Pioneer Steamship "Washington" & Discriminatory Rate, Second Voyage, N. Y. September 23rd - Southampton October 9th 1847. Entire dated "Habana 20 de Agost 1847" and forwarded by Daniel Curtis Jr. of New York who endorsed the letter "p. Mail Steamer Washington". Stamped by the New York office as "PAID" but on arrival at Southampton manuscript rated at 1/- to be paid by Frederick Huth & Co. in London as the Discriminatory Rate. Reverse bears London arrival of October 9th 1847 & Curtis manuscript forwarding endorsement, Atlantic transit of 16 days., Very Fine. Estimate  $200 - 300. The Ocean Line was awarded the first USPO contract for US mails under the Foreign Mails Act of 1845. Two steamships were built, the Washington and the Hermann and they operated the contact over its 10 year term between New York and Bremen with a stop at Southampton. The Washington inaugurated the service leaving New York June 1st 1847 arriving Southampton June 15th.The commencement of the service led to Britain imposing a "Discriminatory Rate" on mails landed at Southampton with all US prepayment ignored and the One Shilling Packet Rate charged to the addressee leading to the Retaliatory Rate period. $0 (Image)