Lot
461 
(Depreciated Currency) 1863 (Apr. 11) Messina, Italy to New York N.Y., datelined blue folded letter from the Lanman & Kemp correspondence carried privately to England, blue "Heath & Co., London" oval backstamp, entered mails with London (4.17.63) datestamp and matching "19 / Cents" debit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Apr. 18th to Boston arriving May 2nd, closed bag sent to New York where sharp "35" cent depreciated currency handstamp struck, or 24¢ in coin due (19¢ transatlantic packet plus 5¢ inland), Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE EXAMPLE OF DEPRECIATED CURRENCY MARKINGS ON INCOMING UNITED STATES MAIL.
Starting May 1, 1863, the U.S. Post Office imposed a premium on the postage collected on unpaid letters from Europe, when paid in U.S. notes, as opposed to specie (gold or silver coins). Initially, depreciated currency premiums were only applied by the New York exchange office, but as of June 1, 1863, this procedure became effective at the other exchange offices. The depreciated currency premium was calculated daily.
Realized: $1,250