1841 (May 4) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter from the Abraham Bell correspondence, red "Paid At Liverpool 1841 MY 4" framed handstamp with red manuscript "4/-" prepaid rating for four-times 1s packet rate (there was no triple rate), carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool May 4th to Boston arriving May 19th, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' May 19" cds with ms. "1½ oz" and "114½" due rating for six-times 18¾¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, a scarce high 1½ oz. weight transatlantic letter.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1842 (Jan. 3) Manchester, England to Boston, Mass. Folded cover with red "Manchester JA 3 1842" origin datestamp and red manuscript "1/-" shilling prepaid packet rating, Liverpool "D, Jan 4, 1842" octagon backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Jan. 4th to Boston arriving Jan. 21st, Boston red "Ship/6" fancy ribbon due handstamp; some docketing on face, Fine and rare, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Letter marked one penny in red ink for British inland fee in error and then marked 1 shilling for the packet rate. Liverpool transit octagonal datestamp on reverse has the code letter "D" at the top, a scarce version of the uncommon octagonal marking. Less than a half dozen examples have been recorded and they were used for a three week period from December 1841-January 1842. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1842 (Feb. 15) Manchester, England to Boston, Mass. Folded letter endorsed "By 'West India Steamer packet", red "Manchester FE 15 1842" origin d.s. and red manuscript "1/-" shilling packet rating, carried by RMS Teviot from Falmouth Feb. 16th to St. Thomas arriving Mar. 12th, then RMS Dee via Havana to New York arriving Apr. 11th, red "New-York 'Ship' Apr 11" cds with blue manuscript "20¾" due rating for 18¾¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

THIS IS THE ONLY LETTER RECORDED TO DATE THAT ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE RMSP BRANCH LINE FROM HAVANA TO NEW YORK, WHICH CARRIED MAIL ON ONLY 4½ ROUND VOYAGES.

Starting in January 1842, the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company steamers started carrying British mail to the Caribbean with a branch line from Havana to Halifax via Savannah, Charleston, and New York. Letter had to be endorsed for the West India Steam Packet to be carried on this route instead of the normal Halifax/Boston route (a 15-day trip). This letter was in transit 55 days. This route may have been used because the Cunard Halifax/Boston route was having schedule problems in February 1842. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1842 (Mar. 30) New York, N.Y. to Feckenham, England. Datelined folded letter with sharp strike of "New-York Apr 1" cds and matching "Paid" arc handstamp with manuscript "18¾" rating to Boston, carried by Cunard Unicorn from Boston Apr. 2 to Halifax, Liverpool "America, L" oval backstamp and matching "1/-" packet due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

"Columbia" arrived at Halifax under canvas, having broken a shaft enroute about 450 miles from Halifax and never made it to Boston. Cunard sent branch line steamer Unicorn from Halifax to pick up Boston outgoing mails. Unicorn transferred mails to "Columbia" in Halifax. Unable to repair shaft, "Columbia" returned to Liverpool under sail, arriving Apr. 20th. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1842 (May 13) Philadelphia Pa. to Halifax, England. Datelined folded letter endorsed "per. "Harnden" to Boston" and bearing blue"Philadelphia Pa. May 13" cds and matching boxed "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "37" rating for double 18¾¢ postage, red "Forwd. From, Harnden & Co. Foreign Letter Office, Phila." circular handstamp and taken to Boston by Harnden & Co., carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Boston May 16th to Liverpool arriving May 29th, scarce Liverpool "America / L" double-oval backstamp and matching "1/-" shilling packet rating, Halifax (5.30) arrival backstamp, fresh and Very Fine with an unusually clear strike of the Harnden's Philadelphia marking in red.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Harnden did a brisk business between Philadelphia and Boston by carrying letters in bulk. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1843 (Dec. 30) New York N.Y. to London, England. Datelined folded letter carried privately to Boston where clear strike of "Forwd. By, T.W. Ward, Boston" oval forwarders handstamp and matching "PR HIBERNIA." straightline handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston Jan. 1st to Liverpool arriving Jan. 13th, red London (1.14) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/-" one shilling rating for transatlantic packet, endorsed "Recd London Jan. 15. 1844." docketing at top right, Very Fine, ex-Blake, Hahn.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1844 (Apr. 20) New Orleans La. to London, England. Gray datelined folded cover endorsed "pr. Boston Steamer Acadia" at top, carried out of mails to Boston where red "Forwd. By T.W. Ward" oval forwarder's handstamp struck and matching bold "PR ACADIA" straightline at bottom left, carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Boston May 1st to Liverpool arriving May 15th, red London (5.16) arrival backstamp and manuscript "2/-" for double the 1 shilling packet rate, Very Fine, ex-Hahn.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1847 (Oct. 4) Liverpool, England to Boston, Mass. Folded letter endorsed "pr Cambria", red "Paid at Liverpool OC 5 1847" champhered postmark and matching "1" shilling prepaid packet rate, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Oct. 5 to Boston arriving Oct. 19, red Boston "Ship 6" due handstamp for incoming ship letter fee, clean and Extremely Fine, an attractive use with three different markings struck in red., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1847 (Dec. 3) London, England to New York, N.Y., Turned and Reused back to London. Cover with red "Guilford St." straightline on flap, red London (12.3) and "Paid 1/-" shilling prepaid rating, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Liverpool Dec. 4th to Boston arriving Dec. 25th, New York red "7" cents due handstamp, sender turned and resent on return trip of the Hibernia from New York Jan. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Jan. 16th, London (1.17) backstamp with manuscript "1/-" due rating, small opening tear, otherwise Very Fine, This is the first recorded turned transatlantic cover crossing the ocean twice on the same vessel., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300