Australian States: New South Wales, 1837 (Jan. 28) Sydney, New South Wales to Glastonbury, Conn. Datelined folded letter endorsed "p Columbus", carried as endorsed via Cape Horn to Liverpool, reverse with "Lpool 17 July - Received and forwarded by Your Ob Svt, R. F. Breed & Eceleston" across Atlantic, entered mail with red "New-York 'Ship' Aug 29" cds and manuscript "14½" due rating for 12½¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED STATES. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1837 (Feb. 15) Sydney, New South Wales to Glastonbury Conn. Folded letter datelined "Bark Brothers, Feb 9 1837" and reading "…the pilot on board going past the Heads of Sydney Harbor…" from Horace Hale back home to his wife, carried by Ship Jessie from Sydney Feb. 26th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 13th, manuscript "Lpool 14 June - recd and forwarded by R.F. Breed & Eceleston" forwarder's endorsement on back flap, carried transatlantic as endorsed by ship North America from Liverpool Jun. 19th to New York arriving Jul. 21st, entered mails with red "New-York, Ship, Aug 1" cds and magenta "14½" due rating for 12½¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THIS IS THE EARLIEST ARRIVING LETTER FROM THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES TO THE UNITED STATES.

The other Hale letter offered in the previous lot took 7 months to arrive from Australia, whereas this letter took only 5½ months. This shows how erratic mail service could be between the Colonies and the United States during this early time period. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000