1848 (Feb. 11) London, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter conveyed privately to Liverpool, entered mails with red "Paid at Liverpool, FE 12 1848" framed handstamp and matching "1/-L packet-rate handstamp, carried on Cunard Britannia departing Liverpool Feb. 12th to Boston Mar. 4th, New York red "7" cents due for 5¢ inland plus 2¢ ship, Very Fine example of New York's large "7" ratemarker, ex-Pullin.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1848 (Mar. 7) Meiningen, Saxe-Meiningen to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with "Meiningen 7/3 1848" cds sent unpaid in care of Baring Bros. in Liverpool and endorsed "via Ostend", Prussia blue ms. "4¼" sbr. debit to G.B., reverse with red London (3.13) and blue Liverpool (3.13) arrival cds, remailed with red "Liverpool, Paid, MR 20 1848" origin cds and "1" shilling packet rating, endorsed per Ocean Line "Washington" from Southampton but missed it with "Too Late" framed handstamp struck, red London Paid (3.21) cds and Liverpool (3.21), sent on Cunard Line Hibernia from Liverpool Mar. 25th to New York arriving Apr. 8th, red "6" circled handstamp; tear at center, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1848 (Mar. 16) Zante, Ionian Islands to Boston, Mass. Folded letter addressed in care of Forwarding Agent Baring Brothers in London, green "Zante, 16 Marzo" origin datestamp with red manuscript "6" pence prepaid for double Ionia Island local fee, London (3.31) arrival backstamp and manuscript "2/-" shilling due, after paying British postage due on the letter, it was sent to Boston "out of the mails" avoiding the transatlantic packet rate, carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Liverpool Apr. 8th to Boston arriving Apr. 23rd, Fine and scarce incoming use from the Ionian Islands., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1848 (Mar. 19) New Orleans La. to Bordeaux, France. Datelined folded letter with black "New Orleans La. Mar 19" cds and matching "Paid" and large "10" rating for inland postage, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Boston Apr. 5th to Liverpool arriving Apr. 18th, red London (4.19) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies &c. Art 13" framed handstamp, Bordeaux (4.22) arrival backstamp and manuscript "20" decimes due rating, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Discriminatory Rate) 1848 (Mar. 21) New York N.Y. to London, England. Rothschild correspondence folded letter with red "New-York Mar 18" exchange datestamp and pencil "48" prepaid rating for two-times the 24¢ American packet rate, endorsed "Paid",carried as endorsed on Ocean Line Hermann from New York Mar. 21st to Southampton arriving Apr. 11th, red London (4.12) arrival backstamp and manuscript "2/-" shilling rating for two-times the 1s packet fee; some edge splitting at top, Very Fine and scarce use, Carried on the Maiden Voyage of the Ocean Line Hermann.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Beginning June 1st 1847, the United States provided its first contract steamship service for carrying mail to and from Europe, via the Ocean Line. The fee associated with this service was 24¢ per ½ ounce, plus the U.S. internal postage to New York (5¢ for distances less than 300 miles, or 10¢ for greater distances). 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. Since the letter cost was so high due to discriminatory rates, very few letters were sent from the United States to England on the American contract mail steamships before 1849. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1848 (Apr. 25) Bremen to Petersburg, Va. Dateline folded letter with "S.T. P.A., Bremen, 25 4" double-circle datestamp and matching "Franco" straightline and red manuscript "1/6" credit to G.B., letter traveled from Bremen via Cuxhaven by sea to England, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Apr. 29th to New York arriving May 14th, New York large red "12" due handstamp for 10¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and scarce use from Bremen with large New York "12" rating handstamp, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

