Lot
452 
1851 (Nov. 26) St. Leonards-on-Sea, England to Newport, R.I., folded cover bearing G.B. 1847, 1s green cancelled by "682" grid, blue St. Leonards-on-Sea backstamp, red London (11.27) backstamp and "5/cents" credit h.s. overstruck with "Insufficiently Stamped" two-line h.s., Liverpool (11.28) with matching "Above ½ Oz." straightline h.s., carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Nov. 29 to Boston arriving Dec. 12, "Boston Br. Packet '24' 13 Dec." exchange due cds; Very Fine, one of only five recorded examples showing the illegal partial prepayment. Scott No. GB #5 Estimate $500 - 750.
London determined letter over ½ oz. and required two rates. London marked INSUFFICIENTLY / STAMPED in red and ABOVE ½ (ms) OZ. in black, and sent the letter to Liverpool without rating it. Liverpool credited U.S. 5¢ for rate that was paid and debited U.S. 19¢ for rate unpaid. Boston marked 24¢ postage due. This unusual partial payment, contrary to the U.S.-U.K. convention of 1848, resulted from an informal agreement between the Liverpool and New York post offices and was not sanctioned by either government. It lasted from February 1849-December 1852.
Realized: $625