1851 (Nov. 6) New Orleans, La. to Paris, France, folded letter with red "New Orleans La. Nov 7" cds with matching "Paid 5" rating h.s. for British open mail rate via British packet, carried by Cunard Line Canada from New York Nov. 19 to Liverpool arriving Dec. 2, red London (12.3) backstamp, Paris (11.4) entry cds with error month and correct Paris (12.4) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, This letter was in the first mails to arrive in France under the new December 1, 1851 mail arrangement. Estimate  $500 - 750. Effective December 1, 1851, the postage due on letters between the United States and France, via England by British packet, was set by French decree at 13 decimes per 7½ grams. This rate was developed from a provisional agreement between France and Great Britain in the middle of 1851, which reduced the British transit share on letters via England.Since this letter was carried on the first sailing under this new arrangement, a rate handstamp was not yet available and the postage due was marked at Paris in manuscript. On subsequent voyages, Paris used a 13 decimes rate handstamp. Additionally, the Paris office did not change the month slug in the French entry marking. This letter, which arrived in Paris on December 4, 1851, shows a Nov. 4 date. $0 (Image)