U.K. was entitled to 6d transit fee under Anglo-Bremen Convention of 1841 and 1s packet rate to U.S. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1848 (May 15) La Grange, Texas to Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Folded letter datelined "Farm New Riede" and mailed the following dated with manuscript "La Grange Texas, May 15. 1848" postmark and matching "Paid 10¢" rating, endorsed "via Boston, Liverpool, by first Steamer", carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from New York Jun. 7th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 21st, red London (6.22) transit backstamp and manuscript "1/10" 1s10d debit to Prussia as letter required two Belgian rates, Aachen "AMERICA per ENGLAND" framed handstamp and red manuscript "21 2/3" sgr. due (1s10d converted to 18 1/3 sgr. plus 3 1/3 sgr. German transit fee), Frankfurt manuscript "76/0" due rating for 76 kr. due with no local fee; some erosion and toning, Fine and rare use from Texas.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1848 (Jun. 10) Liverpool, England to New Orleans, La. Folded letter endorsed "pr. Britania", red "Paid At Liverpool JU 10 1848" postmark and matching "1/-" prepaid packet fee, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Jun. 10th to New York arriving Jun. 26th, New York large "12" due rating for 10¢ inland fees and 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, Carried on the final voyage prior to the retaliatory period., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Letter carried on ninth and final voyage by Cunard steamer to New York before retaliatory rate period. New York ship markings appear on Cunard covers for only six months in 1848 and six weeks in early 1849 before treaty rates became effective. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Jun. 20) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red "Paid At, Liverpool, JU 21 1848" framed handstamp and matching "1/-" packet-rate handstamp, carried on Cunard Caledonia departing Liverpool Jun. 24th to New York arriving Jul. 8th, bold strike of New York red "24" retaliatory due handstamp, Very Fine, This was the first westbound sailing of Cunard after institution of the retaliatory rates..
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The New York post office neglected to charge the inland postage portion of the retaliatory rate. For letters arriving on subsequent Cunard ships, the 5 cents inland rate was added, and letters were thus rated 29 cents due. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Retaliatory Rate) 1848 (Jun. 23) London, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red London Paid (6.23) Maltese cross postmark and red "1/-" shilling prepaid transatlantic rating, endorsed "Per Steamer via Halifax", carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Jun. 24th to New York arriving Jul. 8th, red New York "24" due rating for 24¢ American packet rate at port of entry, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

CARRIED ON THE FIRST CUNARD MAIL VOYAGE TO THE U.S. STATES UNDER THE RETALIATORY ORDER.

Letter carried on 1st of 25 Cunard mail voyages to the U.S. under the retaliatory order by which the U.S. charged the American Packet rate on letters carried to or from the U.S. by British contract mail steamers. The result was a double charge for sea postage since the British insisted on charging their own sea postage. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Jun. 24) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter with red "Paid at Liverpool, JU 24 1848" framed postmark and matching "1/-" shilling prepaid transatlantic rating, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Jun. 24 to New York arriving Jul. 8, red "New York '29cts.' Jul. 9" due rating cds for 5¢ inland postage plus 24¢ for the American packet rate, Very Fine and choice, Carried on the first Cunard mail voyage to the U.S. States under the retaliatory order., ex-Heglund.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Letter carried on 1st of 25 Cunard mail voyages to the U.S. under the retaliatory order by which the U.S. charged the American Packet rate on letters carried to or from the U.S. by British contract mail steamers. The result was a double charge for sea postage since the British insisted on charging their own sea postage. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Jul. 4) Manchester, England to Boston Mass. Datelined folded letter with red "Manchester, JY 4, 1848" cds and red "1/-" packet rating, carried on Cunard Hibernia departing Liverpool Jul. 8th to New York arriving Jul. 21st, conveyed to Boston in a closed mail bag where the Boston red "29" cents retaliatory handstamp was applied., pristine and Very Fine retaliatory rate cover from the third westbound sailing during the period., ex-Sheppard.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Jul. 15) Liverpool to New York. Datelined folded letter with orange "Paid at Liverpool, JY 12 1848" framed handstamp and matching "1/-" packet-rate handstamp, carried by Cunard Europa from Liverpool Jul. 15th to Boston arriving Jul. 27th, partial red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jul 2" cds and matching small "29" cents due handstamp for 5¢ inland plus 24¢ retaliatory packet rating, Very Fine, ex-Robson Lowe, Tim O'Connor.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

