1765 (Jul. 11) New Brunswick N.J. to London, England. Folded cover inside docketed "New Jersey, A Letter from the Revd Mr Cutting Miss'ry at New Brunswick and Piscataqua, dated New Brunswick July 11. 1765", entered mails with London "5/SE" Bishop mark and manuscript "6" rating; small edge tears and separation, F.-V.F. and early use from New Jersey.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1772 (Dec. 26) Simsbury Conn. to Westminster, England. Folded cover docketed "Mr. Vicks, Assistant M.Y at Simsbury and Hartland Connect., Dec. 26. 1772", carried by private ship to Falmouth, entered mails with Falmouth / Ship Lre" two-line handstamp and manuscript "5" pence due rating, "24/MR" Bishop mark on reverse, Very Fine and scarce early Connecticut transatlantic use.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1773 (July 7) Dublin, Ireland to Albany, N.Y. Folded letter with brown "7/Jy" Bishop mark on reverse and additional New York straight line with matching "4 Se" Franklin mark, front with "1¼oz" weight notation, "2/6" rating crossed out and re-rated "7N6" with "10/3" totalled due rating at left, letter regarding obtaining a captain's commission; small repaired cover tear at top, otherwise Very Fine, a very scarce early transatlantic usage.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

Reverse. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1800 (Mar. 24) Amsterdam to Providence R.I. via Newburyport and Boston. Folded letter entered mails with "Newb.t. Jun 21" cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp with "32" cent rating for 30¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee, "Boston" straightline and matching "24/IV" Franklin mark, Very Fine and unusual use.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1832 (Jan. 9) New York, N.Y. to Kelso, Scotland. Folded letter datelined "New York, Jany. 6th 1832" with fancy "American and Foreign Agency" rope framed forwarder's handstamp, carried by Blue Swallowtail Line York from New York Jan. 9th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 29th, "Ship Letter, Liverpool" framed backstamp and manuscript "3/2" due rating for two-times 11d inland and 8d ship, Scotland "Addt ½" framed due toll tax handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Pullin.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1832 (Apr. 30) New York N.Y. to Schiedam, Netherlands. Folded letter datelined "New York 30th April 1832" endorsed "p Packet York", carried by Blue Swallowtail York from New York May 8th to Liverpool arriving May 31st, red Paid Ship Letter, London, 2 JU 2, 1832" crown oval and manuscript "1/4" rating, red "GEZUIVERD" disinfection straightline and fumigation slits showing on reverse, red Schiedam (6.4) arrival backstamp and manuscript "50" stuivers due rating, Very Fine and scarce disinfected use, Carried on the Final Voyage of the York for the Blue Swallowtail Line., ex-Pullin.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1843 (May 6) Chardon, Oh. to U.S. Ship "Columbus" at Marseilles, France. Datelined folded letter with "Chardon O. May 6" cds and blue ms. "Paid 25" rating, interesting endorsement "Should the Columbus have sailed to Brazille, Messr. Fitch & Brothers will please ford. accordingly", red "Le Havre, Outre-Mer, 6 Juin 43" entry cds and "12" decimes due rating, forwarded privately to South American, framed "Forwarded by J.L. McNamee & Co., Rio de Janeiro" handstamp on flap; slight toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1850 (Nov.) Bardstown Ky. to London, England forwarded to Alexandria, Egypt. Cover with partial red "Bardstown, Ky. Nov" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "10" rating to London, New York "5" in circle debit handstamp, red London (11.25) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/-" schilling due rating, forwarded by Baring Bros. with two strikes of red "Via Marseilles" directional handstamps, red "London, Paid, 25 Nov 1850" cds and red ms. "1/8" pence prepaid rating to Alexandria, Dec. 7th double-arc arrival backstamp, Very Fine and scarce transatlantic use from Kentucky.