1841 (Jun. 23) Cape Pamas, West Africa (Liberia) to New York N.Y. via Philadelphia. Folded cover with datelined original letter, carried by private ship from Africa to Philadelphia, entered mails with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Sep 25" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with red manuscript "14½" due rating for 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; fold splitting, otherwise Very Fine and scarce early use from forerunner Liberia.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1845 (May 12) St. Petersburg, Russia to Philadelphia Pa. via Hamburg & London. Datelined folded letter with "St. Petersburg, en. 12. May. 1845." framed backstamp and prepaid 240 kopeks (15 kop. Russian inland, 44 kop. Prussian transit, 180½ kop. British transit and transatlantic), Russian red manuscript "44" kop. credit rating to Prussia, pink Prussian "2/8d" credit to U.K., London "Paid" (6.2) tombstone transit, Liverpool (6.3) transit oval, carried by Cunard Caledonia from Liverpool Jun. 4th to Boston arriving Jun. 19th, Philadelphia blue "20¾" rating handstamp updated in blue manuscript "39" due (½¢ undercharge) for 37½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and rare use from Russia.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

THE ONLY RECORDED LETTER FROM RUSSIA TO THE UNITED STATES BY THIS ROUTE.

This letter was handled under the 1843 Russia-Prussia convention and the 1841 Prussia-Great Britain convention, then traveled in British open mail, arriving in the United States as an unpaid ship letter. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1848 (Feb. 26) Havana, Cuba to New York N.Y. Datelined blue folded letter endorsed "pr 'Elizabeth I.' via Phila" at bottom left, carried as endorsed by Ship Elizabeth I from Cuba to Philadelphia, entered mails with blue "SHIP" straightline and matching "7" in circle rating handstamp for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, docketed received Mar. 10th, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200