This was the Maiden Voyage of the Cunard Line Europa, which was the fourth westbound sailing in the retaliatory rate period. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Retaliatory Rate) 1848 (Aug. 3) London, England To New York N.Y. Folded ALS letter free franked "Joseph Hume" as Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons, also marked "Paid" and "1s" in Hume's hand, entered mails with red "UpperBerkeley-Sq" straightline and red manuscript "1/0" prepaid packet rating, red London Paid (8.3) cds and Liverpool (8.4) transit lozenge, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Aug. 5th to New York arriving Aug. 19th, red New York "24" cents due rating handstamp for retaliatory packet fee; two vertical file folds, F.-V.F., a rare free franked transatlantic letter.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Sep. 5) New York N.Y. to London, England. Datelined folded letter addressed in care of Baring Bros. with New York pencil "29" cent rating for 24¢ packet fee plus 5¢ postage, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston Sep. 6th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 19th, red London (9.20) backstamps, forwarded within London with G.B. 1d red tied by "19" oval grid, Very Fine and choice forwarded transatlantic use.
Estimate; $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

1848 (Sep. 18) Paterson N.J. to Burton-in-Kendal, England. Folded letter with red "Paterson N.J. Sep 18" cds and matching "Paid" straightline with manuscript "29" rating (24¢ American packet plus 5¢ inland postage), carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Sep. 20th to Southampton arriving Oct. 5th, red London (10.6) backstamp and manuscript "1/-" due rating for transatlantic packet discriminatory fee, red manuscript "Missent to" and blue "Kendal, OC 6 1843" cds adjacent, "Burton.W" (10.7) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The commencement of the American Packet service on June 1, 1847 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. Eventually, continued use of this discriminatory rate on American packet letters caused Americans to retaliate with a double sea postage on letters carried by British contract vessels. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Sep. 23) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Gray datelined folded letter with red "Paid at Liverpool, SP 23 1848" framed datestamp and matching "1/-" rating handstamp, carried by Cunard Cambria from Liverpool Sep. 23rd to Boston arriving Oct. 6th, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Oct 6" rimless cds and matching "29" due handstamp for 5¢ inland plus 24¢ retaliatory rate., Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Harry Spring, Tim O'Connor.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Sep. 28) London, England to Alton Ill. Envelope with red London "Paid, 28 SE 28, 1848" cds and red manuscript "1/-" packet rate prepayment, carried on Cunard Britannia departing Liverpool Sep. 30 th to New York arriving Oct. 17th, red "New-York, Ship, '34 cts.' Oct 17" integral cds for 10¢ inland plus 24¢ retaliatory rate; backflap faults and minor edge wear, a Very Fine strike of New York's "34cts" retaliatory cds.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Nov. 1) Antwerp, Belgium to Castine, Me. Folded letter written at quarantine grounds near Antwerp by sailing ship captain who crossed the Atlantic through a hurricane and arrived at Antwerp, it was carried privately to London and posted with "Fenchurch St" straightline postmark, red London "Paid, 10 NO 1848" transit and red manuscript "1/-" shilling prepaid packet rating, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Nov. 11 to New York arriving Nov. 25, red "New York 'Ship 34cts Nov 25" entry cds for 10¢ inland postage plus 24¢ packet fee, Very Fine and interesting retaliatory rate cover from Belgium, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1848 (Nov. 13) New Orleans La. to Bordeaux, France. Cover with partial "New Orleans La. Nov 13" cds and matching "Paid" and "34" rating handstamps for the retaliatory rate, carried by Cunard Line America from New York Nov. 22nd to Liverpool arriving Dec. 4th, partial London (12.5) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies / & Art 13." framed accountancy handstamp, Boulonge (12.6) entry cds and ms. "20" due rating updated to "25" decimes, Bordeaux (12.8) arrival backstamp; small edge tear, Fine and scarce retaliatory rate period use to France.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Retaliatory Rate) 1848 (Dec. 16) Liverpool, England to Alden, Erie County, N.Y. Bluish cover with red "Paid at Liverpool, DE 16 1848" framed postmark with matching red "1/-" prepaid packet rating handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Dec. 16th to New York arriving Dec. 31st, red "New-York 'Ship 34cts' Jan "" cds for 10¢ inland postage plus 24¢ packet fee; small manuscript spot, Very Fine and rare example from the last retaliatory sailing.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

COVER WAS CARRIED ON THE 25TH AND LAST CUNARD MAIL VOYAGE TO THE U.S. UNDER THE RETALIATORY ORDER. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750