1841 (Jan. 2) Leith, Scotland to Richmond, Va. Folded letter with red "Leith Jan 2, 1841" cds with red manuscript "1/-" shilling prepaid packet rating, red London (1.2) transit, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Columbia from Liverpool Jan. 5th to Boston arriving Jan. 21st, red "Boston 'Ship' Jan 21" cds and manuscript "27" due rating for 25¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, Letter carried on Maiden Voyage of the Cunard Line Columbia., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

"Columbia" was the last of the original four wooden, side-wheel paddle steamers with which Samuel Cunard start the operations of his line in July 1840. She was 1,175 tons and built at Greenock in 1840. She ran aground and was wrecked at Cape Sable, Nova Scotia on July 2nd 1843 without loss of life. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1841 (Jun. 21) Achnahannet, Scotland to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with black boxed "Grantown/JY 5/1841" datestamp and red ms. "1/-" prepaid packet rating, red Edinburgh "Paid, Jul 6, 1841" cds, carried by Cunard Acadia from Liverpool Jul. 20th to Boston arriving Aug. 2nd, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Aug. 2" cds and manuscript "20¾" cents due rating for 18¾¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Achnahannet is on the Spey, in the heart of of Highlands whisky district. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1844 (Jul. 1) New York N.Y. to Manchester, England. Datelined folded letter, with red New York cds and matching "PAID" arc handstamp and magenta manuscript "18¾" rating to Boston, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from Boston Jul. 1st t Liverpool arriving Jul. 13th, black double-oval "America / L" and matching "1/-" one-shilling due handstamp for packet fee, Manchester (7.13) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The magenta "18¾" cent rating in fancy script with a long tail gives the appearance of a "75" cent quadruple rating, but if that was the case it would have been rated four-shillings due in Great Britain. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1845 (May 15) Edinburgh, Scotland to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter bearing Great Britian, 2d blue, plate 3 (4) strip of four, margins to touched, tied by bold strikes of "131" grid cancels, reverse with red Edinburgh (5.15) origin cds and Liverpool (5.17) oval and Ship-Letter cds, carried as endorsed by Great Western from Liverpool May 17th to New York arriving Jun. 1st, New York manuscript "6" cent ship rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1845 (Sep. 14) Bremerhaven, Hannover to Boston, Mass. Folded letter datelined letter bearing "Geestendorf" origin straightline and prepaid manuscript "1.6.g / 2." rating for 1.6 grr. Hannover inland fee to Bremen plus 2 grr fee to Cuxhaven, forwarding agent paid "1/8" for packet letter from Germany, reposted with red "Liverpool Paid Ship Letter, 25 SP 1845" crown postmark and with red manuscript "8" pence ship rating, carried by Great Western S.S. Co. Great Britain from Liverpool Sep. 27th to New York arriving Oct. 15th, entered U.S. mails with red "New York Ship '7cts' Oct 12" cds for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship, Very Fine, a scarce non-contract steamship use from Germany, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1847 (Jun. 1) New York, N.Y. to London, England. Folded letter with red "New York Jun 1" cds with matching arced "Paid" handstamp, endorsed "per Washington", carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Jun. 1st to Southampton arriving Jun. 15th, red "London 16 JU 1847" arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/" shilling discriminatory due rating, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

A RARE LETTER CARRIED ON THE INAUGURAL VOYAGE OF AMERICAN TRANSATLANTIC PACKET SERVICE.

The commencement of the American Packet service led to Britain imposing a "Discriminatory Rate" on mails landed at Southampton with all US prepayment ignored and the One Shilling Packet Rate charged to the addressee. There are four recorded examples to Great Britain, each showing the discriminatory fee. There are also three recorded covers on this voyage to France and Germany. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000