1851 (Jan. 31) Liverpool, England to Philadelpia Pa. Blue folded letter with Liverpool (1.31) cds and additional oval backstamp, matching bold "19 / Cents" debit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Africa from Liverpool Feb. 1st to New York arriving Feb. 15th, Philadelphia crude blue "24" due rating handstamp, Very Fine and choice strike, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Although in use for a year and a half, the Philadelphia crude "24" due rating is scarce. The "Africa" carried the mails from disabled "Atlantic" on this voyage. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1746 (Apr. 10) Charles Town S.C. to London, England. Folded cover from the known correspondence to Rev. Dr. Philip Bearcroft, Sec. to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Ports at London, carried transatlantic privately and posted with London Dockwra backstamp for 1 pence delivery, docketed as "S. Carolina, Mr. Durand, April 10th 1746" on flap, and "Rec'd 12 Jany 1746" (1747); some separations hinge reinforced, a Very Fine and early use from Charleston.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A RARE EARLY TRANSATLANTIC LETTER FROM SOUTH CAROLINA WITH A LONDON DOCKWRA. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1812 (Jul. 3) Richmond, Va. to Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Datelined folded letter endorsed "Favrd by Mr. Somerville" at bottom left, carried by private ship to England, entered mails with "Ship-Letter, Liverpool" oval crown handstamp and manuscript "1/3" rating; cover tear, Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

AN INTERESTING LETTER MAIL 15 DAYS AFTER UNITED STATES DECLARATION OF WAR ON GREAT BRITAIN.

Interesting letter with excellent War of 1812 content: "…in my last letter of the 28th May, I informed you that it was the general opinion of well informed men that war with this Country & Great Britain would soon take place which has proved to true - on the 18th June last war was declared by this Government against Great Britain & Ireland & her dependencies this measure is what has long been expected on this side of the water however little it might have been with you the war measure beams to be popular here in all parts of the union and will no doubt be supported by both parties, Mr. Foster on the Declaration of War demanded his passports at Washington which was instantly granted him and left for New York for Enfland to touch at Halifax…Thus Grandfather after long serious troubles & great anxiety & distress of mind I am last situated in an enemies country which you no doubt most be aware is not very agreeable a foreigner now on all occasions is look'd upon with a jealous & suspicous eye particularly English & Scotchmen as for Irishman as soon as they get their foot on ground…". Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1813 (Dec. 25) Liverpool, England to Providence R.I. Datelined folded letter carried by private ship from Liverpool to Boston, entered mails with red "Boston Ms Feb 11" cds and matching "SHIP" and "12" cents due handstamp for 2¢ ship fee and plus 10¢ inland postage to Providence (41-90 miles), letter with some interesting contents reporting that the French Emperor has accepted the proposal of the allies as a basis for peace., Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A CHOICE SHIP LETTER IN EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1815 (Jun. 5) Liverpool, England to Providence R.I. Docketed folded cover with mostly clear strike of red "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter Liverpool, 5 JU 1815" double-circle Crown datestamp on reverse, red "New-York 6 Aug" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "27½" rate for 25½¢ war surcharge rate of 150-300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, ex-Frajola.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE LIVERPOOL POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER DATESTAMP.

The Act of October 10th 1814, made it illegal to place an outbound letter on any ship privately, unless the letter had first been presented to the British Post Office and a fee paid equal to one-third of the combined inland and sea packet postage. Upon payment, the letter received the "Withdrawn Ship Letter" handstamp and the sender was allowed to send the letter by any ship of his choice. In that the Post Office was providing no service at all for this little used and unpopular act, it as terminated on July 11th 1815 after only 11 months. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1835 (Mar. 31) Apalachicola, Fla. Terr. to London, England. Datelined folded letter with black "Apalachicola F.Ty. Mar 31" cds, manuscript notation "Forwarded from Apaa." on flap, red "Columbus Ga. Apr 5" cds and matching "Paid" straightline with red manuscript "50" cent rating, indistinct Liverpool Ship framed handstamp on back with manuscript rating, red London (5.11) arrival backstamp and manuscript. "4/9" 4s9d due rating: 8d ship, 11d inland, triple rate for greater than 200 miles; some edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A RARE FLORIDA TERRITORIAL TRANSATLANTIC USE TO LONDON.

