1815 (Jun. 3) London, England to Portsmouth N.H. Datelined folded letter with "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter, London, 22 JU 22, 1815" circular postmark across flaps and manuscript "8" due rating for 8d ship letter rate, carried by ship "Galen" as endorsed, light strike of red "Boston Ms." cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with red manuscript "17" rating for 15¢ war surcharge rate (10¢ plus 50%) plus 2¢ ship letter fee.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Withdrawn Ship Letter) 1815 (Jun. 5) Liverpool, England to Providence R.I. Docketed folded cover with mostly clear strike of red "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter Liverpool, 5 JU 1815" double-circle Crown datestamp on reverse, red "New-York 6 Aug" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "27½" rate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; $500 - 750.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE LIVERPOOL POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER DATESTAMP.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 Upon payment, the letter received the "Withdrawn Ship Letter" handstamp and the sender was allowed to send the letter by any ship of his choice.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.

Complete Images. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1819 (Mar. 1) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with clear strike of magenta "James-Munroe, Liverpool, Watkinson, Sailed Mar. 1. 1819" double-oval and matching arced "Packet Ship" handstamp, endorsed "p James Monroe" at bottom left, carried by Black Ball James Monroe from Liverpool Mar. 1st to New York arriving Apr. 9th, New York manuscript "6" pence due rating for 6¢ ship fee; small erosion spot in address, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE JAMES MUNROE PACKET HANDSTAMP THAT WAS USED ONLY ON THIS ONE SAILING (MARCH 1, 1819).

The 424-ton James Munroe was among the first four ships in the Black Ball fleet. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1820 (Mar. 9) Halifax, England to Boston Mass. Datelined folded letter endorsed "p Atlantic", red "Ship Atlantic * Sailed March. 17. * W. Matlock" cogged oval name-of-boat handstamp, red "New-York Apr 29" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with "20½" rating for 18½¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee; file folds, Very Fine and rare, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1830 (Mar. 17) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Folded mourning letter sent from Scotland with Edinburgh (3.13) backstamp and matching "Addl. ½" Scottish wheel tax with manuscript "1/6" for 8d ship letter fee plus 10d inland, sent in care and forwarded by U.S. Consul F.B. Ogden with his manuscript endorsement and "Forwarded from the Consulate of the U.S.A. Liverpool." framed handstamp across backflaps, manuscript "1/10" 1s10d rating, carried by Blue Swallowtail Line George Canning from Liverpool Mar. 25th to New York arriving Apr. 14th, New York red manuscript "6" cent rating; some fold separations, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS U.S. CONSUL LIVERPOOL FORWARDER HANDSTAMP.

This letter is from the Douglas family to the wife of President Monroe's nephew. Her maiden name was Douglas. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

