1835 (May 11) Palermo, Sicily to New York N.Y. via Philadelphia. Folded letter datelined "Palermo 11th May 1835" carried as endorsed by ship Brilliant, entered mails with red "Phila., 23 Jul" octagonal double-line datestamp and matching Philadelphia Full-Rigged Ship handstamp with red manuscript "14½" cent rating for 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; docketed "recd. 25th July", letter from Benjamin Gardner concerning wine trade and shipments, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The Philadelphia Rigged Ship handstamp was used only on incoming mail for addresses beyond the port. It is recorded used from May 1834 to Nov. 9, 1835. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1835 (Aug. 4) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to New York N.Y. via Philadelphia. Printed circular with market advice (oil, coffee, etc.), exports and ship sailings, carried as endorsed by ship Charles Wharton, entered mails with red "Phila., 10, Oct" octagonal double-line datestamp and matching red Philadelphia Full-Rigged Ship handstamp with red manuscript "14½" cent rating for 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; red ms. "Recd 11th" docketing at top left, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The Philadelphia Rigged Ship handstamp was used only on incoming mail for addresses beyond the port. It is recorded used from May 1834 to Nov. 9, 1835. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1840 (Nov. 10) Havana, Cuba to London, England via New York. Gray docketed folded letter with "Forwarded by Collomb & Iselin, New York" oval backstamp for transit to New York and red "Forwarded From Harnden's Package Express & Forwarder Letter Office, No 2 Wall St, New York" oval for transit to Boston, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston Dec. 1st to Liverpool arriving Dec. 15th; file folds, F.-V.F. and scarce double-forwarder transatlantic use from Havana.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1846 (Feb. 4) Philadelphia Pa. to St. Croix, Danish West Indies. Gray datelined folded letter addressed "Care of J.F. Peniston & Co., St. Thomas", carried by private ship, reverse with red "Forwarded by Whitmore & Co., St. Thomas" oval across flaps, endorsed received "Feb. 25th, -46" at bottom left; some edge toning and wear, Fine and scarce early United States inbound use from a new find.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1847 (Jun. 24, c.) Paris, France to Philadelphia Pa. Orange cover with blue "Ocean Steam Navigation Co. New York, Draper & Co., Paris" double-oval. This letter was put into the ship's mail bag by Ocean Line's agent in Paris, endorsed "p. Steamer Washington" at bottom left, carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Washington from Brest Jun. 25th via Southampton delayed with mechanical trouble, sailing for New York on Jul. 10th but had to return to port with additional problems. She sailed again July 15th arriving in New York Jul. 30th, New York "29" cent due rating for 24¢ transatlantic packet plus 5¢ inland postage, remailed with blue "Philadelphia PA. Jul 31" cds and manuscript "5" due rating totaling "34" cents.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF AMERICAN PACKET SERVICE BY OCEAN LINE WASHINGTON.

While letters on the eastbound route during the Discriminatory Rate period are relatively rare, those on westbound voyages are exceptional. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Nov. 10) Hamburg, Germany to Philadelphia, Pa. Folded letter prepaid with magenta "1.6" 1sh 6d credit from Hamburg to England, London (11.13) and Liverpool (11.13) transits, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Nov. 18 to Boston arriving Dec. 6, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Dec 6" cds and matching "34" retaliatory rate handstamp for 10¢ inland plus 24¢ packet fee, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Letter carried on the 22nd of 25 Cunard mail voyages to the U.S. under the retaliatory order.

Complete Images. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Via Panama) 1849 (Dec. 2) Callao, Peru to East Thomaston Me. Gray datelined folded letter carried by Pacific Steam Navigation Co. to Panama and overland to Chagres, carried by Cherokee from Chagres Jan. 2nd to New York arriving Jan. 13th, rare strike of red "New-York '30' Jan 13" integral-due cds; slight edge toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF HOWLAND AND ASPINWALL'S CHEROKEE.