British rates at this time were based on the number of sheets rather than weight. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1835 (Jul. 31) Bridgeton N.J. to U.S. Ship "Peacock", Canton, China. Datelined folded letter from the Rusehenberger correspondence addressed to care of American Consul at Canton, bold "Bridgeton N.J., Jul 31" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "10" rating to F.R. Smith at Philadelphia Pa., the enclosure reveals that the letter will be carried out of the mails from Philadelphia to the American Consul at Canton, Very Fine and early use to China.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The addressee, William Samuel Waithman Ruschenberger, M.D. (1807-1895) was a surgeon for the United States Navy, naturalist and author. He wrote several works based on his service in the Pacific and along the coast of South America. He commissioned with the U. S. Sloop-of-war Peacock in 1836, and accompanied the second mission of diplomatist Edmund Roberts to Muscat and Siam, subsequently fleet surgeon of the East India Squadron 1835-1837. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1837 (Mar. 15) Canton, China to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter datelined "Canton March 15. 1837" and carried by private ship to New York, entered mails with sharp strike of red "New-York Jul 10" cds and matching "Ship" straightline with red manuscript "12½" rating for 80-150 miles without 2¢ ship fee noted, forwarded upon arrival back to New York with sharp strike of blue "Philada Pa. Jul 11" cds and ms. "12½" rating, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

AN EARLY INCOMING SHIP USE FROM CANTON TO THE UNITED STATES. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1838 (Sep. 5) Milan, Lombardy-Venetia to Morrisville, Pa. Folded letter from U.S. Navy surgeon George Clymer to his sister in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, about his travels in northern Italy, while awaiting a new flagship in the Mediterranean Squadron, Milan (9.5) datestamp and "F.C." handstamp, Paris (9.13) backstamp, carried by Union Line Baltimore from Havre Sep. 25 to New York arriving Oct. 25, red "New-York 'Ship' Oct 25" cds with manuscript "12" rating, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A SCARCE STEAMSHIP VOYAGE VIA GREAT BRITAIN FROM AUSTRIAN LOMBARDY TO THE UNITED STATES.

Under 1831 Franco-Austrian Postal Convention, France was entitled to 65 centimes per 7½ grams letter weigh (approx. 71 Austrian centesimi) for transit from Austria through the Kingdom of Sardinia to France. The Austrian internal fee that had to be prepaid was an additional 40 Austrian centesimi for the 42 km from Milan to the Sardinian border. "F.C." handstamp in red applied at Milan to indicate letter paid to the Kingdom of Sardinia border. The letter, as endorsed, was placed on a sailing packet at Le Havre for New York. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1840 (Sep. 18) Manchester, England to Boston, Mass. Folded letter with red "Manchester SP 18 1840" origin datestamp with red manuscript "1/-" shilling prepaid packet rating, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Sep. 19th to Boston arriving Oct. 3rd, Boston fancy red "Ship 6" scroll due handstamp, Very Fine and choice, Letter carried on Maiden Voyage of the Caledonia, and fourth round trip voyage of the Cunard Line., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1840 (Oct. 20) Liverpool, England to New York, N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red "Liverpool OC 20, 1840" backstamp and matching "Paid at Liverpool" framed handstamp with red manuscript "6/-" rating for 6x the 1s packet fee, carried as endorsed by the Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Oct. 20th to Boston arriving Nov. 3rd, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Nov 3" cds with "2¼ oz" and "1.70¾" rating for 9x 18¾¢ letter rate plus 2¢ ship fee, F.-V.F., an exceptionally high 2¼ oz. weight transatlantic letter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Apparently the British did not have a 5x rate as the letter weighed 2¼ oz. and was rated 6x the 1s packet rate. The U.S. on the other hand did have the odd times rates. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200