(Express Mail) 1837 (Apr. 22) Birmingham, England to New Orleans La. via New York. Datelined folded letter carried privately to New York, endorsed "Single pr Express Mail" at top, red "New-York, Jun 3" cds and manuscript "75" express rating to New Orleans; light toning, Fine, a rare transatlantic westbound use sent via express mail.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1838 (May 18) New Orleans La. to London, England via New York Express Mail. Folded letter with partial red "New Orleans La. May 18" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with magenta "75" cent express mail rating, endorsed "per express mail and per first packet, either to Liverpool or London direct", flap with red "Forwarded by Heckscher, Coster & Matfield, New York '26 May 1838' " red oval with manuscript dating, carried by Sheffield from New York May 26th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 17th, "Liverpool, Ship Letter" framed backstamp and manuscript "3/2" rating for double the 8d ship letter fee plus double 11d inland postage, red London (6.18) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1838 (Nov. 5) New Orleans La. to London, England via New York Express Mail. Datelined gray folded letter with indistinct red New Orleans cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "75" cent express mail rating to New York care of Mess. J.W. Schmidt & Co., endorsed "Pr. Express Mail" in red manuscript, forwarded on Great Western from New York Nov. 23rd to Bristol arriving Dec. 7th, "Bristol, Ship-Letter" framed handstamp with manuscript "1/3" due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 10d inland, reverse with red London (12.8) arrival cds and framed London Two Penny Post datestamp (Wilcox & Jay 459d), Very Fine and scarce express mail use via the "Great Western".
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Express Mail) 1838 (Nov. 16) Jackson Miss. to London, England via New Orleans and New York. Datelined folded letter entered mails with partial red "New Orleans L." cds and matching "Paid" straightline with red manuscript "150" rating, addressed in care of Messrs. F.W. Schmidt & Co., New York, red endorsement "Pr. Express Mail" and "Double" at top, and "Paid" at bottom left, upon arrival "Forwarded Through Gilpin's Exchange and Reading Room and Foreign Letter Office, N-York." oval handstamp struck on flap, transatlantic to London, entered mails with red London (1.3.1839) backstamp and manuscript "3/2" 3s2d due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1838 (Dec. 15) New Orleans La. to London, England via New York. Datelined folded letter addressed in care of Messr. Goodhue & Co. of New York to Baring Brothers at London, partial red "New Orleans" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with "75" cent express mail rating, endorsed "Express Mail", red "Forwarded By, Goodhue & Co., New York" oval handstamp on flap, sent by private ship, entered mails with "Liverpool, Ship Letter" two-line handstamp and manuscript "1/7" rating, red London (1.26.1839) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice with Goodhue forwarders oval.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A RARE TRANSATLANTIC EXPRESS MAIL USE VIA NEW YORK TO LONDON.

Letter sent by U.S. Express Mail from New Orleans at the single 75¢ express mail rate (three-times the normal letter of rate 25¢) to forwarding agent Goodhue & Co. in New York. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1840 (Sep. 10) Goteborg, Sweden to Fall River Mass. Datelined folded letter sent privately to Liverpool, red "Liverpool, SP 18, 1840" double-arc datestamp and red manuscript "1/-" prepaid packet rating, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Sep. 19th to Boston arriving Oct. 3rd, red partial "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Oct 3" arrival cds and manuscript "12" due rating for 10¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and scarce early transatlantic use from Sweden, Carried on Maiden Voyage of Cunard Line Caledonia, ex-Roberts.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1842 (Jan. 26) Plymouth Mass. to Göttingen, Saxony. Datelined folded letter with red "Plymouth Mass. Jan 26" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with blue manuscript "20" rating, red "New-York, Jan 27" cds and carried on Havre Second Line St. Nicholas from New York to Le Havre arriving Feb. 1st, red "Outre-Mer, Le Havre, 21 Fevr 52" entry cds, blue Paris (2.22) transit backstamp, red manuscript "11", Hannover manuscript "6½" due rating, Feb. 26th arrival backstamp, Very Fine and interesting use, ex-Arthur White.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1842 (Apr. 26, Jul. 29) Boston, Mass. to Oundle, England. Correspondence pair each with red "Forwarded from Harndens Package Express & Foreign Letters, Boston" oval handstamp and matching red "Pd H" in circle handstamp, 1842 (Apr. 26) carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston May 1st to Liverpool arriving May 15th, flap with Liverpool (5.16) and London (5.17) backstamps, stamp apparently fell off, 1842 (Jul. 29) carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Boston Aug. 1st to Liverpool arriving Aug. 13th, Liverpool (8.14) backstamp with G.B. 1d red on bluish, four margins tied by Maltese cross, red London (8.15) transit backstamp, Very Fine correspondence pair.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1846 (Feb. 24) Zante, Ionian Islands to Boston Mass. via London. Datelined gray folded letter to care of London forwarder with red "London, Paid Ship Letter, 14 MR 14, 1846" rimless oval and matching London Paid (3.14) Maltese cross, manuscript "1/-" 1s due rating crossed out, carried as endorsed by Unicorn from Liverpool Mar. 19th to Boston arriving Apr. 17th, partial Boston "Ship/6" in ribbon due handstamp, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THE ONLY KNOWN "UNICORN" COVER FROM THE IONIAN ISLANDS, THE LAST OF SEVEN VOYAGES OF THIS PIONEER STEAMSHIP.

