1856-91 Entires (5) and covers (8), various Liverpool charge and explanatory marks including scarce "CONVEYED BY / UNITED STATES PACKET" (M.5, cover faults), "ART-5 / B.R. PKT" (M.6) and "1/2½" (M.68, small tape stains), black "4d" on an unpaid entire from Liverpool to Norway, "1/2½" (M68), large "6d" (3, M.63, probably from West Africa), oval "PAID / C" in red (M.15), etc. (13).

America / L (P.1). 1841 (Aug 30) Entire from New York to London "P. Columbia", backstamped red oval "FORWARDED BY / BARNARD ADAMS & Co / BOSTON" and the very scarce double ring "AMERICA / L", only recorded in 1840-41 on Packet letters carried by Cunard, charged 1/-. Pressed file folds, otherwise fine and very scarce with few examples recorded. Photo on Page 52. (Image1)

America / L (P.2) / Slavery. 1841 (Mar 1) Entire letter from Great Falls, New Hampshire, to England, with red "PAID" and "GREAT FALLS / NH" c.d.s, black "1/-" charge mark and oval "AMERICA / L", the enclosed letter written on anti-slavery notepaper depicting a pleading slave in chains. The outer sheet with a little soiling and reinforcing of folds, the enclosed anti-slavery notepaper fine and scarce.

America / L (P.2). 1841-43 Entire letters (2) and an entire all to Scotland, all with black oval "AMERICA / L" and "1/-" charge marks, two with red Petersburg, Va. or New York datestamps and "PAID", carried from Boston on the Cunard Acadia, Caledonia or Hibernia. (3).

Dated "America" (P.3). 1850 Entire to France and 1855 entire letter to Edinburgh both from New York, with the oval dated "AMERICA" in black (FE 17 1850) or green (JY 15 1855), the first also with an inspector's star alongside, the second with a "1/-" charge mark and "5 / N. York Br. Pkt" c.d.s. The 1850 entire with some white bleaching, otherwise fine, carried on the Cunard Niagara or Asia. A very scarce Packet datestamp, especially in green, recorded 1850-57 but rarely used. (2).

America / Liverpool Datestamps (P.5/7). 1844-58 Stampless entire letters (7), an entire and covers (4) to G.B, six unpaid with "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (P.5) in black (5) or green and a "1/-" charge mark, six others prepaid with red circular "AMERICA / PAID / LIVERPOOL" (4, P.6) or boxed "PAID IN / AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" (2, P.7), one 1858 letter with a U.S stamp removed, otherwise fine, most carried by Cunard ship. (12).

Pkt. Letter Tombstone Datestamps (P.9/10). 1857 Cover to England franked G.B 6d cancelled upon arrival by "466" numeral, backstamped black "PKT. LETTER / LIVERPOOL" datestamp (P.9), similar type "PKT LETTER / PAID / LIVERPOOL" datestamp (P.10) in red then applied on the front. Opened out to display both handstamps, minor creasing and upper fold reinforced with hinges, a very unusual cover probably paid at the 6d Officers rate.

Ship/Packet Letter Error. 1861 Stampless cover to London backstamped boxed "LIVERPOOL / SHIP" datestamp (S.18) applied in error, deleted with a "466" numeral and replaced by "LIVERPOOL / U.S PACKET" c.d.s (P.11), a "1/-" charge mark in black. Redirected to Cadiz and reposted prepaid 6d in cash. Very unusual. Photo on Page 52 (Image1)

Liverpool Packet c.d.s. 1868 Entire from Havana to Scotland sent via New York with "NEW YORK / BR TRANSIT" c.d.s, backstamped black "LIVERPOOL / PACKET" c.d.s clearly with "US" removed from the second line. An unusual variety of the type P.11 U.S Packet c.d.s, not recorded by Robertson or Tabeart, vertical file fold and minor staining, otherwise fine.

