5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Two 10c singles, ample margins to just in, minor toning affecting both stamps and lettersheet, used with single 5c with large margins, intermediate impression, tied by multiple strikes of blue "10" in oval handstamp, matching "Baltimore Md. Sep. 18" (1849) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Halifax, Nova Scotia, from the Noble correspondence, manuscript "4-1/2" pence due marking, "UD. States/Halifax/Sp 27/1849" receiving backstamp, endorsed "pr Steamer Niagara via New York," but actually went via Boston, carried by the Cunarder Europa, departing Boston September 26 and arriving Halifax September 27, light folds barely affect end stamps

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SPECTACULAR 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE COMBINATION COVER TO NOVA SCOTIA BY CUNARD PACKET.

This is a rare and spectacular combination 5c and 10c 1847 Issue franking, used on a cover to Nova Scotia and intended (in error) to pay the 24c treaty rate applicable to letters carried from the United States to Great Britain via Halifax, Nova Scotia. To correct the USPCS 1847 census, there are only two covers with 5c and 10c 1847 combinations addressed to Robert Noble -- census nos. 2788 and 2789 (offered here). The listing for a third cover with a 5/24/1849 date (no. 2787) is unverified and probably duplicates the entry for the 2788 cover, which is ex Gross (Sale 1211, lot 139).

The Noble 1847 combination covers, mailed after the Retaliatory Rate period, reflect confusion over how the new 24c U.S.-British treaty rate was to be applied to letters to the Maritime Provinces. This situation is explained by David D'Alessandris ("1847 Covers to the Maritime Provinces: An Update," Chronicle 238):

In January 1848, the Cunard Line began operating a second transatlantic route between Liverpool and New York. Like the Liverpool to Boston route, the Liverpool to New York steamers stopped en route in both directions in Halifax. However, by September 1850, Cunard stopped calling at Halifax on the Liverpool to New York route, probably to increase the speed of the crossing to better compete with United States steamship lines.

The Cunard Line rates to Halifax were not widely known, were not listed in the United States Mail and Post Office Assistant until 1863, and were not listed in the Postal Laws and Regulations until the 1866 edition. Moreover, the Cunard packet rates to Halifax, after the implementation of the U.S.-U.K. postal treaty, were illogical. Letters destined for the same Cunard steamer paid different postage based upon the destination. A letter to England could be paid 24c to destination, but a letter to be carried on the same Cunard steamer to Halifax, in a British Province, could only be paid to the port. Moreover, letters carried pursuant to the British open mail provisions of the United Kingdom treaty were charged a uniform 5c inland postage regardless of the distance to the port of debarkation, while letters to Halifax, not covered by the British open mail provisions, were still liable to charges of 5c or 10c depending upon the distance to the port. Letters from Halifax were also subject to confusion. At the start of the treaty period, letters arriving at Boston or New York from the United Kingdom were rated one-shilling (24c) to destination. However, letters arriving from Halifax, which were carried on the same ship (but a much shorter distance) were prepaid the same one-shilling packet postage, but were charged ordinary inland postage of 5c or 10c to destination. Given these illogical rates, it is no surprise that there was confusion.

Ex Seybold, Ackerman, Hollowbush, Pope and Dr. Kapiloff. 1985 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables