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| Scott Number | 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | December 11, 1847 |
| From City | Charleston |
| From State | SC |
| To City | Liverpool |
| To State | England |
| Addressee | J. Langston |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 52875 |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 0 |
| Quantity 2 | 1 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
Chronicle 93
A more serious error (because misleading) occurred in the description of the cover shown. It read:¨
# 2. 1847. 10c Black, 4 large margins, pos 94L, w/spur in L mgn, on 1848 letter front wired "Charleston, S.C. 10", tied by matching bar grid, black Liverpool postage due marking letter went to Boston (10¢ over 300 mile rate) & then by British (Cunard) Steamer " Britannia " on her last voyage, to Liverpool, England: An exceptional example of the Retaliatory Rate Period, Extremely Fine & rare ('76 PF certif) . . . .
There is just enough truth in this description to confirm Pope's warning against "a little learning." Since the cover is a letter front only, the 1848 year date has been inferred-wishfully and erroneously- from other aspects of the cover in order to make it a scarce and desirable retaliatory rate cover. But the appearance of the cover establishes that it can't possibly be a retaliatory use.
The postmark date (faint in the illustration) is DEC 11. It is true that Britannia's last voyage for Cunard was from Boston on December 13, 1848, but she was also in service throughout 1847 (and had been since inaugurating the service July 4, 1840), and sailed from Boston on December 16, 1847, arriving at Liverpool December 30.
The interval between the postmark date and the 1848 sailing date was only two days- hardly sufficient to insure transmission to Boston ; the 1847 interval was five days- a much more usual allowance for correspondents in Charleston and other points in the South. (For a list of known 1847 covers to Europe see Creighton C, Hart's article in Chronicle 76; this cover is there mistakenly dated December 21.)
Wolfers auction 50 lot 109
Alexander listed as 12/11/47
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale 482 Lot 25 realized 625
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 587 lot 101 realized 3250
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 604 lot 272 realized 2400
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 771 lot 556 realized 650
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 1109 lot 375 (image) realized 700
PF 52875 #2 genuinely used on folded letter
A more serious error (because misleading) occurred in the description of the cover shown. It read:¨
# 2. 1847. 10c Black, 4 large margins, pos 94L, w/spur in L mgn, on 1848 letter front wired "Charleston, S.C. 10", tied by matching bar grid, black Liverpool postage due marking letter went to Boston (10¢ over 300 mile rate) & then by British (Cunard) Steamer " Britannia " on her last voyage, to Liverpool, England: An exceptional example of the Retaliatory Rate Period, Extremely Fine & rare ('76 PF certif) . . . .
There is just enough truth in this description to confirm Pope's warning against "a little learning." Since the cover is a letter front only, the 1848 year date has been inferred-wishfully and erroneously- from other aspects of the cover in order to make it a scarce and desirable retaliatory rate cover. But the appearance of the cover establishes that it can't possibly be a retaliatory use.
The postmark date (faint in the illustration) is DEC 11. It is true that Britannia's last voyage for Cunard was from Boston on December 13, 1848, but she was also in service throughout 1847 (and had been since inaugurating the service July 4, 1840), and sailed from Boston on December 16, 1847, arriving at Liverpool December 30.
The interval between the postmark date and the 1848 sailing date was only two days- hardly sufficient to insure transmission to Boston ; the 1847 interval was five days- a much more usual allowance for correspondents in Charleston and other points in the South. (For a list of known 1847 covers to Europe see Creighton C, Hart's article in Chronicle 76; this cover is there mistakenly dated December 21.)
Wolfers auction 50 lot 109
Alexander listed as 12/11/47
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale 482 Lot 25 realized 625
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 587 lot 101 realized 3250
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 604 lot 272 realized 2400
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 771 lot 556 realized 650
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 1109 lot 375 (image) realized 700
PF 52875 #2 genuinely used on folded letter
