Lot
484 
(Restored Rates) 1848 (Dec. 21) Calcutta, India to Boston, Mass. via London, folded letter prepaid 14 annas (manuscript rating on reverse) for transit from Calcutta to Bombay, it was carried by East India Co. steamer Ajdaha from Bombay to Suez, HMS steamer Merlin from Alexandria to Malta, and HMS steamer Medusa from Malta to Marselles, then by train through France and cross channel to England, Baring Bros. paid "1/10" 1 shilling 10 pence upon receipt and then reposted with "1" shilling prepaid packet fee to Boston, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Feb. 10 to New York arriving Feb 24, red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Feb 24" integral due cds, F.-V.F., Carried on the fourth and final Cunard mail voyage during the restored rate period. Estimate $300 - 400.
The six-week period when pre-retaliatory rates were resumed before U.S.-G.B. postal convention became effective, is known as the restored rate period.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
485
1853 (Jul. 10) Belgaum, India to West Winsted, Conn., folded soldier's letter with "Soldier's Letter" endorsement, red "Belgaum Free, 1853 July 12" and Bombay "India" oval handstamps, letter carried by East India steamer Semiramis II to Aden and P&O steamers Bentinck and Ripon to Suez and Southampton, London (9.2) backstamp with large "2" pence due handstamp updated in manuscript "4" cents G.B. debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Sep. 3 to Boston arriving Sep. 15, "Boston Br. Pkt." exchange datestamp and "9" due rating for 4¢ plus 5¢ inland due rating; some edgewear and slight toning, Fine, one of only four recorded examples of this scarce concessionary rate to the U.S. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Unpaid soldier's letter from Private Jeremiah Ryan, 2nd company, 2nd Regiment, Bombay European Light infantry station at Camp Belgaum, India. Letter entitled to British military concessionary rate with appropriate endorsement and signature of company officer, Major John S. Ramsey. London marked 2d due, the unpaid concessionary rate to the U.K. and passed this on as 4¢ debit to U.S. Boston added 5¢ for U.S. inland fees and marked the letter for 9¢ postage due using the 6¢ rate handstamp upside down. This was the only way an unpaid letter could be sent from India to the U.S. for only 9¢.
Realized: $2,400
Lot
486
1855 (Apr. 7) Calcutta, India to Philadelphia, Pa., folded letter with Calcutta (4.7) origin cds, London (5.18) backstamp and matching "India" framed h.s., manuscript "54" cents debit to U.S., carried by Collins Line Pacific from Liverpool May 19 to New York arriving May 30, "Philadelphia Am. Pkt. May 30" exchange cds with two strikes of "75" due h.s., manuscript "77" at lower left, light vertical fold, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried by P&O steamers "Oriental" from Calcutta to Suez via Madras and Ceylon and "Vectis" from Alexandria to Marseille via Malta. British debit included 34¢ British and 20¢ French transit fees. Manuscript "77" in lower left represents 2¢ carrier fee added to total postage due. Letter in closed mail bag from London to Philadelphia, an exchange office since January 1854.
Realized: $675
Lot
487
1858 (Mar. 30) Saugor, India to Troy, N.Y., folded letter with Saugor (3.30) and Bombay (4.5) backstamps, framed "India Unpaid" h.s. with manuscript "1" pence colonial debit to London, red London (5.4) transit backstamp and manuscript "18" cent debit to U.S., carried by Havre Line Fulton from Southampton May 5 to New York arriving May 19, black "New-York Am. Pkt. May 19" exchange cds and matching "39" due h.s., Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter sent "Bearing" (manuscript upper right) or unpaid. Bombay struck small boxed INDIA UNPAID and debited G.B. 1 penny for colonial fee. Letter carried to Suez by P&O steamer "Ganges" and from Alexandria to Marseille by P&O steamer "Valetta". London debited U.S. 18¢ for transit fees from India via France, which had been reduced to 9d on 1 January 1857.
Realized: $400
Lot
488
1864 (Nov. 5) Calcutta, India to Marblehead, Mass. via London, cover bearing India 4a and 8a singles, former with s.e. at top, tied by company handstamp to prevent reuse, Calcutta (11.5) backstamp and manuscript "1/5" 1s5d credit to G.B., red "India Paid" framed h.s., London (12.6) transit and matching "16/Cents" credit h.s. to U.S., carried by Inman Line Kangaroo from Queenstown Dec. 8 to New York arriving Dec. 26, "N. York Am. Pkt. '5' Dec 26" exchange cds, Charlestown (12.28) cds and "Missent and Forwarded" fancy handstamp, small cover tear at left, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried from Bombay by P&O steamer "Behar" to Suez and from Alexandria to Marseille by P&O steamer "Syria". Upon arrival in New York, letter sent in error to Charleston, Massachusetts, where it was marked MISSENT/AND/FORWARDED and redirected to Marblehead on December 28, 1864.
Realized: $375