(Restored Rate) 1849 (Jan. 21) Trenton N.J. to London, England. Buff cover with datelined letter from the sister of the surgeon aboard U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence, care of Baring Brothers London, blue "Trenton, N.J., Jan 22" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with pencil "24" rating, carried by Cunard America from Boston Jan. 24th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 4th, red London (2.5) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/-" due rating for packet after crossing out the "2/-" rating made in error, Very Fine, Carried on the second of only three eastbound sailings in the restored rate period.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1849 (Feb. 18) Morrisville Pa. to London, England. Buff cover with datelined letter to the surgeon aboard the U.S. Frigate St. Lawrence, care of Baring Brothers in London, manuscript "Morrisville" postmark and matching "Paid 24" cents rating, carried by Cunard Niagara departing Boston Feb 21st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 6th, red London (3.7) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/-" rating despite the treaty having been ratified, as the Treasury warrant was not sent to British post offices until March 8th; wax stain, Fine, The First Eastbound Sailing During the Treaty Period.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

The first convention mails from the U.S. sailed on the Ocean Line's "Hermann" on February 20th. This sailing of "Niagara" carried the first convention mail by a Cunarder. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1849 (Feb. 20) New York, N.Y. to London, England. Datelined folded letter with New York red "24" prepaid rating handstamp for 24¢ packet rating, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Feb. 21st to Liverpool Mar. 6th, London Paid (3.7) tombstone arrival and red manuscript "1/-" shilling packet rating; light horizontal fold, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A CHOICE USE CARRIED ON THE FIRST EASTBOUND SAILING ON A BRITISH PACKET UNDER THE 1848 CONVENTION.

In December 1848 a treaty was negotiated restoring the conditions prior the the Retaliatory Rate period. The treaty was not ratified by Congress until February 1849 and the three eastbound sailings by Cunard before ratification are known as the Restored Period. The first sailing under the new treaty was from Boston by the "Niagara" on 21st February 1849. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1849 (Feb. 20) Leeds, England to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter with red Liverpool (2.23) cds and manuscript red "1/-" one-shilling packet rating, Liverpool (2.24) backstamp and red "5" cents credit to the U.S., carried on Cunard America from Liverpool Feb. 24th to Boston arriving Mar. 8th, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

THIS WAS THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING UNDER THE 1848 US-GB TREATY.

No rating handstamps were available in Liverpool for the first four westbound sailings. For details of the confusion surrounding early treaty mails see the 1992 article by R.F. Winter in Chronicle 154. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1849 (Jun. 6) Liverpool, England to Petersburg, Va. Folded letter with Liverpool (6.8) backstamp and "19/cents" debit handstamp to U.S., carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Jun. 9th to Boston arriving Jun. 20th, Boston black "SHIP" handstamp with manuscript "24" due rating, Very Fine, This is the only example seen with the "SHIP" handstamp on a letter carried under the postal convention., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Boston continued to use circular datestamps with the word SHIP for four months after the treaty went into effect. In this case, they used only a straightline handstamp SHIP. This was not a ship letter but a packet letter carried under the new postal convention. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1849 (Nov. 26) New York to Carduff Kelly, Ireland. Folded letter from, red "Forwarded by Abraham Bell & Co. New York" oval, black "5" cent debit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line America from New York Nov. 28th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 12th, handstamped "1/" rating for transatlantic packet fee, red manuscript "Not Found", returned to the United States, "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dept." circular handstamp with manuscript "May 17, 1851" dating, V, Very Fine and scarce transatlantic dead letter use, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $600 - 800.

Addressee in Ireland never found, probably because there was no Carduff Kelly. Monaghan postmaster marked letter "Not Known" in red ink and and returned letter to London. Subsequently, letter returned to Dead Letter Office in Washington, D.C. because it contained a valuable (printed check for £7). D.L.O. opened letter, determined originator, and sent back to New York. Seventeen month delay in returning letter probably resulted from large backlog at D.L.O. Est. $600-800 (Image)

Est. $600-800

1850 (May 17) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red "Paid at Liverpool, MY 28 1850" framed postmark and matching "5/Cents" credit handstamp to U.S., carried on Cunard Line Asia from Liverpool May 18th to Boston arriving May 28th, red "Br. Packet, Boston, Paid, 28 May" cds and matching "24" handstamp to indicate prepayment., F.-V.F., Carried on the Maiden Voyage of Cunar Line Asia.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1850 (Jul. 5) Morrisville Pa. to London, England. Orange buff cover from the Clymer correspondence to U.S. Frigate Lawrence, care of Baring Bros., London, red "Trenton N.J. Jul 8" cds with matching "Paid" and boxed "24" rating handstamp, red Boston "19" credit handstamp to G.B., carried on Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Jul. 10th to Liverpool arriving Jul. 20th, red London Paid (7.21) tombstone arrival, forwarded from London by Baring brothers to the St. Lawrence at Bremerhaven, where docketed on reverse as having arrived on Sep. 3rd, complete contents of a long letter from the daughter of George Clymer, Very Fine and scarce Trenton boxed "24" rating handstamp.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Baring Brothers in London acted as forwarder for most of the letters to Doctor Clymer. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300