There are fewer than 5 recorded examples of the rare "New-York '30' Jan 13" integral-due cds, which is known used for this voyage of the "Cherokee" only. The New York Herald listed Cherokee as a mail steamship, but this was incorrect. The confusion about the Cherokee being a mail steamship on this voyage may have come from the actions of mail agent A. Clinton McLean. He was in charge of the mails from California that reached Panama on Dec. 5th and Dec. 29th. He accompanied these mails to New York on the Cherokee. It appears that he had missed the sailing of the contract mail steamer, "Falcon", that cleared Chagres on January 1, 1850. Howland and Aspinwall's Pacific Mail Steamship Company had the mail contract for the Pacific route, but not for the route on the Atlantic side. They did operate steamships on the Atlantic route until April 1851, the "Cherokee" being their first.

Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 50-51, fig. 66. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1850 (Jun. 12) Callao, Peru to Boston Mass. via Panama, Cuba and Mobile. Gray datelined folded letter endorsed "by Steamer Bolivia via Panama", carried privately on PSNC Bolivia from Peru to Panama, then sent out-of-mails to Cuba and carried by RMSP Great Western from Havana Jul. 28th to Mobile arriving Jul. 30th, entered mails with blue "Mobile Ala. '10' 1 Aug" integral-rate cds and matching "SHIP" straightline; some minor toning, F.-V.F. and scarce RMSP packet use to Mobile.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Feb. 18) San Francisco, Cal. to La Rochelle, France. Red-orange "San Francisco Cal. 18 Feb" cds with matching "Paid" straightline and "29" error rating handstamp for 29¢ British mail rate, pencil "26" prepaid rating for 16¢ American Packet plus 10¢ internal postage from West Coast, carried from San Francisco via PMSC Panama arriving Panama Mar. 3rd, left Chagres via USMC El Dorado arriving New York Mar. 15th, then by Collins Line Arctic from New York to Liverpool arriving Mar. 31st, red London (4.1) transit backstamp, red Paris (4.2) entry cds and "8" decimes due handstamp, La Rochelle (4.3) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice 29¢ error rate use to France, ex-Noel, Walske.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The "26" rating handstamp should have been struck for the 26¢ British open mail rate by American Packet from the West Coast. The Dick Winter collection had examples of the "29" rating handstamp used properly to Sweden and Great Britain on the same voyages via Panama to New York. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Apr. 3) Rhinebeck, N.Y. to Koenigreich, Württemberg. Orange buff cover with bold "Rhinebeck N.Y. Apr 3" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with ms. "29" cent Bremen mails rating, red "New-York, Apr 5" exchange backstamp and red "PAID ALL" straightline, red "America/über Bremen" handstamp overstrikes "Paid All", Hanover P.O. in Bremen red "Fr. 2 5/12" gutebroschen credit handstamp, magenta "7" credit for British (3 sgr), Belgium (½ sgr) and German (3½ sgr) internal transit, reverse with Deitz-Minden (5.1) cds and blue Waiblingen (5.4.52) two-line transits; some wear upper right, otherwise Very Fine and scarce Bremen mails use.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The "Paid All" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid to Württemberg. Fully prepaid letters to destinations beyond Bremen between July 1st 1851 and Aug. 15th 1853 are scarce. The Hanover Post Office in Bremen red "Fr. 2 5/12" gutebroschen credit handstamp is known used only from April to June 1852. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1853 (Sep. 30) Circular to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Blue folded wrapper without side flaps bearing 1¢ blue (9) horizontal pair, small corner crease, tied by two strikes of blue circular grid cancels, inside partial docketing; light printed Dickey & Co. circular offset on face, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1855 (c.) Callao, Peru to Fairhaven Mass. Light buff cover with sharp "Forwarded by Crosby & Co., Ship Chandlers and Ship Agents, Callao, Peru" forwarder's oval, British P.O. "PAID-TO / PANAMA" two-line transit, "10" in circle and New York "Steamship, 10" in circle due handstamps totalled to "20" cent due; small edge tear, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1858 (Jun. 16) Salem Ms. to Calcutta, India. Buff cover addressed to Ship "Cyclone", "Salem Mass., June 16" cds and red "Paid" straightline with manuscript "38" rating for Prussian Closed Mail rate, red "Boston '15' Jun 16" exchange cds, "Boston Br. Pkt. Jun 16" exchange backstamp; red "Aachen Franco 29/6" framed handstamp and red ms. rating, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Jun. 16th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 27th, reverse with Alexandria (7.16) transit and partial Calcutta Steam Letter handstamp; reduced at top and partial back flap, Fine and scarce Prussian Closed mail use to India.