1839 (Mar. 22) Liverpool, England to New York, N.Y. Datelined folded letter docketed "p Steam Ship Great Western from Bristol", bold strike red "Ship-Letter-Liverpool-22 MR 1839" Crown datestamp and red ms. "1½ oz" and "6/-" ratings for the six-times rate, carried by Great Western from Bristol Mar. 24th to New York arriving Apr. 15th, New York "6" cent ship letter due rating; minor cover tear, otherwise Very Fine and rare six-times rate.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

This was carried on the 7th voyage of the Pioneer Steamship "Great Western". The U.S. ship letter fee of 6¢ did not change according to weight or sheets. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1839 (Apr. 10) London, England to St. Louis Mo. Datelined folded letter with red crowned oval "Ship Letter/London" datestamp and ms "1/-" prepaying British inland postage and ship fee, carried by the Transatlantic Steamship Company's Liverpool from Liverpool Apr. 20th to New York arriving May 7th, red "New-York 'Ship' May 8" cds and manuscript "27" cents rating for double 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Fine and scarce pioneer steamship cover.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

One of only seven round voyages by this ship. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1839 (Aug. 23) Liverpool, England to New York, N.Y. Folded letter from the Abraham Bell correspondence docketed "Pr Great Western Via Bristol", bold strike red "Ship-Letter-Liverpool-23 AU 1839" Crown datestamp and red ms. "1¼ oz" and "5/-" ratings for the five-times rate, carried by Great Western from Bristol Aug. 24th to New York arriving Sep. 10th, New York manuscript "6" cent ship letter due rating, Very Fine and rare five-times rate.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

This was carried on the 10th voyage of the Pioneer Steamship "Great Western". The U.S. ship letter fee of 6¢ did not change according to weight or sheets. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1840 (Feb. 28) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter endorsed per "Brit Queen", sent privately to Portsmouth, carried by the British and American Steam Company's British Queen from Portsmouth Mar. 2nd to New York arriving Mar. 18th, entered mails with red "New-York 'Ship' Mar. 18" cds and initially rate "52" as quadruple rate, updated to "27" for double the 12½¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee; small faults, Fine and scarce pioneer steamship cover.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

At the time British Queen was the largest ocean-going steamship ever seen in New York. She made only nine round-trip voyages. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1840 (Jul. 28) Glasgow, Scotland to Salem N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red "Glasgow, Paid, Jy 28, 1840" boxed datestamp and red manuscript "8d" prepaid ship rating, reverse choice red strike of crowned "Ship Letter / 30 JY 1840 /Liverpool" handstamp, carried as endorsed by the British and American Steam Company's President departing Liverpool Aug. 1st to New York arriving Aug. 17th, red "New-York, Ship, Aug 13" cds and manuscript. "20½" cents due rating for 18½¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A SCARCE USE CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE PIONEER STEAMSHIP "PRESIDENT".

The "President" of 2,366 tons was built at Carling & Young's London yard in 1840 for The British and American Steam Navigation Company. Left from London on her maiden voyage to New York on the 1st August 1840 arriving on the 18th. On the "President"'s fourth return voyage from New York she was lost without trace on the 11th March 1841 with the loss of 136 lives. This would bankrupt the British and American Steam Navigation Co. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1840 (Sep. 30) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red orange crowned-oval "Ship Letter/Liverpool" rimless cds and matching "8" pence handstamp for prepaid 8d ship letter rate, carried by the British and American Steam Company's President departing Liverpool Oct. 1st to New York arriving Oct. 18th, New York manuscript "6" cents due for ship fee, Very Fine, ex-Needs.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

The second of three voyages by "President", went missing on her third voyage homeward, and was presumed lost. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1841 (Feb. 1) Limerick, Ireland via Liverpool to New York N.Y. Folded letter datelined "Limerick 1 Feby 1841" from the Abraham Bell correspondence, endorsed "p President", bold strike of red "Ship.Letter-Liverpool-10 FE 1841" rimless Crown datestamps with magenta "1/4" rating for double the 8d ship letter rate, carried as endorsed by President from Liverpool Feb. 10th to New York arriving Mar. 3rd, New York manuscript "6" due rating for incoming ship letter, Very Fine and rare last voyage, ex-Hargest.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Letter carried on the third and final voyage by the President to New York. On the return of this third voyage, which left New York on March 11, the "President" disappeared without a trace. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1845 (Aug. 30) New York N.Y. to London, England. Blue folded cover with red "T & J Brockelmann, New-York." oval and endorsed "pr Great Britain", red "New-York Aug 30" cds and red crayon "29" rating, carried as endorsed by Great Britain from New York Aug. 30th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 15th; light fold toning, F.-V.F., ex-Arnell.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED LETTERS CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF THE PIONEER STEAMSHIP GREAT BRITAIN. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1847 (Apr. 5) London, England to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with enclosure endorsed "per Sarah Sands", red "Paid, Ship Letter, 5 AP, London" crowned oval and matching Maltese cross datestamp with manuscript "8" pence rating, carried on the Red Cross Line Sarah Sands from Liverpool Apr. 6th to New York arriving Apr. 29th, New York manuscript "6" cents due rating for delivery at the port., fresh and Very Fine, An exception cover carried on this historical steamship.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

"Sarah Sands" was the world's second large iron ship, and one of the world's earliest ocean-going screw steamers. She was chartered by the Red Cross Line from Australian service. This was her second transatlantic voyage. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1847 (May 8) Boston, Mass. to London, England. Light blue folded cover docketed from Boston and endorsed "Per 'Sarah Sands' - Via New York" at bottom, reverse with red "Forwarded By. Harnden & Co, Boston" oval handstamp and matching "Paid / H & Co" fancy handstamp at top right, carried by Sarah Sands from New York May 11 to Liverpool arriving May 30th, black "Postage Paid To Destination. -by- Harnden & Co., Liverpool", Liverpool arrival cds and matching red "1" shilling packet rating, bold red London Paid (6.1) arrival tombstone, Very Fine and choice Boston Harndens use carried on the Second Return Voyage of the "Sarah Sands", ex-Arnell.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1848 (Jan. 11) Meiningen, Germany to New York N.Y. via Liverpool. Datelined folded letter with "Meiningen, 11/1" cds in care of Baring Bros. at Liverpool, French transit cds, red London (1.16) and Liverpool (1.17) arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/3" rating, remailed endorsed "p. 'Sarah Sands' " and with red "Liverpool, Paid, JA 22 1848" cds and red "8" ship letter rating handstamp, reverse with "Ship Letter, Liverpool, JA 22 1848" rimless crown handstamp, carried as endorsed by Sarah Sands from Liverpool to New York, New York red "6" circled handstamp; splitting along central fold, Fine and scarce use.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1849 (Mar. 1) New York N.Y. to Liverpool, England, "Sarah Sands". Blue docketed folded cover to Messrs. Rothchild & Sons, carried as endorsed by Sarah Sands from New York Mar. 1st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 19th, bold "20 Mar 1849, Liverpool, Ship" backstamp and "8" pence uniform ship letter rate; horizontal fold, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200