Lot
160 
1845 (Jul. 31) New York, N.Y. to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter with red "New-York '5 Paid' Jul 31" cds, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston Aug. 1st to Liverpool arriving Aug. 15th, London (8.16) transit cds with manuscript "1/8" debit to Belgium, Verviers (8.19) backstamp, various manuscript ratings, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
New York created new circular datestamp for overseas mails carried from Boston by the Cunard steamers. This is the earliest date recorded for the handstamp which was used only 17 months. London debited Belgium 1s8d under Anglo-Belgium Treaty of 1844 (1/ packet rate plus 8d British transit to Belgium). Belgian accounting hand stamp incorrectly filled in causing postage due calculation of 34 vice 24 decimes.
Realized: $210
Lot
161
1846 (Feb. 28) New York, N.Y. to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter with red "New-York '5 Paid' 28 Feb" cds, carried by Enoch Train Sailing Ship Joshua Bates from Boston Mar. 5 to Liverpool arriving Mar. 28, Liverpool Ship (3.28) and London (3.29) backstamps with manuscript "1/4" debit rating to Belgium, Ostend (3.31) and Verviers (4.1) backstamps, framed accounting handstamp with blue manuscript ratings totaled to "22" decimes due rating, Very Fine and choice use, a scarce packet letter for Belgium sent on non-contract sailing ship. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter endorsed "p Cambria" and included among the 8000 letters sent to Boston on the coastal steamer Mohegan from New York which was delayed in a snow storm and missed the sailing of Cunard steamship Cambria on Mar. 1, the scheduled contract steamer. Boston's postmaster sent the delayed mails on the next available sailing ship to Liverpool. London debited Belgium 1s 4d under Anglo-Belgium Treaty of 1844 (8d ship rate plus 8d British transit to Belgium). Belgian accounting handstamp shows 16 decimes owed to U.K. plus 6 decimes internal fee for total postage due of 22 decimes.
Realized: $450
Lot
162
1847 (Jul. 24) New York, N.Y. to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter carried by the Union from New York Jul. 24 to Cherbourg arriving Aug. 9, mails were dispatched at Havre on Aug. 7, red Havre (8.8) entry cds, Paris (8.9) and Verviers (8.10) transit backstamps, manuscript "17" decimes postage due rating, Bruxelles "SR" boxed h.s. for service rurale, Belgian U.S. consulate coat of arms h.s., file fold wear, F.-V.F., This letter was carried on the maiden return voyage of the "Union" and the Hérout and de Handel Line. Estimate $400 - 600.
In June 1847, the French government initiated a contract mail service between Cherbourg (later Le Havre) and New York. Officially known as Compagnie Générale des Paquebots Transatlantiques, the steamship line was commonly referred to as the Hérout and de Handel Line after its founders. Because their small steamships proved very unsuitable for the North Atlantic voyages, the line terminated operations after only nine round voyages. Since the French had not introduced the special entry markings for this service, covers on the first voyage show the usual "Outre-Mer Le Havre" entry marking.
Realized: $850
Lot
163
1847 (Oct 30) New York to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Boston Nov. 1st to Liverpool arriving Nov. 15th, red London (11.16) backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c. Art. 13" accountancy h.s., Boulogne (11.18) entry cds with "22" decimes due, Very Fine, uncommon letter to Belgium via U.K.-French mails. Estimate $100 - 150.
London marked COLONIES/&c.ART.13 handstamp to show letter sent to France unpaid under letter bill accounting article 13, whereby the British received 3s4d per 30 grams bulk letter weight. French marked 22 decimes postage due, 10 decimes to the United Kingdom and 2 x 6 = 12 decimes French and Belgian transit. This did not include 1 decime rural charge shown by green boxed SR. Letter weighed less than ½ oz. but more than 7½ grams.
Realized: $160
Lot
164
(Restored Rates) 1849 (Jan. 23) New York to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter endorsed "p. America", pencil "5" cent inland postage prepayment at left, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Jan. 24 to Liverpool arriving Feb. 4, London (2.3) backstamp with manuscript "1/8" 1s8d debit to Belgium, Verviers (2.6) backstamp with blue manuscript "24" decimes due rating; light toning along fold, Fine, only cover recorded to Belgium during the restored rate period. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter carried on second of three eastward voyages during the restored rate period. U.K. debit to Belgium included 1s transatlantic packet fee and 8d British share under U.K.-Belgium convention of 1844. Postage consisted of 20 decimes owed to U.K. (1/8d converted) plus 4 decimes internal Belgian postage.
Realized: $190
Lot
165
1849 (Sep. 20) New Orleans, La. to Antwerp, Belgium, folded letter with red "New Orleans La. Sep 20" cds with matching "Paid" and partial "5" cent rating h.s. for open mail rate, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from New York Sep. 29 to Liverpool arriving Oct. 13, London (10.14) backstamp and manuscript "1/4" 1s4d debit to Belgium, Anvers (10.16) backstamp arrival with blue manuscript "20" decimes postage due rating, Very Fine, One of three recorded letters from short 10 month period for this rate combination. Estimate $200 - 300.
"Hibernia" carried mail on this "extra" voyage as she returned to England after repairs in New York. Very faint Belgian accounting stamp shows 1/4 in blue ink on top line for the foreign tax, conversion of this to 16 decimes on the second line, and 4 decimes Belgium internal fee on the third line. Total postage due was 20 decimes, marked in blue ink.
Lot
166
1862 (Jan. 1) New York, N.Y. to Brussels, Belgium, Civil War Patriotic Flag cover with "N. York B. Pkt. '20' Jan 1" debit exchange cds, reverse with "Br. Packet" h.s., carried by Cunard Line America that departed New York Jan. 1st and arrived at Queenstown Jan. 14th, Brussels (1.15) arrival backstamp and red manuscript "14" decimes due rating; light toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Patriotic envelopes were popular early in the American Civil War and are occasionally seen on stampless transatlantic mails, but seldom on covers to Belgium. New York debited Belgium 20¢ of the equivalent 27¢ (14 decimes) postage due for a single rate letter.
Realized: $725
Lot
167
1872 (Dec 23) Chicago, Ill. to Brussels, Belgium, clean cover bearing 1870, 10¢ brown tied by fancy grid duplexed with "Chicago Dec 23" cds, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Jan 1" exchange cds, letter carried by Guion Line Wisconsin that departed New York Jan. 1 and arrived Queenstown on Jan. 11, Brussels arrival backstamp, Extremely Fine, letter prepaid for the 10¢ Belgium closed mail rate. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $500