Pioneer Steamship "President" Maiden Voyage. Two covers; Maiden Voyage Westbound, London August 1st 1840 - New York August 18th, The entire headlined "London 30th July 1840" and addressed to Richmond, Virginia was carried as a ship letter to New York and charged 20? cents on arrival being 2 cents ship letter fee plus 18? cents single sheet inland for 150 to 400 miles.Maiden Voyage Eastbound, New York - Liverpool September 17th 1840, Entire dated "Tampico July 12, 1840" (Mexico) and carried by the Packet Seagull to New Orleans and forwarded privately to New York. Reverse bears "Liverpool / Ship Letter "and London arrival stamp for September 18th. At Liverpool manuscript "8" applied being "8" pence ship letter including inland delivery, Very Fine. Estimate  $2,000 - 3,000. The "President" of 2,366 tons was built at Carling & Young?s London yard in 1840 for The British and American Steam Navigation Company. Left from London on her maiden voyage to New York on the 1st August 1840 arriving on the 18th. On the "President?s" fourth return voyage from New York she was lost without trace on the 11th March 1841 with the loss of 136 lives. $0 (Image)