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| Scott Number | 1 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | December 2, 1848 |
| From City | Mobile |
| From State | AL |
| To City | Greenock |
| To State | Scotland |
| Addressee | A. R. Johnston |
| Cert Author | |
| Cert # | |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 1 |
| Quantity 2 | 3 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
Scotland (Greenock), Mobile 12/2/48 (datelined New Orleans) via Boston, carried on RMS Britannia 12/13/48 from Boston, 5¢ and 10¢ strip of three, ex Krug, Ishikawa
(photo from Christie's sale 7726 lot 83 realized 28,750).
Alexander listed as 12/2/48
Ashbrook Special Services cover 184 describing this as a Retaliatory Rate cover that was charged for English sea postage although it was shipped on an American packet, thus paying twice the postage at 34 c (1c overpayment)
Lot 301 5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Horizontal strip of three of 10c, large margins to barely touched at lower right, single 5c with large margins to ample, tied by red grid cancels, light strike of "Mobile Ala. Dec. 4" circular datestamp on blue 1848 folded cover to Greenock, Scotland, bold "1/-" one-shilling due handstamp, neat "America Liverpool DE 28, 1848" and framed "Greenock DE 29, 1848" backstamps, docketing on back indicates Dec. 2 origination in New Orleans, vertical file fold affects center 10c stamp
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE AND RARE RETALIATORY RATE COVER FROM NEW ORLEANS TO SCOTLAND VIA BOSTON. ONLY TEN RETALIATORY RATE COVERS BEARING UNITED STATES STAMPS ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH JUST THREE ARE COMBINATION 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 FRANKINGS.
The full history of the Retaliatory Rate period is told in our catalogue for the famous Rush cover, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/2006/912/912.pdf. 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 Ocean Line), the British issued an order (effective June 9, 1847) authorizing its receiving offices to collect the usual British packet postage on letters carried to England by American subsidized steamers. This effectively allowed England to collect 24c packet charges for every inbound letter, whether or not any service had been performed.
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 required on all inbound and outbound mail to England whether or not one of the American vessels was used, creating the so-called Retaliatory Rate. 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 Scotland reflects the dispute between Great Britain and the United States. The 35c in postage pays the U.S. 10c domestic rate for distances over 300 miles, plus a 1c overpayment of the 24c rate to England. It originated in New Orleans and entered the Mobile post office as unmarked way mail (see Van Koppersmith's article in Chronicle 215, pp. 198-198). It was carried on the Cunarder Cambria, which departed New York on December 6 and arrived in Liverpool on December 20. The 24c prepayment was ignored, and the letter was charged one shilling for sea postage and inland delivery.
Written up in Ashbrook's Special Service, Issue 45, 1954, photo 184. Noted in Chronicle 76 (p. 187). Illustrated in Chronicle 93 (p. 16). Signed Ashbrook. Ex Durham, Krug, Ishikawa and Hackmey.
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 1041 realized 37,500
Date appears to be Dec 4, 1848
(photo from Christie's sale 7726 lot 83 realized 28,750).
Alexander listed as 12/2/48
Ashbrook Special Services cover 184 describing this as a Retaliatory Rate cover that was charged for English sea postage although it was shipped on an American packet, thus paying twice the postage at 34 c (1c overpayment)
Lot 301 5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Horizontal strip of three of 10c, large margins to barely touched at lower right, single 5c with large margins to ample, tied by red grid cancels, light strike of "Mobile Ala. Dec. 4" circular datestamp on blue 1848 folded cover to Greenock, Scotland, bold "1/-" one-shilling due handstamp, neat "America Liverpool DE 28, 1848" and framed "Greenock DE 29, 1848" backstamps, docketing on back indicates Dec. 2 origination in New Orleans, vertical file fold affects center 10c stamp
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE AND RARE RETALIATORY RATE COVER FROM NEW ORLEANS TO SCOTLAND VIA BOSTON. ONLY TEN RETALIATORY RATE COVERS BEARING UNITED STATES STAMPS ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH JUST THREE ARE COMBINATION 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 FRANKINGS.
The full history of the Retaliatory Rate period is told in our catalogue for the famous Rush cover, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/2006/912/912.pdf. 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 Ocean Line), the British issued an order (effective June 9, 1847) authorizing its receiving offices to collect the usual British packet postage on letters carried to England by American subsidized steamers. This effectively allowed England to collect 24c packet charges for every inbound letter, whether or not any service had been performed.
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 required on all inbound and outbound mail to England whether or not one of the American vessels was used, creating the so-called Retaliatory Rate. 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 Scotland reflects the dispute between Great Britain and the United States. The 35c in postage pays the U.S. 10c domestic rate for distances over 300 miles, plus a 1c overpayment of the 24c rate to England. It originated in New Orleans and entered the Mobile post office as unmarked way mail (see Van Koppersmith's article in Chronicle 215, pp. 198-198). It was carried on the Cunarder Cambria, which departed New York on December 6 and arrived in Liverpool on December 20. The 24c prepayment was ignored, and the letter was charged one shilling for sea postage and inland delivery.
Written up in Ashbrook's Special Service, Issue 45, 1954, photo 184. Noted in Chronicle 76 (p. 187). Illustrated in Chronicle 93 (p. 16). Signed Ashbrook. Ex Durham, Krug, Ishikawa and Hackmey.
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 1041 realized 37,500
Date appears to be Dec 4, 1848