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1858 (Nov. 14) New Orleans La. to Schirmack, France. Blue printed circular bearing 1¢ blue (24) pair tied by "New Orleans La. May 14" cds, probably carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York to Liverpool arriving Dec. 5th, red French (12.6.61) entry cds with matching "15c" centimes due rating handstamp; some scissor trimmed perfs at top, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1859 (Jan. 22) Calcutta, India to New York N.Y. Cover with sharp "Forwarded by Atkinson Tilton & Co. & Co., Calcutta" oval and red "Calcutta, Ja 22, 1859, G.P.O." origin cds on reverse, endorsed "Per 'Bengal' via Marseilles", framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamp, red London (3.1) transit backstamp and manuscript "18" debit, carried by Inman Line City of Washington from Liverpool Mar. 2nd to New York arriving Mar. 16th, black "New.York, Am. Packet. Mar 16" exchange cds and matching "39" cent due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The 39¢ rate from India via Marseilles for up to ¼ ounce comprised: 18¢ debit to Britain, 16¢ American packet sea passage plus 5¢ U.S. inland. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1860 (Mar. 20) Valença, Portugal to Boston Mass. via New York. Gray folded letter sent unpaid endorsed "Via England", red London (3.5) transit backstamp and manuscript "24" cent debit to U.S., carried by Havre Line Fulton from Southampton Mar. 7th to New York arriving Mar. 20th, "New.York, Am. Packet, Mar 20" exchange cds with matching bold "45" cent due rating, Very Fine and scarce use from Portugal.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1860 (Jun. 11) Charleston S.C. to Nantes, France. Blue folded letter bearing 24¢ gray lilac (37), straddle-pane margin at right, tied by "Charleston S.C. Jul 11" cds, red "New York 'Paid 3' Jun 14" credit exchange cds ("Jun" used in error), carried on North Atlantic S.S. Co. Adriatic from New York Jul. 14th to Havre arriving Jul. 24th, blue Havre (7.24) arrival datestamp that is an unusual color for this marking, Le Havre a Paris (7.24) and Nantes (7.25) arrival backstamps, Very Fine, ex-Karrer.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A RARE PREPAID EXAMPLE CARRIED ON THE 3RD OF ONLY 7 VOYAGES OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC STEAMSHIP COMPANY. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1862 (May 14) Macao via Hong Kong, China to Greenfield Mass. Tissue paper cover with red "Per Overland via Marseilles" banner directive and original letter datelined "Macao May 14th 1862", entered mails with red "Hong Kong, Paid, C, MY 25 '62" cds and magenta "1/11" prepaid rating (46¢) to U.S. port, magenta "1/10" 1s10d credit to G.B., red London Paid (7.14) transit cds and matching "16 / cents" credit handstamp to U.S. for sea passage, carried by Inman Line Etna from Liverpool Jul. 16th to New York arriving Jul. 27th, black "N.York Am. Pkt. '5' Jul 28" debit exchange cds for 5¢ inland postage; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The enclosed Macao letter has some interesting content, "…I closed my last letter to you on Friday, went over to Hong Kong on Saturday morn'g…the mail steamer leaving there on Sunday morn'g…I have now a little intermission on account of the stormy weather for the last two days, so that Teas cannot be shipped off to the "S.H. Talbot"…The "S.H. Talbot" was chartered on my a/c and I have some 6@600 tons for her @ New York, she takes 1,100 tons & is engaged full & will be off soon as the weather permits…There is private news said to be received at Hong Kong via Calcutta that the Federal Troops have possession of Newbern N.C.…if possible I want to get away to Amoy & Foochow to see about the new Teas…". Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1864 (Nov. 14) Paris, France to Exeter N.H. Cover with "Paris, Nov 14 '64" cds and incorrect "18" overstruck with "12" cent debit handstamp, carried by French Line Washington from Havre Nov. 16th to New York arriving Dec. 3rd, "N.Y. Frnh. Pkt. '15 or 34 U.S. Notes' Dec 3" depreciated currency cds; opening slit at top, Very Fine and rare French Mails Depreciated Currency use.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

