United States Postal History continued...

Retaliatory Rates

Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
1008		S.S. Washington. June 1, 1847 folded letter to Dublin, Ireland, carried on maiden voyage of this vessel and of the Ocean Steam Navigation Company Line, red "New-York Jun. 1" circular datestamp with matching "Paid" arc, endorsed "p Washington Str.", London Jun. 15 and Dublin Jun. 17 receiving backstamps, ms. "1/-" due mark, contents related to relief for victims of the Irish Potato Famine, Very Fine, this American line was established to compete with Cunard, however, when the Washington's mail bags arrived in England they were treated by authorities as "Packet Letters" subject to the 1sh packet rate as opposed to the 8d ship letter rate, Britain's actions infuriated U.S. postal authorities and led to the Reprisal and Retaliatory Rates, examples from this maiden voyage are very scarce (Image)	E. 400-500 SOLD for $2,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
1009		"Paid at Wellington New Zealand" Crown Circle. Red handstamp clearly struck on 1848 folded letter to Baring Bros. in London, England, and forwarded to Salem Mass. during Retaliatory Rate period, neat "Wellington New-Zealand JU 27 1848" backstamp and London Oct. 13 receiving backstamp, ms. rate crossed out and re-rated in London, red "Paid/L.S. 3 NO 3 1848" Maltese Cross datestamp, red "Boston Ms. Ship Nov. 19" receiving datestamp and matching "29" rate handstamp indicating refusal to recognize prepaid packet postage, sender's original ship designation "Pr 'Philip Laing" (to England), forwarder's routing "via Southampton" crossed out, Very Fine, this letter arrived on the Cunard Acadia at Boston on Nov. 19, 1848, and was subjected to the U.S. Retaliatory Rate of 24c plus 5c, we have never seen another example of this Crown Circle (or any other) on a Retaliatory Rate cover (Image)	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $1,350.00 Will close during Public Auction
1010		Boston Ms. Ship Sep. 8. Red rimless datestamp and matching "58" Retaliatory Rate handstamp on Aug. 19, 1848 folded letter from Germany to New York, red "Sonneberg/19 Augt 1848" two-line handstamp, red Liverpool Paid Aug. 24 transit, red "PP" handstamp and black "P" in oval, various rate notations, slight wear along file fold, otherwise Very Fine, scarce double Retaliatory Rate usage from Germany, the Cunarder Hibernia departed Liverpool Aug. 26 and arrived in Boston on Sep. 8, 1848 (Image)	E. 400-500 SOLD for $2,600.00 Will close during Public Auction
1011		Reprisal, Retaliatory, Restored and Treaty Rates, 1847-49. 36 covers on annotated exhibit pages in album, an extraordinary collection of mail from this significant chapter in transatlantic postal relations, Reprisal Period represented by 8/19/1847 sailing of the Cunarder Caledonia to Boston where letter was rated 7c due despite 1sh prepaid packet postage, continues with 9/4/1847 and 6/10/1848 sailings of Britannia to Boston, both 7c due, Retaliatory Period represented by 25 covers, beginning with 6/24/1848 sailing of Caledonia, the first westbound trip to be charged with the 24c Retaliatory rate (G.B. 1sh franking and huge red "24" applied at N.Y.), continues with 7/5/1848 first eastbound trip (Britannia), variety of "24", "29" and "34" U.S. rate handstamps, most stampless from England, also from Ireland, France and Gibraltar, some with G.B. frankings incl. very attractive combination of 1p, 2p and 1sh on cover from U.S. to Italy via England, last day cover from Trieste to U.S. via London, Restored Rates represented by three covers, beginning with 12/30/1848 first westbound voyage of America, finally, the U.S-G.B. Treaty Rate Period begins with first eastbound and westbound sailings of Niagara (2/21/1849) and America (2/24/1849) and concludes with three different 1849 sailings, values for covers are typically $200-300 for Reprisal Rates, $100-200 for Retaliatory Rates ($500+ for first trips or unusual frankings), and $200-300 for Restored Rates, therefore, the total value of this group if acquired one by one could easily exceed $5,000, to which the tremendous value of Arthur White's research and copious notes must be added, this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has been intrigued by covers demonstrating the conflict between the U.S. and Great Britain over transatlantic packets	E. 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $5,750.00 Will close during Public Auction