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1851 (Aug. 29) Corbach, Prussia to Eire Pa. Folded cover with light "Corbach, 29 / 8" framed postmark and red manuscript "3" prepaid rating for transit fee to Bremen, Bremen crossed out rating and struck "Paid to Bremen" framed handstamp, carried by Ocean Line Washington from Bremenhaven Sep. 5th to New York arriving Sep. 23rd, black "New-York '20' Sep 23" integral-due exchange cds, F.-V.F. and rare incoming "Paid to Bremen" use, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The boxed "Paid to Bremen" handstamp was struck at Bremen to show transit fees from Prussia to Bremen only were prepaid. Letter was unpaid from Bremen to destination. About a dozen examples of this marking have been recorded used from August 1849 to September 1865. Most mails were sent either full paid or unpaid, but not just paid to Bremen. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1851 (Dec. 12) San Francisco Cal. to Getlingen, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Datelined folded letter endorsed "via Panama", San Francisco red "Paid" and "26" rating handstamps, carried by PMSS Oregon to Panama City, then USMSS Ohio from Charges to New York, red "New York, Feb 7" backstamp and matching "PAID ALL" straightline, apparently missed Feb. 7th sailing, carried by Collins Line Pacific from New York Feb. 21st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 3rd, St.P.A. (3.8) oval backstamp and "FRANCO" handstamp with magenta ms. "7" grote credit to Hamburg, blue K.D.O.P.A. Hamburg (3.9) backstamp, red crayon "4" shilling final due rating; some wear and soiling, F.-V.F. and scarce Bremen mails use.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This letter was prepaid 26¢ under the US-Bremen Postal Treaty of 1847 for American Packet via Great Britain. It was sent in Bremen Closed Mails from New York. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Mar. 3) Pittsburgh Pa. to Württemberg, Germany. Blue folded letter with "Pittsburgh Pa. Mar 3" cds and red "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "20" and "24" totaled to "44c", red "New-York, Mar 5" exchange backstamp and "PART PAID" straightline, carried on Cunard Line Cambria from Boston Mar. 3rd via Liverpool Mar. 16th to Bremen arriving Mar. 22nd, reverse with Minden (3.28) transit and blue Künzelsau (3.31) arrival, Hannover red "America/über Bremen" two-line postmark and various manuscript ratings, Very Fine and rare Bremen Closed Mail use from Boston.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Ocean Line "Hermann" returned to New York on Feb. 29th, having grounded while leaving port. Her mails were sent to Boston for the Mar. 3rd sailing of Cunard Line "Cambria". Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Mar. 20) Port Apra, Guam to New Bedford Mass. Blue folded letter datelined "Port Apra, Guam Mar. 30/52", green "Manila, 8 Jun 1852" transit backstamp, Hong Kong (6.21) double-arc transit backstamp and "SHIP LETTER / VICTORIA, HONG KONG" two-line handstamp, red London (8.20) transit backstamp and manuscript "2/-" schilling due rating, manuscript "48" cent debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Aug. 21st to Boston arriving Sep. 2nd, "Boston, Br. Packet, Boston, 2 Sep" exchange cds with bold "53 Cents" due handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXTRAORDINARY EARLY USE FROM GUAM VIA THE PHILIPPINES AND HONG KONG. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1854 (Jul. 25) London, England to Ross Grove, Ill. via Canada. Gray "The Electric Telegraph Company" corner card cover with black London (7.25) crown cds, carried by Collins Line Atlantic form Liverpool Jul. 26th to New York arriving Aug. 5th, bold "N. York. Am. Pkt. '24' Aug 6" due exchange cds, various Canadian transits and cross border markings including Ramsay (9.12) backstamp, "Canada 10 Cts." straightline and "Canada" arc framed handstamps; edge wear, Fine and unusual transatlantic use.