Pioneer Steamships "Washington" & Discriminatory Rate, Fourth Westbound Voyage. Southampton March 21st - New York April 7th 1848, Entire from Baring Brothers, London headed "Duplicate Origl. per. Caledonia" and dated "London 10 March 1848" addressed to Bath, Maine. Endorsed "p Washington" and posted prepaid 1/- on March 20th to be put onto the Washington. On arrival at New York rated as unpaid and charged "34" cents being 24 cents sea post plus 10 cents inland. Atlantic transit of 17 days, F.-V.F. Estimate  $750 - 1,000. Whilst letters on the eastbound route during the Discriminatory Rate period are relatively rare, those on westbound voyages are exceptional. Where prepaid letters were endorsed to be carried by an Ocean Line vessel they should have been charged 8d. It was however the practice of the British PO to charge these letters the full 1/- packet rate.Such westbound letters are rare and on arrival at New York were charged the full US sea post rate of 24 cents plus the appropriate inland rate for delivery. This action predated the well known Retaliatory Rate period. $0 (Image)