1908 Cover

So one of my challenges when my paypal account is low is to see what interesting piece I can get for little money.
I just won this cover today for a pittance and I find it intriguing.



The 391 Washington (or 391a I'm not sure, this is the seller's image) is torn. The envelop itself is in tatters and stained. But I thought the postal markings interesting.
The cover is postmarked Jamaica NY Richmond Hill Station June 4 1908.
There is the postage due T stamp which has a N.Y. in it. But the postage due is 30 centimes. Was the letter sent from New York on a French ship?
Then there is the British surcharge of 3d with the FB initials. Bujutsu had a posting about these a while ago which concluded this was Foreign Bureau.

International intrigue. Any ideas?????

OK, I'm bound to hit one of these at some point.

Mailed at Sea, must have been in US waters ? 5¢ was the international rate hence the 3d postage due and "T". The F.B. = Foreign Branch, London ?

I think the double deficiency fee came into play here. At that time, British 3d. was roughly double 3 cents (U.S.) shortage. It was 240 pence per pound, generally valued at $4.80 before World War I, so 3 pence = 6 cents.

"postage due is 30 centimes"... centimes were the internationally recognized standard at that time to calculate postage due.

Where did centimes come into the picture? This one is different

T 30 CENTIMES would be applied in N.Y. as that was the underpayment. International postage due was traditionally quoted in French currency. Once it arrived in Britain, the Foreign Section (or Branch) would add the 3d F.B. instructional mark.

Wow I must have missed this post! James I really like that one as it's very interesting and I bet has an interesting story behind it!

Nice cover anyway. Three cents underpaid so doubled to six cents. New York "binocular" instructional mark applied after converting six cents to 30 centimes (a notional currency with the rate being 1 US cent = 5 centimes)postage due. On arrival in Britain the 30 centimes was converted to 3d postage due (UK rate being 1 penny = 10 centimes... still that rate in 1940 by the way).

This baby arrived today, and is in worse shape than I thought. The back is only held onto the front along the bottom. Went immediately into a plastic sleeve where it will live out the rest of its life (as long as it's with me).
Still like it though. And the above information will be going on its album page.
Thanks all for your expertise.