Discriminatory Tax

 

Prepaid entire sent from Havana via New York to London on board Ocean Line's "Washington" on 21st February 1848.
Postage paid in US: 24¢, '24' red hand stamp and 'PAID' applied at New York.
Postage due in GB: 1/- per ½ oz, in manuscript.
  
The GB packet fee of 1/- for the first half ounce was introduced 10th January 1840. The discriminatory 1/- fee was charged by the British Post Office as a packet fee as if carried by Cunard ships.
Reference:
The Transatlantic Mail, by Frank Staff, Quartermain Publications, 1980 Edition
History of Letter Post Communications Between the United States and Europe 1845-1875, by G E Hargest
North Atlantic Mail Sailings 1840-75, W Hubbard and R F Winter.
Robertson Revisited, Colin Tabeart;
United Kingdom Letter Rates, Inland and Overseas, 1635 to 1900, Colin Tabeart;

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