1847 (Jul. 24) New York, N.Y. to Francomont, Belgium, folded letter carried by the Union from New York Jul. 24 to Cherbourg arriving Aug. 9, mails were dispatched at Havre on Aug. 7, red Havre (8.8) entry cds, Paris (8.9) and Verviers (8.10) transit backstamps, manuscript "17" decimes postage due rating, Bruxelles "SR" boxed h.s. for service rurale, Belgian U.S. consulate coat of arms h.s., file fold wear, F.-V.F., This letter was carried on the maiden return voyage of the "Union" and the Hérout and de Handel Line. Estimate  $400 - 600. In June 1847, the French government initiated a contract mail service between Cherbourg (later Le Havre) and New York. Officially known as Compagnie Générale des Paquebots Transatlantiques, the steamship line was commonly referred to as the Hérout and de Handel Line after its founders. Because their small steamships proved very unsuitable for the North Atlantic voyages, the line terminated operations after only nine round voyages. Since the French had not introduced the special entry markings for this service, covers on the first voyage show the usual "Outre-Mer Le Havre" entry marking. $0 (Image)