"British Queen" Portsmouth July 1st - New York July 18th 1840, folded June 30 letter from London with red "Paid Ship Letter" crown handstamp to Boston, Mass. on the sixth of nine round voyages by "British Queen" before the steamer was sold to the Belgian Government, prepayment was 1s4d (two times 8 pence) for ½-1 ounce, red "New York Ship Jul 18" cds and "77" cents rating for postage due of four-times 18¾¢ plus 2¢ ship fee, the postage in the U.S. was still based on number of sheets and not weight, Very Fine. Estimate  $300 - 400. On the same day that this letter arrived in New York on the non-contract steamship 'British Queen', the Cunard steamship Britannia arrived at Boston with the first contract mails. $0 (Image)