Lot
1190 
1847, 5¢ red brown and 10¢ black. Matching pair of 1848 folded letters to Pilkington Brothers & Co. in Blackburn, England; 5¢ horizontal pair (positions 99-100R) in deep red brown shade with full even margins, tied by black grids, "New Orleans La., Jan. 16" cds, with "1/-" rate handstamp also tying pair, "America/Liverpool/FE 13/1848" transit datestamp and "Blackburn, Feb 14" receiving backstamp, letter written on printed prices-current list; and 10¢ single (position 30R) with full to large margins, intense shade and impression, tied by black grid, "New Orleans La., May 7" cds, "1/-" rate handstamp, "Liverpool, May 30" transit and "Blackburn, May 31" receiving backstamps, Extremely Fine, a Spectacular Matched Pair of 1847 Issue Covers To England, ex Jack Dick, Sevenoaks & Latshaw; both covers with 1981 and 2007 P.F. certificates, accompanied by analysis letter from Calvet M. Hahn. Scott No. 1-2 Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
Both covers were carried by Cunard steamships during the period when mail transported on American packets was subjected to a British charge of one shilling, which led to the U.S. Retaliatory Rate period from July to December 1848. The 5¢ cover was carried on the Cunarder - Cambria departing New York on January 29th and arriving in Liverpool on February 13th. The 10¢ cover was carried on the Cunarder - Britannia departing Boston on May 17th and arriving in Liverpool on May 30th.