Unicorn formerly had run on the Cunard feeder mail service between Pictou, Nova Scotia and Quebec. In November 1845, she was purchased by James Whitney to be placed on the Halifax to St. John's, Newfoundland service. Returning to North America in March 1846, Unicorn carried ship letters one last time to Boston. Very few covers have been recorded from this voyage. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1848 (Apr. 14) London, England to New York N.Y. Blue folded letter with "Tooley St." straightline with red manuscript "1/" 1s prepaid rating, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Apr. 15th to New York arriving Apr. 29th, New York red "6" in circle due handstamp for port-of-entry ship letter fee, Very Fine, Carried on Maiden Voyage of Cunard Line America, ex-Feldman.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1848 (Jun. 12) Louisville Ky. to Marburg, Germany. Folded cover with partial blue "Louisville Ky. '5' Jun 12" integral-rate cds and manuscript "34" cent rating, sharp "New-York, Jun 17" exchange backstamp, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Jun. 17th to Bremen arriving Jul. 3rd, Hannover "12¾ America/über Bremen" and "14½" handstamps, magenta due ratings, partial German arrival, exceptionally fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1848 (Sep. 11) Portland Me. to Brunswick, Germany. Cover with partial "Portland Me. '10' 11 Sep" integral cds and matching "Paid" handstamp to New York, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from New York Sep. 13th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 25th, red London (9.26) transit backstamp and manuscript "2/4" 2s4d debit rating, sharp "ENGLAND/ÜBER BREMEN" two-line handstamp and red crayon "18 2/3" due rating, Oct. 1st boxed arrival backstamp, additional red crayon ratings incl. "22 2/3" final due, Very Fine and scarce use.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Portland collected only 10¢ for U.S. inland fee to New York and marked the letter with "Paid" handstamp. Letter was sent as endorsed by Cunard Line at double the 5¢ British open mail rate. London marked debit of "2/4" 2s4d for two-times the 8d transatlantic fee plus 6d British transit. Hannover marked letter with black "ENGLAND/ÜBER BREMEN" handstamp to show letter arrived from England under U.K.-Hannover convention of 1845, showing debit to Hannover of 18 2/3 gute-groschen (equivalent to British debit of 2s4d). Hannover added the 4 ggr. internal fee was added and letter marked 22 2/3 ggr. postage due. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Restored Rate Period) 1848 (Oct 13) Manila, Philippines to Boston Mass. Gray printed circular datelined "Manila 13 October. 1848." dateline carried privately London, entered mails with red London Paid (12.29) cds and red manuscript "1/-" rating. red "p 'America' " endorsement, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Dec. 30th to Boston arriving Jan. 12th, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' JAn 12" cds and matching "7" due handstamp for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, Carried on the First Westbound Restored Rate Voyage.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Restored Rate Period) 1848 (Dec. 24) Marseilles, France to Boston Mass. Cds and small red "PD" framed handstamp with manuscript rating at top left, on blue folded letter, red London Paid (12.29) transit cds, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Dec. 30th to Boston arriving Jan. 12th, Boston red "Ship, 6" ribbon due handstamp, Very Fine, Carried on the First Westbound Restored Rate Voyage.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Restored Rate Period) 1849 (c., Jan. 10) New York N.Y. to Carlisle, England. Blue folded cover endorsed "per Europa", carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Europa from New York Jan. 10th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 22nd, reverse with "America, Liverpool, JA 22, 1849" double-arc and green Carlisle (1.23) arrival double-arc, Very Fine and choice, Carried on the First Voyage from the US to UK under Restored Rates.