Lot
403 
1849 (Feb. 18) Baltimore Md. to London, England, blue folded cover bearing 5¢ red brown (1) tied by blue "5" oval cancel, matching "Baltimore Md. Feb 18" cds, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Feb. 21st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 6th, red London (3.7) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/-" shilling due rating; vertical file fold affects 5¢, cover lightly cleaned, a Very Fine appearing usage, ex-Hart. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE 5¢ 1847 ISSUE USAGE ON THE FIRST SAILING UNDER THE NEW U.S.-G.B.TREATY TO GREAT BRITAIN.
The specific provisions of the US-Great Britain Treaty took effect with this February 21st 1849 Cunard sailing from Boston. The 5¢ stamp was insufficient to pay the treaty rate of 24¢ to Great Britain as it had to be either fully prepaid or fully collect. No partial payments were recognized and therefore, the 5¢ stamp was wasted and the letter was rated 1 shilling due. It is probable that the new rates and requirements of the treaty, which had just been announced, were misunderstood by the sender. Although the division of the 24¢ (1 shilling) postal rate had been agreed upon, the accountancy handstamps usually seen on later transatlantic mail covers were not put into use at this early date.
Realized: $4,750