1838 (Jun. 23) New York, N.Y. to Paris, France, folded letter with prepaid manuscript "25¢" rating for freight money fee by steamship, carried by Great Western on 2nd return from New York June 25 to Bristol arriving July 8, "Bristol/Ship Letter" framed h.s. and manuscript "1/6" due 1s6d rating for 8d ship fee plus 10d inland, London (7.10) arrival backstamp, London red manuscript "1-6, 1-8, 3-2" prepaid rating crossed out and "Not Paid" applied with "1/6" debit to France, red French entry cds and "28" decimes due rating, Very Fine, This is the earliest recorded example of freight money fee collection for any steamship voyage. Estimate  $1,000 - 1,500. Letter taken to ship agent's office and paid the 25¢ freight money fee. It is very uncommon to find the freight money fee marked on any letters from New York with only a few examples known and those from the start of the freight money period. London started to mark the letter as prepaid in England (red accounting in upper left), then marked letter "Not Paid" and debited France 1s6d under 1836 Anglo-French Treaty. Paris marked 28 decimes postage due (18 decimes payback to U.K. plus 10 decimes internal postage from Calais to Paris). $0 (Image)