5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1,
2). 5c three large margins, touched at top, used with 10c horizontal
strip of three, Positions 22-24R, full to large margins except where
frameline just touched at top right, tied by red square grid of New York
City on folded cover to Gand, Belgium, from the De Coster
correspondence, docketing indicates letter originated at Charleston S.C. on
October 28, 1848, sender's route instructions "pr Mail to Boston for
Steamer 'Niagara'" were followed and the cover was conveyed outside the
mails (probably by rail) to New York City, then posted to Boston, from
which port it was carried by the Cunarder Niagara, departing
November 1 and arriving at Liverpool on November 13, red Liverpool "OD 14
NO 14 1848" circular datestamp on back, corresponding British "1/8"
ms. debit marking, Ostend Nov. 15 red backstamp, red rectangular
accountancy handstamp (with rates in blue ink) "DEBOURS ETRANGERS 1/8 /
TAXE REDUITE 20 / PORT BELGE 4" representing postage of 1sh8p British,
re-stated 20 decimes in Belgian currency, plus 4 decimes internal rate,
large blue "24" decimes ms. marking for total amount due from addressee,
final marking is a red Gand receiving datestamp on back, horizontal file
fold clear of stampsEXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 COMBINATION COVER TO BELGIUM. A MAGNIFICENT FRANKING, PAYING THE UNITED STATES DOMESTIC RATE AND TRANSATLANTIC PACKET POSTAGE DURING THE RETALIATORY-RATE PERIOD.
The so-called Retaliatory Period resulted from Great Britain's effort to maintain its monopoly on transatlantic mail carriage through the subsidized Cunard steamship line, which operated without competition from 1840 through 1846. In response to the emergence of subsidized American packets in 1847, the British issued an order (effective June 9, 1847) authorizing its receiving offices to collect the usual British packet postage on letters delivered by American mail steamers. The order effectively treated prepaid American packet letters arriving in England as if they had been sent unpaid, and the British collected sea postage from the addressee when no service had been rendered.
The United States vehemently protested the British order through diplomatic channels, but efforts to persuade the government to rescind the anti-American postal tariff were unsuccessful. In December 1847, U.S. Postmaster General Cave Johnson petitioned Congress for power to levy like charges on mail carried by British steamers to or from the United States, but he was not authorized to do so until June 1848. On all Cunard sailings from June 24, 1848 (the Caledonia from Liverpool) through December 31, 1848 (the Europa arriving at New York), American packet postage was charged whether or not one of the American vessels was used. Beginning with the departure of the Europa from New York on January 10, 1849, earlier rates were restored, and soon after the new U.S.-British treaty rate was effected.
This cover to Belgium reflects the dispute between Great Britain and the United States, because it had to be carried to Liverpool for further transit to Ostend and Gand, Belgium. The well-informed sender designated the sailing of the Cunarder Niagara from Boston and prepaid 10c domestic postage plus the 24c British packet rate (1c overpayment). The letter originated in Charleston, but was not put into the mails until it reached New York City, probably on a northbound train. Although postage from New York to Boston was normally 5c, the sender was obliged to pay the full 10c over-300 miles rate from Charleston. On arrival at Liverpool, the American prepayment was ignored, and "1/8" (one shilling, eight pence) for British packet service was debited to Belgium. This amount, re-stated as 20 decimes Belgian currency plus 4 decimes internal postage, was collected from the addressee (approximately 48c).
This remarkable cover, bearing both first issues of the United States -- including a strip of the 10c -- was discussed in detail in Ashbrook's Special Service (Photograph No. 60) and is signed by him on back. It has at various times been described as one of the most important and valuable covers in classic American philately.
Ex Waterhouse, Gibson, Brigham, Pope and Kapiloff. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)