Packet/P.L.O Datestamps (P.12/22, 26). 1873-1903 Covers and cards with Liverpool Packet datestamps, comprising "LIVERPOOL / U.S PACKET" c.d.s in black (P.12, light 1903 cancel on G.B 1d), "PAID / LIVERPOOL / U.S PACKET" c.d.s in red (6, P.13/14), "LIVERPOOL / BR PACKET" c.d.s in black (P.16a, unpaid 1903 card with "1d" charge mark replaced by "2"), "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR PACKET"c.d.s (11, P.17/18a), "PAID / LIVERPOOL / COL PACKET" c.d.s (P.22) on 1903 card from India, and "LIVERPOOL / P.L.O" c.d.s (P26) in black (2) or red, three with stamps removed otherwise fine. A good lot, including 1893 cover from Old Calabar River bearing 2½d Oil Rivers overprint, 1894 cover from Niger Coast franked 1/-, etc. (23).

Paid / Liverpool / Br. Packet (P.17/18a). 1886-95 Covers probably from West Africa, all to England bearing G.B stamps, comprising 1886 cover "per S.S Congo" franked 6d on 6d and 1890 cover franked 1887 2d + 4d both cancelled "466" with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" c.d.s on the front; and 1895 cover with two 2½d stamps each cancelled by the "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" c.d.s in black. The 1886 cover with a little staining and creasing, the other two fine, very unusual. (3).

Liverpool / P.S Packet (P.25). 1873 Stampless cover from Rio de Janeiro to USA with Brazilian and British P.O datestamps, also backstamped with the scarce "LIVERPOOL / P.S PACKET" c.d.s used on mail carried by the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., a black "1/-" charge mark crossed out, charged 26c or 29c in Notes with "IN U.S NOTES" handstamp. Stained with part flap missing and peripheral tears at upper edge, nevertheless scarce and unusual.

Paid / Liverpool / P.S Packet (P.25a) / Chile - British P.O. 1876 (Jan 18) Cover from the British P.O in Valparaiso to G.B with 1/- plate 1 cancelled "C30", a black Valparaiso c.d.s and red "PAID LIVERPOOL / P.S PACKET" c.d.s both on the front. Very scarce, only used on mail carried by the Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

South Amern / Liverpool / Packet (P.27). 1854 (Nov 15) Entire letter from Montevideo to Glasgow with a Montevideo c.d.s and "1/-" charge mark, backstamped "SOUTH AMERN / LIVERPOOL / PACKET" c.d.s (Jan 5 1855, code A) in black, only used on mail carried by the South American & General Steam Navigation Co in 1854-55. Carried on the branch packet "La Plata" from Montevideo to Bahia and then on the third of just four voyages made by the company from Buenos Ayres to Liverpool, on the "Imperador" from Bahia. Fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 52. (Image1)

South Amern / Liverpool / Packet (P.27). 1854 Entire from Buenos Ayres to France, backstamped Buenos Ayres British P.O c.d.s and green "SOUTH AMERN / LIVERPOOL / PACKET" c.d.s (2 Dec., code B). A very scarce datestamp, used on mail carried by the South American & General Steam Navigation Co in 1854-55, this letter carried on the second of just four voyages made by this company from Buenos Ayres to Liverpool. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Conveyed By United States Packet (M.5). 1855 (May 7) Entire letter from London, Canada West, to Scotland charged 1/2, backstamped boxed "PKT LETTER / LIVERPOOL" (P.9, 27 May) and "CONVEYED BY / UNITED STATES / PACKET" both in green. A few minor stains, otherwise fine and very scarce, only recorded in 1855. Used on letters carried by the Collins Line after the reduction of the Cunard service during the Crimean War and the collapse of the Canadian S.N Co., to explain the extra postage due charge. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Conveyed By United States Packet (M.5). 1855 (May 28) Entire letter from Montreal to Scotland charged 1/2, backstamped boxed "PKT LETTER / LIVERPOOL" (P.9, June 10) and "CONVEYED BY / UNITED STATES / PACKET" both in green. Fine and very scarce, only recorded in 1855. Used on letters carried by the Collins Line after the reduction of the Cunard service during the Crimean War and the collapse of the Canadian S.N Co., to explain the extra postage due charge. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Art-5 / Br Pkt (M.6). 1852 (Jan 29) Entire letter from San Francisco to London charged 1/2½, backstamped "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (Mar 16) and "ART-5 / B.R. PKT" both in black. Used on unpaid mail charged 2½d for carriage across the USA in closed bag and 1/- sea postage by British Packet, the handstamp incorrectly worded "B.R." for "BR" (British). A little soiling, a fine and early example of this handstamp.