This New York French Mails Depreciated Currency cds shows 15¢ in coin or 34¢ in notes for a 2.267x inflation factor, near the peak exchange rate in depreciated currency. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1865 (Sep. 24) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to New York, N.Y. Datelined folded letter with partial Brazil (9.24) cds sent via French packet to Bordeaux, bold strike of red "Bresil, Bordeaux, 18 Oct 65" cds, blue crayon "2" for double-weight and green crayon "54" cent debit adjacent, carried by Cunard Line Java from Queenstown Oct. 22nd to New York arriving Nov. 3rd, "N.Y. Br. Pkt. '60 or 84 U.S. Notes' 3 Nov" depreciated currency exchange cds (inverted day), Very Fine and scarce depreciated currency cds unlisted by Winter, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1865 (Nov. 14) Genoa, Italy to New York N.Y. Blue folded cover with "Genova, 14 Nov 65" cds, French red "Italie, Lanslebourg" (11.26) transit cds and "18" cent debit handstamp, carried by French Line Lafayette from Havre Nov. 17th to New York arriving Dec. 5th, two strikes of "N.Y. Frnh. Pkt. '21 or 31 U.S. Notes' Dec 5" depreciated currency cds; small top edge tear, Very Fine and rare French Mails Depreciated Currency use.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

This New York French Mails Depreciated Currency cds shows 21¢ in coin or 31¢ in notes for a 1.476x inflation factor. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1866 (Jun. 20) New York N.Y. to Darmstadt, Germany. Orange cover bearing 2¢ black (73) tied by red radial fancy cancel, additional strike at right duplexed with "N.Y. City, Jun 20" local cds, black "N. York, Brem Pkt. '3' Jun 23" debit exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Hansa from New York Jun. 23rd to Bremen arriving Jul. 5th, blue "America/über Bremen" two-line transit and matching large "22" due handstamp, Frankfurt (7.9) transit backstamp; mended top right opening tear, fresh and Very Fine appearance, ex-Burrows, Faust.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

The 15¢ rate via Bremen Mail was underpaid and the partial payment was not recognized. The U.S. debited Bremen 3¢ for internal postage and the recipient was charged 22 kreuzers. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1867 (Nov. 3) Rudkjobing, Denmark to Angels, Calaveras Co., Cal. Circa 1867 blue cover with "Rudkjobing 3/11" cds, reverse with blue "Lubeck/5 11 18./Lauenburg" three-line transit and matching "1½ a. P." handstamp, black "Aachen, 8 Cts." (11.6) debit transit, "N.Y. Am. Pkt. '33 or 45 U.S. Notes' Nov 19" depreciated currency cds, pencil "Due 45 cts" rating at left; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and scarce depreciated currency use, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1869 (May 28) Stratham N.H. to Swatow, China via San Francisco and Hong Kong. Cover bearing 10¢ green (68), cancelled by brown four-ring target, matching "Stratham N.H. May 28" cds on cover from the Wingate U.S. Consul correspondence endorsed "Via California", black "New York, May 28" foreign mail cds ties 10¢ stamp, magenta pink "San Francisco, Paid All, Jul 3" exchange cds, carried by PMSS Great Republic from San Francisco Jul. 3rd to Hong Kong arriving at Hong Kong Aug. 6th, reverse with Hong Kong (8.6) transit and Swatow (8.7) arrival cds; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

This is an unusual use handled in both the New York and San Francisco foreign departments. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1870 (Apr. 14, Sep. 4) Paris, France to the United States. Two covers, first with "Paris, 14 Avril 70" cds, red London (4.15) backstamp, "* FR/2^F" oval accountancy with bold "24" cent debit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line China from Liverpool Apr. 16th to New York arriving Apr. 27th, "New York '29 U.S. Notes' Apr 27" depreciated currency due cds; second with "Paris, 4 Sept. 70" cds, red London (9.5) transit backstamp, bold "* FR/1^F50^c" oval accountancy and manuscript "12" cent debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Palmyra from Liverpool Sep. 6th to Boston arriving Sep. 20th, "New York '16 U.S. Notes' Sep 21" depreciated currency due cds (month inverted), Very Fine and scarce exhibit pair, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300