(French Retaliatory Rates) 1853 (Jan. 17) Marseille, France to New York, N.Y. Folded letter with "13" décimes prepaid (not shown), carried by Cunard Line Canada from Liverpool Jan. 22nd to Boston arriving Feb. 5th, black "Boston Br. Packet 6 Feb" exchange cds with matching "21" due handstamp for French retaliatory rate; some "Ship" usages, group of Cunard Line sailings, etc., Very Fine and choice, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Only three eastbound and two westbound Cunard steamship voyages were made during the short 16-day French Retaliatory rate period between Jan. 24th and Feb. 10th 1853, when the United States collected 21¢ per ½ ounce on all letters exchanged between the U.S. and France via Great Britain. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1853 (Oct. 13) Columbia, Cal. to London, England. Buff cover bearing "Columbia, Cal." two-line postmark with manuscript "Oct 13" dating and matching "Paid" and crude "29" in circle rating handstamps, New York red "3" credit handstamp, red London Paid (11.2.1853) arrival cds; small edge tear and flap faults fixed, otherwise Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1867 (Dec. 5) Cincinnati, Oh. to Carlsruhe, Baden. Cover with blue "Cincinnati O. Dec 5" origin cds, "New York Br. Pkt. '23' Dec 11" debit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Persia departing Dec. 11 to Queenstown arriving Dec. 22, Verviers (12.24) and Baden (12.25) backstamps, large blue "45" kreuzer due handstamp; reduced at left, Very Fine, ex-Winter, with 1997 van der Linden certificate.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

U.S. debit included not only U.S. inland postage but also sea and British transit fees which the United States was required to pay to the United Kingdom. Transit through Belgium was paid for by the British. The Aachen exchange office clerk struck the blue "45" handstamp to show the postage due in Southern German currency, kreuzer (equivalent to 30¢). This uncommon handstamp was used only in 1866-67. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1868 (Sep. 21) San Antonio, Tex. to Bedford, England. Orange buff cover bearing 1¢ blue, F. grill (92) strip of three, and 3¢ red, F. grill (94), pair and single, all tied by cross roads cancel duplexed with "San Antonio Tex Sep 21" cds, red "New York 'Paid All' Oct 1" exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Hermann departing New York Oct. 1st to Southampton arriving Oct. 13th, red London Paid (10.14) arrival cds, Bedford (10.14) arrival cds; edge wear with rounded corner, Fine, with 1992 R.P.S. certificate.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Boston Transatlantic Mail, 1840s-70s. Collection of over 80 covers comprising mostly stampless transatlantics including better noted: 1840 New Haven Conn. to London with Boston manuscript "Too Late", 1846 Roxbury Mass. to Paris with "Forwarded by Harden & Co., Boston oval backstamp; various rating handstamps including rare Boston large "96", etc., F.-V.F.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500