Lot Details

manuscript rate on incoming folded letter from Liverpool, red "Paid at Liverpool 1845 Ju 19", scarce red "1/-" handstamp, carried aboard Cunard's Acadia departing that day and arriving Boston July 30, then by closed bag to Philadelphia arriving July 2, very fine, the 12c rating represents the 2c ship letter fee plus 10c inland postage from Boston which had gone into effect just two days prior, the Acadia was the first ship to arrive in America under the new standardized postage rates of 1845, a "12" handstamp would be introduced shortly thereafter