Lot
961 
1854 (Oct. 25) Havana, Cuba To Madrid, Spain Via New York, privately forwarded to New York by Gudewill & Mohr aboard the Black Warrior, entered mails with red "New-York Am. Packet Nov 4" exchange cds with pencil "73" cent prepaid rating and magenta "52" credit rating for the "via Southampton" rate to Spain, carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Washington to Southampton arriving Nov. 19th, red London (11.20) transit and oval "PF" handstamp, unfortunately the Peninsular steamship left Southampton three days before the Washington arrived at Liverpool. As a result, the British elected to forward this letter to Spain via the overland route through France, rather than wait for the next sailing of the Peninsular packet. blue Madrid arrival backstamp and black "20 Rs." due handstamp for internal postage, Very Fine, Since this 73¢ rate was substantially higher than the available rates through France it was rarely used, This being the finer of only two recorded examples of this 73¢ rate. Estimate $300 - 400.
Beginning 1 July 1849, it became possible to prepay letters to destinations beyond Great Britain under the new U.S.-British Convention. With regard to the Spanish mails, a 73 cent per ½ ounce "via Southampton" rate was established for prepaid letters sent first to England, then forwarded directly to the Peninsula by British packet service. At the same time, a "via France" rate to Spain was established at 41 cents per ¼ ounce, or 51 cents per ½ ounce. In all cases, the postage collected paid all fees to the Spanish border only, and an additional amount was charged on delivery.
Realized: $1,200