Sale 59: The Robert J. Karrer Collection of Charleston Postal History

Lot 4071    

1836 (Mar. 28) Havana, Cuba to London, England via Charleston S.C., datelined folded letter endorsed "p. 'Valparaiso' via L'pool", two bold strikes of red "Forwarded by C. Edmondston & Co., Charleston. S.C." framed handstamps on flap, framed "Liverpool / Ship Letter" handstamp and red London (5.16) arrival cds on flap, manuscript "1/7" one shilling seven pence rating, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $145

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Lot 4072    

1843 (May 10) Charleston S.C. to London, England, folded letter with "Forwarded by Herckenrath Lowndes & Co., Charleston" oval handstamp, red "Charleston S.C. May 10" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "25" rating, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston May 16th to Liverpool arriving May 28th, red London (5.29) arrival backstamp and manuscript "4/-" four shilling due rating for four times the 1s transatlantic packet rating, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 4073    

1843 (Oct. 26) Charleston S.C. to Rotterdam, Holland, light blue folded letter with "Forwarded by Herckenrath Lowndes & Co., Charleston" oval handstamp and red "Charleston S.C. Oct 26" cds with matching "Paid" handstamp and "25" cent rating to Boston, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston May 16th to Liverpool arriving May 28th, red London (11.15) transit backstamp and manuscript "2/4" British debit, red Rotterdam (11.17) backstamp with matching "England / over Rotterdam" scrip handstamp, manuscript "190" Dutch cents due rating, forwarded to Schiedam, Nov. 18th arrival backstamp, Very Fine, This was the maiden return voyage of the Cunard Line Hibernia.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

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Lot 4074    

[Retaliatory Rate] 1848 (Jul. 25) Constantinople, Turkey to Charleston S.C. via London, cover with "Constantinople (Turquie) 25 Juil. 48" cds to London in care of Baring Bros., red London (8.10) backstamp and manuscript "1/3" due rating, later crossed out, red London Paid (8.11) Maltese cross postmark and red manuscript "1/-" shilling prepaid transatlantic packet rating, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Aug. 12th to Boston arriving Aug. 26th, partial "Boston Ship Aug 26" cds and matching "34" cent retaliatory transatlantic packet due handstamp; some paper loss at center, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $270

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Lot 4075    

[Retaliatory Rate] 1848 (Sep. 1) Charleston S.C. to Liverpool, England, datelined folded letter with rd "Charleston S.C. Sep 1" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "34" retaliatory rating, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston Sep. 6th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 20th, black Liverpool (9.20) backstamp and matching "1/-" shilling due rating for transatlantic packet fee, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $280

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Lot 4076    

[Restored Rate] 1849 (Jan. 6) Charleston S.C. to Greenock, Scotland, datelined folded letter with red "Charleston S.C. Jan 6" cds and matching "Paid" and "34" rating handstamps, charge box notation at top right, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York departing Jun. 10th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 22nd, Liverpool (1.22) backstamp and "1/-" shilling due rating for packet fee, Greenock (1.23) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

The Charleston post office did not announce the restored rates until January 9th 1849 when published in the Charleston Mercury. The restored rate period lasted from January 3rd to February 15, 1849 and this letter was carried on one of only three recorded Eastbound packets to Great Britain.

Realized: $230

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Lot 4077    

1849 (Mar. 8) Havana, Cuba to Paris, France via Charleston S.C., folded letter with bold red "Forwarded by F.C. Black, Charleston S.C." oval handstamp with ms. "March 14" dating on flap, red "Charleston S.C. Mar 14" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red ms. rating, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Mar. 21st to Liverpool arriving Apr. 3rd, red London (4.3) backstamp with "Colonies / &c.Art.13." framed handstamp, Boulonge (4.4) entry cds, various ms. ratings; large cover tear, Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

This was the first westbound sailing under the U.S.-G.B. Postal Convention of December 15, 1848.

Realized: $210

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Lot 4078    

1849 (Apr. 7) Havana, Cuba to Paris, France, folded letter carried out of the mails to Charleston, flap with manuscript "Charleston 25 April. Rec'd & forwarded by Y.O.S., J.C. Black" forwarder's notation, red "Charleston S.C. Apr 26" cds with matching red "Paid" handstamp and red manuscript "96" quadruple error rating as if going to England only, New York magenta "76" quadruple credit rating to G.B., carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Europa from New York May 2nd to Liverpool arriving May 14th, red London (5.15) backstamp and matching "Colonies / &c.Art.13" framed accountancy handstamp, red Boulogne (5.16) entry cds with manuscript "7 France. 00" due rating rating, manuscript. "50g" grams notation at top left; some edge wear, horizontal fold, small piece of flap missing, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

On January 15, 1849 the Charleston Mercury had announced to the public that letters to France need only prepay 5¢ per increment for U.S. domestic and shore-to-ship charges. Thus, this letter should have been prepaid only 20¢ at Charleston, evident that the local post office employees did not understand the new treaty recently implemented with Great Britain ending the retaliatory rates. Since the letter could not be fully prepaid to France since a treaty was not in effect, it was literally charged twice.

Realized: $160

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Lot 4079    

1849 (May 25) Charleston S.C. to London, England, red "Charleston S.C. May 25" cds on blue folded cover, red "48" cent crayon rating overstruck with black "10" cent circled due rating for debit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Canada from New York departing May 30th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 12th, red London (6.12) backstamp and large "2/-" shilling due rating for double the 1s. packet rate, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Lot 4080    

1850 (Oct. 4) Charleston S.C. to Greenock, Scotland, printed circular with red "Charleston S.C. '24' Oct 4" integral rate cds and matching "Paid" straightline adjacent, charge box notation, cover re-rated with large red "2" handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from New York Oct. 9th to Liverpool arriving Oct. 20th, reverse with Liverpool America (10.20) transit and Greenock (10.21) arrival cds; cover tear, F.-V.F., an interesting use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $325

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