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; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

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; $300 - 400.

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. $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; $150 - 200.

Harnden did a brisk business between Philadelphia and Boston by carrying letters in bulk. 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; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Jul. 6) Guilford, England to London, England. mourning cover with "Guilford, JY 6, 1848" single-arc datestamp and red manuscript "1/-" prepaid rating, red London Paid (7.7) cds and Liverpool (7.7) transits, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Hibernia from Liverpool Jul. 8th to New York arriving Jul. 21st, New York red "24" cent due rating handstamp; edge wear and small faults, Fine, One of the earliest recorded example of the scarce New York small "24" retaliatory rating handstamp.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Nov. 3) London, England to Alden, N.Y. Cover with blue "Boswell Rd" station backstamp with red crayon "1/-" shilling prepaid packet rating, red London Paid (11.3) cds, carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Liverpool Nov. 4th to Boston arriving Nov. 19th, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Nov 19" cds and matching "29" cent retaliatory due rating handstamp updated with blue ms. "34" for 10¢ inland postage over 300 miles plus 24¢ packet fee, Very Fine and scarce retaliatory rerating.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Retaliatory Rates) 1848 (Nov. 17) New Orleans, La. to London, England. Folded letter with black "New Orleans La. Nov 18" cds and matching "Paid" and "34" rate handstamps for prepaid single rate of 10¢ postage plus 24¢ packet fee, carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Boston Nov. 29th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 12th, London (12.13) backstamp arrival and manuscript "1" shilling retaliatory due packet rating; two file folds, F.-V.F., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Letter carried on the 22nd of 26 Cunard mail east bound voyages to England under the retaliatory order. This was the final mail voyage of the "Acadia" for Cunard. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1851 (May 27) Hereford, England to Jericho, United States. Blue datelined folded letter with blue Hereford (5.28) origin cds, red London Paid (5.29) transit cds, red manuscript "1/-" rating, Liverpool (5.29) transit and red "5/Cents" credit handstamp to U.S., carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool May 31st to Boston arriving Jun. 11th, red "Br. Packet, Boston, Jun 11" exchange cds and "Paid" handstamp, no state was specified in the address so the letter was returned to London where it received the red "Sent Back To England, Without a Reason, For Non-Delivery" three-line handstamp; light edge toning, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

A SCARCE USE WITH A CLEAR STRIKE OF THE LONDON "SENT BACK TO ENGLAND" MARKING.

This letter was probably returned to England because there were seven "Jericho" towns in the United States at this time and the state was not indicated in the address. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1852 (May) Ship Loo Choo at Sea, North Atlantic to Dorchester, Mass. via Cowes, Isle of Wight. Folded letter from sailor on board the ship Loo Choo in North Atlantic, latitude 29°N 11'W, which was transferred to another ship headed to England and landed at Cowes, "Cowes / Ship-Letter" backstamp, British manuscript "32" cent debit to U.S. for "8" pence (16¢) incoming ship fee plus 16¢ transatlantic packet service, carried by Cunard Line Africa from Liverpool May 8 to Boston arriving May 20, red "New-York 'Ship' May 20" exchange cds and manuscript "37" cent postage due with 5¢ added for inland postage, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The U.S.-U.K. convention of 1848 had a provision for this 37¢ rate, which is uncommon. The New York Ship cds is rare on transatlantic convention mail. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400