Art-5 / Br Pkt (M.6). 1852 (Mar 1) Stampless cover from San Francisco to England charged 1/2½, backstamped "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (May 2) and "ART-5 / B.R. PKT" both in black, minor soiling, a fine and early example of this handstamp.

Art-5 / Br Pkt (M.6). 1853 (Jan 29) Entire letter written on the Barque "Australia" at San Francisco, to Kent, charged 1/2½, backstamped very scarce dated oval "AMERICA / MR 14 / 1853" (P.3, part date missing due to removal of seal) and "ART-5 / B.R. PKT" with "1/2½" charge mark (M.68, unlisted in green) on the front, all three exceptional in green. A rare combination of handstamps. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Art-5 / Br Pkt (M.6). 1855 (Aug 15) Entire letter from San Francisco containing a bill of exchange, sent to Lea & Perrin in Worcester ordering 100 cases of Worcester Sauce to replace those sent on the "Raymond", which has put into Montevideo taking on 14 inches of water an hour. Charged 1/2½, backstamped "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (P.5, Sep. 23) and "ART-5 / B.R. PKT" both in green, fine and scarce in this colour. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Art-5 / US Pkt (M.8). 1855 (Oct 20) Entire from San Francisco to London "pr str. Sonora via Panama & U.S" backstamped "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (P.5, Oct 28) and the very scarce "ART-5 / U.S PKT" with a handstruck "1/2½" charge mark on the front, fine. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

By Canadian / Packet (M.10). 1854 (Aug 10) Stampless cover from Kingston to England carried by Canadian Steam Navigation Co. "Charity", a "6d Stg" handstamp crossed out, endorsed "over ½oz" and charged 1/-, backstamped "PKT. LETTER / LIVERPOOL" datestamp (P.10) and "BY - CANADIAN / PACKET" both in green. Tabeart only records this single example of the Canadian Packet handstamp in green, fine and very scarce in this colour. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Art-2 (M.11). 1857 Part entire (upper portion removed) to Wales, probably from Cuba, endorsed "per steamer via New York" with circular 10c charge mark and "1/2½" (M.68), backstamped "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (P.5, Jan 18), New York Br. Pkt c.d.s (Jan 7) and "ART-2". Tear to flap and splitting at folds repaired internally, a very scarce handstamp.

Above Oz (M.13). 1852 (Dec 1) Entire letter from Augusta to Belfast prepaid at the single rate of 24c, with circular undated "AUGUSTA / Ga", "PAID" and "24" all in blue, red "19" showing the credit to G.B. Found to be a double weight letter at Liverpool and handstamped "ABOVE ½Oz" but only charged the single rate deficiency of 1/-, backstamped "AMERICA / LIVERPOOL" c.d.s (P.5). The 1849 Anglo-US treaty stipulated that underpaid mail was to be treated as wholly unpaid and charged accordingly; however until the end of 1852 the New York and Liverpool Postmasters unofficially agreed to charge such letters with the deficiency only. A scarce item, one of just four underpaid transatlantic letters charged the single deficiency recorded by Colin Tabeart in an article in "Chronicle" (Feb 2000). Photo on Page 58. (Image1)