1846 (Feb. 28) New York, N.Y. to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter with red "New-York '5 Paid' 28 Feb" cds, carried by Enoch Train Sailing Ship Joshua Bates from Boston Mar. 5 to Liverpool arriving Mar. 28, Liverpool Ship (3.28) and London (3.29) backstamps with manuscript "1/4" debit rating to Belgium, Ostend (3.31) and Verviers (4.1) backstamps, framed accounting handstamp with blue manuscript ratings totaled to "22" decimes due rating, Very Fine and choice use, a scarce packet letter for Belgium sent on non-contract sailing ship. Estimate  $200 - 300. Letter endorsed "p Cambria" and included among the 8000 letters sent to Boston on the coastal steamer Mohegan from New York which was delayed in a snow storm and missed the sailing of Cunard steamship Cambria on Mar. 1, the scheduled contract steamer. Boston's postmaster sent the delayed mails on the next available sailing ship to Liverpool. London debited Belgium 1s 4d under Anglo-Belgium Treaty of 1844 (8d ship rate plus 8d British transit to Belgium). Belgian accounting handstamp shows 16 decimes owed to U.K. plus 6 decimes internal fee for total postage due of 22 decimes. $0 (Image)