10¢ Black (2), horizontal strip of three, huge top margin with parts of three adjoining stamps, large to clear at sides, bottom margin just barely in, deep shade, tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "U.S. Express Mail N. York N.Y. Oct. 31" (1848) route agent's datestamp on blue folded cover from New York City to Sheffield, England, sender's ship-name directive "P. R.S. Steam Ship Niagara"--carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston on November 1, 1848, and arriving at Liverpool November 13--"America/Liverpool NO 13 1848" backstamp, "1/-" shilling due handstamp, Sheffield receiving backstamp (November 14)

Very Fine; addressee's last name (Jeffrey) has been concealed with pen squiggle lines. An impressive 10¢ 1847 cover to England during the Retaliatory Rate period--charged full transatlantic postage by British post office despite the prepayment of 24¢ (plus 5¢ from New York to Boston).

The full history of the Retaliatory Rate period is told in our catalogue for the famous Rush cover, available at https://siegelauctions.com/2006/912/912.pdf . The so-called Retaliatory Period resulted from Great Britain's effort to maintain its monopoly on transatlantic mail carriage through the subsidized Cunard steamship line, which operated without competition from 1840 through 1846. In response to the emergence of subsidized American packets in 1847 (the Ocean Line), the British issued an order (effective June 9, 1847) authorizing its receiving offices to collect the usual British packet postage on letters carried to England by American subsidized steamers. This effectively allowed England to collect 24¢ packet charges for every inbound letter, whether or not any service had been performed.

The United States vehemently protested the British order through diplomatic channels, but efforts to persuade the government to rescind the anti-American postal tariff were unsuccessful. In December 1847, U.S. Postmaster General Cave Johnson petitioned Congress for power to levy like charges on mail carried by British steamers to or from the U.S., but he was not authorized to do so until June 1848. On all inbound and outbound Cunard sailings from June 24, 1848, through December 31, 1848, American packet postage was required, whether or not an American vessel was used, creating the so-called Retaliatory Rate. Beginning with the departure of the Europa on January 10, 1849, earlier rates were restored.

This cover to England reflects the dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain. The sender paid 5¢ for U.S. postage from New York to Boston and the 24¢ sea postage (1¢ overpayment). The letter was carried on the Cunarder Niagara from Boston to Liverpool. At the Liverpool office, the 24¢ prepayment was ignored and the "1/-" shilling due marking indicated the amount owed for sea postage. Only ten 1847 Issue covers are known with Retaliatory Rate charges.

Ex Dr. Robert LeBow and Joseph Hackmey. With 2005 P.F. certificate.

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