Liberia, U.S. Ship Portsmouth, Monrovia. Dated ship endorsement on two covers to Richfield Springs, N.Y. from correspondence; first cover dated "Decr. 7th 1848" with "per "Liberia Packet"" endorsement, blue "Ship" handstamp and manuscript "22" rate, second cover datelined "Off Monrovia, Feby 2d 1849", entered the mails with red "Salem, Mass., Apr 23" cds and straight line "Ship" handstamp, manuscript "7" rate; small tone spot on the later, Very Fine, a wonderful pair of cover from the sloop of war Portsmouth during it's patrol to suppress the slave trade of the west coast of Africa. Estimate  $750 - 1,000. The Portsmouth, after returning in 1848 from California and Mexico, she parted Boston on Aug 29 and sailed east for Africa. There until 1 February 1849 she patrolled with the Royal Navy ships to suppress the slave trade. Between September 1849 and May 1851 she again cruised off the West African coast, returning home to Boston on June 26th. $0 (Image)