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Restored Rate Period) 1849 (Feb. 6) New York N.Y. to Cognac, France. Datelined grayish folded letter carried on Cunard Line Canada from New York Feb. 7th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 19th, reverse with Liverpool America (2.19) and red London (2.20) transits, matching red "Colonies/&c. Art. 13." framed accounting handstamp, Boulogne (2.24) entry cds and manuscript "59" décimes due rating, Cognac arrival backstamp; light fold toning, F.-V.F., Carried on the Final Eastbound Voyage under Restored Rates.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1849 (Aug. 20) New York N.Y. to Ankum, Germany. Greenish blue folded letter with "New-York, Aug 20" cds and matching "24" cents due handstamp (Winter 302) for Bremen Treaty rate, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Aug. 20th to Bremen arriving Sep. 5th, sharp strike of red "9 America / uber Bremen" handstamp (Van der Linden 3291), Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1849 (Aug. 25) Canton, China to Germantown Pa. via Hong Kong and London. Gray cover with original enclosure (transcript accompanies) datelined "Canton River August 25th 1849", reverse with clear strike of red "Forwarded by Rawle Drinker & Co., Hong Kong" forwarder's oval as well as blue "Lemuel Goddard, London" oval, entered mails with London (11.2) cds and "19/Cents" debit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Nov. 3rd to New York arriving Nov. 17th, New York "24" due rating handstamp for packet fee, fascinating contents describing the murder of the Portuguese commander at Macao (Don Jose Maria do Amaral), his method of ruling Macao and that the Chinese had put a $1,000 bounty for his head, the English and American forces in the area are rallying to the aid of the Portuguese, and that the murdered body had been embalmed "and lies in state at his house, where it is said they mean to preserve it till the head is returned", other fascinating contents regarding gambling, a skirmish at a fort and other topics, some slight wear, Very Fine, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A WONDERFUL TRANSATLANTIC USE FROM CANTON, CHINA TO THE UNITED STATES WITH PHENOMENAL CONTENT CONCERNING MACAO. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1849 (Sep. 17) Reading Pa. to Berlichingen, Württemberg. Folded letter with partial red "Reading Pa. Sep 17" cds and matching "Paid" and "5" rating handstamps, bold New York "24" cents due handstamp (Winter 302) for Bremen Treaty rate, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Sep. 20th to Bremen arriving Oct. 6th, choice red "9 America / uber Bremen" handstamp (Van der Linden 3291" and additional light red "10 1/3" handstamp below, blue manuscript "45" debit rating, various magenta ratings with "53" "4" totalled to "57"; light soiling, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1849 (Dec. 11) Ann Arbor, Mich. to Wurttemberg, Germany. Datelined folded letter with blue "Ann Arbor Mic., Dec 11" cds and matching "34" cent rating handstamp, red "New-York, Dec 17" exchange backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from New York Dec. 26th to Bremer arriving Jan. 15th, red "12¾ America/über Bremen" and "14 1/12" debit handstamps, various ratings including red crayon "1f13" final due, Very Fine and attractive Bremen Closed mail use from Michigan, Letter was in the second Bremen Closed Mail sent from New York and second of only six Bremen Closed Mails carried by British steamships..
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The Ann Arbor "34" rating was used by New York to show the U.S. debit to Bremen. Hannover post office in Bremen marked 12¾ gutegroschen, a restatement of the 34¢ U.S. debit. Hannover added 1 1/3 ggr. transit fee and debited Thurn & Taxis Post 14 1/12 ggr. that was equivalent to 61 kreuzer. Thurn & Taxis Post added 8 kr. transit fee to Württemberg for a debit of 69 kr. or 1 florin 9 kr. Württemberg added 4 kr. internal fee for a total postage due of 1f13 kr.

Starting in 1849, if there were no Ocean Line sailings, Bremen Convention mail was sent in closed mails was sent through England under a provision of the U.S.-British treaty. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400