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1855 (Sep. 7) Liverpool, England to New Orleans La. forwarded to Mexico. Cover with green "Liverpool, SP 7, 1855" double-arc and matching "3/Cents" debit handstamp, endorsed "p Steamer via New York", slanted "24" due handstamp, red "New Orleans La., Sep. 26" cds and additional Nov. 25th cds upon forwarding, New Orleans "Steamship, 10" in circle due handstamp, Vera Cruz (12.4) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and unusual transatlantic use.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1857 (Feb. 27) Liverpool, England to Greenville S.C. Incoming U.S. 6¢ Nesbitt (U13) entire with indicia crossed out, with "Liverpool, Fe 27, 1857" cds and "38 Cents" debit handstamp for double rate, entering the U.S. with "Br. Packet, Boston, Mar 14" cds and "48" rate handstamp reiterated in manuscript; cover folded in at top upon sending, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1857 (Apr. 28) Philadelphia Pa. to Singapore. Cover with partial red "Philadelphia Pa., Paid, Apr 28" exchange cds and matching "Paid 30" rating handstamp, endorsed "per overland mail via Galle, Ceylon" at lower left, red French transit cds and red "Br Service" framed handstamp, Paris (5.12.57) transit backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1857 (May 13) Singapore to New Haven Conn. Cover endorsed "From the U.S.S. "Portsmouth", Singapore, E.I." and with "Singapore, 13 May 1857" backstamp, endorsed "From the U.S.S. "Portsmouth", Singapore, E.I." and "Via Southampton", red London Paid (7.6) transit cds and ms. "12" debit rating, carried by Collins Line Atlantic from Liverpool Jul 8th to New York arriving Jul. 19th, "New-York, Am. Pkt. Jul 20" exchange cds with matching "33" due handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1858 (Jun. 23) San Diego Cal. to Midi-Pyrénées, France via Panama & New York. Orange buff cover with "San Diego Cal. Jun 23" cds initially rated with manuscript "Paid 16 cts" in box notation, crossed out and "Paid 26" circular rating handstamp struck, neither of these rates was in accordance with current 15¢ up to ¾ ounce rate, black "New York Jul 24" cds and matching "Short Paid" framed handstamp struck as letter apparently over ¾ ounces, black "30" circular debit rating struck, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston July 28th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 7th, Calais (10.10.1858) entry cds with matching "16" décimes due rating handstamp; minor edgewear, Very Fine and interesting error rate cover.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Although the early sailings by the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company under their contract for the San Francisco to Panama route made landings at San Diego, these were dropped in the interest of speed in early 1851. It was not until October 1858 that a San Francisco to San Diego coastal route was contracted. It is probable that mails to and from San Diego were entrusted to coastal ships Masters who were known to be calling at San Francisco, Acapulco or Panama. They were either paid at the 2¢ ship letter rate, or a local contract for the trip negotiated. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1861 (Dec. 11) Enniskillen, Ireland to Columbia, Tennessee. Gray folded cover sent to Confederate Tennessee with "Enniskillen, DE 11, 61" double-circle origin postmark and sender's information of "Belleck, Ireland, 10/11/61" docketed, London "6/Cents" debit to U.S. handstamp, black "N. York, Am. Pkt., Dec" exchange cds and manuscript "48" cent due rating for double the 24¢ transatlantic packet, diverted to the Dead Letter Office with with two strikes of undated "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dpt." double-oval (Walske DLO-1) handstamp on reverse, held until Union forces took control of Nashville in March 186, released from DLO and delivered in July 1862, manuscript "Recd from the Post Office in Columbia July 5th & opened" docketing on reverse; edge wear and faults, Fine and rare Dead Letter Transatlantic Use to Confederate Tennessee.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

