½" sbr. due rating, Very Fine, Very few letters carried by this non-contract steamer have been recorded.; 1997 van der Linden certificate. Estimate  $300 - 400. Retaliatory rate of 29¢ avoided by sending this letter paid only the inland fee to New York. Here, the postmaster was obliged to put the letter on the next convenient vessel with no extra fees paid. In this case, letter placed on board the non-contract steamship United States, which made only four transatlantic round voyages for the Black Ball sailing ship line before being sold to the German Government as a war ship. The last three voyages terminated in Havre from New York. Prussian marked "8½ See brief" in red pen to show 8½ silbergroschen was owed to France for this ship letter under Franco-Prussian Treaty of 1847. Prussia added 5 sgr. for internal transit and marked letter for a postage due of 13½ sgr. $0 (Image)