5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, intermediate impression, full margins to in at left, cancelled by pen strokes and tied by extremely bold large "21" debit handstamp on small 1849 cover to Liverpool, England, manuscript "1/-" one-shilling due marking, carried by American packet on the Hermann, departing New York on August 20 and arriving Southampton on September 3, greenish-blue "Liverpool SP 4 1849 C" arrival backstamp, stamps with some slight puckering, minor cover stain in address

VERY FINE AND VISUALLY STRIKING USE OF A PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON AN UNDERPAID COVER TO ENGLAND, WHICH WAS TREATED AS COMPLETELY UNPAID AND STRUCK WITH THE BOLD "21" DEBIT HANDSTAMP.

The New York Exchange Office debited Britain 21 cents -- 5 cents for U.S. inland postage plus 16 cents for American packet, indicated by the large black "21" handstamp. The 5c 1847 pair was not recognized as payment since partial payment was not allowed. The "21" debit handstamp was only used in New York from April to December 1848.

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