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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |