(Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Jan. 12) Birmingham, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter with green "Birmingham, JA 12 1849" double-arc cds and bold magenta manuscript "2/-" prepaid rating for double the 1s packet rate, Liverpool "L, JA 13, A" oval transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Liverpool Jan. 13th to New York arriving Jan. 29th, New York large red "12" cents due handstamp for double the 5¢ inland rate for under 300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Letter carried on 2nd of only 4 Cunard mail westbound voyages to the United States during the six-week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective.

After the U.S. British Postal Convention was signed in December 1848, the retaliatory rate was rescinded by the Postmaster General on 3 January 1849. Rates reverted to those in force pre-June 1848, so incoming British packet letters were again treated as unpaid ship letters. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Feb. 8) Falmouth, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter with red "Falmouth, Fe 8 1849" cds and red manuscript "1/-" prepaid rating for 1s packet rate, Liverpool "L, FE 10, A" oval transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Feb. 10th to New York arriving Feb. 24th, bright red "New-York, Ship, 7cts, Feb 24" integral-due cds for 5¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee superimposed over Falmouth cds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Letter carried on the last of only 4 Cunard mail westbound voyages to the United States during the six-week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300