In June 1861, having ratified by popular vote its connection with the fledgling Confederacy, Tennessee became the last state to declare formally its withdrawal from the Union. It was admitted to the Confederate States of America on July 2, 1861 as the 11th state. The southbound mails from the United States to eastern CSA was normally carried on the Washington D.C. to Richmond route until the evening of May 23rd 1861, when it was closed by military action. Starting May 24th 1861, mail on this route was diverted to the Unites States dead letter office in Washington D.C. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1862 (Sep. 24) San Jacinto, Minn. to Gjovik, Norway. All-over gray "The Loyal Union States, Wisconsin" patriotic design on cover, manuscript "San Jacinto Minn, Sept 24, AD 1862" postmark at left, sharp strike of "Chicago Ill '23' Am Pkt" debit exchange cds, carried by Allan Line Nova Scotian from Quebec Oct. 4th to Liverpool arriving Oct. 15th, blue crayon "13" sgr (28¢), red crayon 17½" L.Sh., reverse with red Verviers Coelln (10.17), Hamburg (10.18.62), K.D.O.P.A. Hamburg (10.18) transits, and Christiania (10.24) arrival cds with manuscript "51, 5 / 56" final due rating; opened on three sides for display, corner wear and bit of flap missing, Very Fine and attractive use.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

AN EXCEPTIONAL CIVIL WAR PATRIOTIC USE VIA THE CHICAGO EXCHANGE OFFICE BY PRUSSIA CLOSED MAIL TO NORWAY.

The Prussian Closed mail rate to Norway was 28¢ per ½ ounce. Chicago 23¢ debit was 5¢ U.S. postage plus 16¢ American packet rate to Prussia. The 13 sgr was equivalent to 35 sk, plus 16 sk foreign via Sweden plus 5 sk Norway for total due of 56 sk as stated on reverse. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1863 (Nov. 23) Beirut, Lebanon to Washington D.C. Cover bearing Austria, 10s blue and four 15s bister singles, each tied by "Berutti, 23/11" cds, red crayon "50" credit, addressed to Hon. Joseph Holt, Judge Advocate General, red "Aachen 'Paid 23 Cts., 10/12" double-circle exchange cds, carried transatlantic by Inman Line Edinburgh from Queenstown Dec. 10 to New York arriving Dec. 23rd, red "N.York Am. Pkt, 1863, 24 Dec" exchange cds (scarce with year); stamps slightly affected by edge placement, otherwise Very Fine and scarce Austria used in Beirut use to the United States.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1864 (Oct. 14) Allentown, Pa. to St Gallen, Switzerland. Manila wrapper with bold "Allentown Pa., Oct 14, 1864" double-circle and bold four-ring cancel ties 3¢ rose (65), preprinted black on yellow address label with "via Bremen" route instruction, bold strike of New York red "PAID ALL" straightline, blue manuscript and red crayon ratings, St. Gallen (11.16); some soiling, F.-V.F. and scarce printed matter use.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1869 (Oct. 4) St. Petersburg, Russia to New York N.Y. Blue folded cover bearing Russia 1k black & yellow (19), 3k black & deep green (20), 10k brown & blue (23) and 20k blue & orange (24), all tied by two strikes of bold ovals, endorsed "Per Prussian Closed Mail", red "Franco" framed handstamp and red crayon "7", red "New York Paid All, Oct" exchange cds; some repaired tears, Very Fine appearance and scarce four-color franking.
Estimate; $250 - 350. Est. $250-350 (Image)

Est. $250-350

1881 (Oct. 6) Posgrund, Norway to Chicago, Ill. Cover bearing Norway 5ø bright blue (24), 20ø orange brown (27), tied by "Posgrund, 6/10, 1881" cds, "T" tax due handstamp and blue crayon "2/35" due rating for double rate deficiency of 35ø, reverse with "Chicago Ill., U.S. Packet, Oct 31" backstamp and matching "U.S. Currency/14" depreciated currency handstamp for 14¢ due in currency, precancelled 2¢ brown (J2) pair and 10¢ brown (J5); some edge wear and reduced slightly at right, small stamp flaws, Very Fine and attractive use.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

AN EXCEPTIONAL CHICAGO DEPRECIATED CURRENCY USE FROM NORWAY WITH PRECANCELLED POSTAGE DUE STAMPS.

The U.S. postage due stamps were precancelled with "C" in double oval used from 1881 to 1884. This precancel was printed in purple ink for the first few months, and then changed to black, to meet postal requirements. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Freight Money Letters by Sailing Packet. Group of 5 comprising origins of Baltimore (3), New Orleans and Philadelphia, each with 12½¢ Sailing Packet Freight Money fee prepaid, F.-V.F. group, ex-Pullin.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Complete Images. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400