Retaliatory Tax

 

Prepaid letter from Tooley St., London, to New York via Boston on board Cunard's "Hibernia" leaving Liverpool 26th August 1848.
Postage paid in GB: 1/-, red manuscript and London 'PAID' circular date stamp.
Postage due in USA:
  Ship fee: 24¢ (retailatory tax)
  Inland charge: Boston to New York (< 300 miles) 5¢
  Total due: 29¢, New York red handstamp '29'
The GB packet fee of 1/- for the first half ounce was introduced 10th January 1840. The retailatory 24¢ ship fee was charged by the US in response the the British Post Offices charges to mail carried by Ocean Line ships under US contract. The US Congress passed tha Retaliatory Act on 27th June 1848.
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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