Americana Stamps

Lot #: 3127

1846 Halifax "PAID" Tombstone, Folded Letter to New York, Kennedy Correspondence

Included in the Malcom Montgomery Exhibit

Red "Halifax, PAID" tombstone handstamp on 2 November 1846 folded letter to New York.

Once the steam packet service between Halifax and Boston was established, correspondents could use the Cunard vessels for their letters. As this was not an item in the Cunard contract, the charge was the same as for the ocean mail : one shilling Sterling, which had to be prepaid. On arrival in the United States letters were charged as ship letters, seven cents.

This letter prepaid one shilling Sterling carried by the Cunard line "Britannia" out of Halifax on the November 5 1846. Britannia made Boston on November 7 and the letter was charged 7 cents: 2 cents ship letter fee and 5 cents for United States Inland postage. The "PAID" portion of the Halifax handstamp was deleted at Boston.

Opening: $450
Category: US Stampless, Eastern Seaboard
Provenance: Ex Malcolm Montgomery