Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale

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United States Postal History continued...

Foreign Mails - 1841 to 1847 continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1281

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. (Image1)

Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1282

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. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

1283

1842 (Apr. 7) Baltimore, Md. to Longtown, England. Envelope with letter with blue "Baltimore Md. Apr. 7" cds with matching "Paid" handstamp with blue manuscript "37½" rating for double-weight to Boston, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston May 1st to Liverpool arriving May 15th, black "1/-" shilling due rating, Longtown (5.17) framed arrival datestamp, Very Fine, a scarce example of a pre-1845 envelope on transatlantic mail, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

In the U.S., letters were charged by the number of sheets of paper until the shift to a weight basis in July 1845. Because envelopes were charged as a sheet of paper, they were seldom used in this country before July 1845. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1284

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. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1285

1843 (Jun. 3) London, England to New York N.Y. Folded Jun. 3rd General Post Office Notice with red London Crowned (6.3) datestamp and sent free as post office business, carried by Cunard Line Columbia from Liverpool Jun. 4th to Boston arriving Jun. 18th, red "Boston 'Ship' " cds and matching "20¾" rating h.s. for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, Carried on the Last Voyage of the Columbia. ex-Winter.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

This was the completed voyage of the "Columbia" before running aground near Seal Island, Nova Scotia on July 2nd 1843. General Post Office in London preprinted notice requesting 3 shilling 4 pence be paid before the letter would be sent from London. "12 Oak" in pencil marked by New York letter carrier. Addressee was music teacher who formerly resided at 38 Hamilton Street but moved to 12 Oak Street. (Image1)

Est. $1,000-1,500
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1286

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. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1287

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. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $260.00
Will close during Public Auction

1288

1844 (May 23) New York N.Y. to Havana, Cuba. Datelined light blue folded letter endorsed pr "C Colon", sharp strike of "Empresa * N. Europa * 10 Jul. 1844" cds applied in error (should have been "N. America") and partial strike of matching "1" reales due handstamp, blue Coliseo receiving backstamp; minor ink erosion, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $260.00
Will close during Public Auction

1289

1844 (Jul. 1) New York N.Y. to Manchester, England. Datelined folded letter, with red New York cds and matching "PAID" arc handstamp and magenta manuscript "18¾" rating to Boston, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from Boston Jul. 1st t Liverpool arriving Jul. 13th, black double-oval "America / L" and matching "1/-" one-shilling due handstamp for packet fee, Manchester (7.13) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The magenta "18¾" cent rating in fancy script with a long tail gives the appearance of a "75" cent quadruple rating, but if that was the case it would have been rated four-shillings due in Great Britain. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1290

1844 (Nov. 28) Baltimore Md. to Schlitz, Hesse. Folded cover with blue "Baltimore Md. Nov 28" cds and matching "Paid" straightline with red ms. "37½¢ rating for double the 18¾¢ rate to Boston, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston Dec. 1st to Liverpool arriving Dec. 16th, red London (12.17) and manuscript "1/8" British debit to Holland, Dutch manuscript "120" Dutch cents debit to Thurn & Taxis Post, magenta "20" sbr. equivalent rating and ms. "83" kr. equivalent rating, red ms. "16" kr. rating for Thurn & Taxis fee, Hesse red crayon"1f40k" total due (100kr including 1kr local fee), Very Fine and uncommon transit through Holland, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1291

1845 (May 15) Edinburgh, Scotland to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter bearing Great Britian, 2d blue, plate 3 (4) strip of four, margins to touched, tied by bold strikes of "131" grid cancels, reverse with red Edinburgh (5.15) origin cds and Liverpool (5.17) oval and Ship-Letter cds, carried as endorsed by Great Western from Liverpool May 17th to New York arriving Jun. 1st, New York manuscript "6" cent ship rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

1292

1845 (Sep. 14) Bremerhaven, Hannover to Boston, Mass. Folded letter datelined letter bearing "Geestendorf" origin straightline and prepaid manuscript "1.6.g / 2." rating for 1.6 grr. Hannover inland fee to Bremen plus 2 grr fee to Cuxhaven, forwarding agent paid "1/8" for packet letter from Germany, reposted with red "Liverpool Paid Ship Letter, 25 SP 1845" crown postmark and with red manuscript "8" pence ship rating, carried by Great Western S.S. Co. Great Britain from Liverpool Sep. 27th to New York arriving Oct. 15th, entered U.S. mails with red "New York Ship '7cts' Oct 12" cds for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship, Very Fine, a scarce non-contract steamship use from Germany, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1293

1845 (Oct. 25) Gibraltar to Richmond Va. Datelined folded letter sent privately to London, entered mails with red Lombard Street (11.18) Maltese cross and red manuscript "1/-" packet rating, black Liverpool "L, No 16, h" oval datestamp, carried on Cunard Cambria from Liverpool Nov. 19th to Boston Dec. 4th, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Dec 5" cds and matching "12" cents due handstamp for 10¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, letter reports the proceeds from selling a Virginia tobacco consignment received from Richmond in 1842, Very Fine and scarce origin, ex-Tim O'Connor.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1294

1846 (Jun. 6) New York N.Y. to Berlin, Prussia. Datelined folded letter sent unpaid with freight money fee paid directly to steamship agent, carried by Great Western S.S. Co. Great Britain from New York Jun. 8th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 22nd, reverse with "Liverpool Ship 22 JU 1846" framed handstamp and London (6.23) cds transit, manuscript "2/4" due rating for 8d incoming ship fee plus 1s8d U.K. postage to Germany, equivalent to 31 schillinge to which Hamburg added 6 schillinge transit fee and debited Prussia 37 schillinge, this was equivalent to 29 silbr. to which Prussia added 6 sgr. transit fee, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Letter carried on the third return voyage of the Great Britain. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1295

1846 (Jul. 31) New York N.Y. to Oporto, Portugal. Blue datelined folded letter endorsed "p Kanama via Lisbon" with inside endorsement "Copy, originals pr Steamer Cambria", Lisbon (9.13) framed arrival backstamp with choice strike of blue "C. Est. de N.", matching blue "160" reis due handstamp with manuscript "40" added for "200" reis due, a Very Fine private ship letter to Portugal.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1296

1846 (Sep. 29) Bremen, Germany to Baltimore, Md. Gray folded letter with "S.T. P.A., Bremen, 29 9" double-circle datestamp and matching "Franco" straightline with red manuscript "1/6" 1s6d credit to England, traveled from Bremen via Cuxhaven by sea to England, G.B. entitled 6d transit fee under Anglo-Bremen treaty of 1841 and 1s packet rate to U.S., London Paid (10.2) transit, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Oct. 4th to Boston arriving Oct. 20th, Baltimore small blue "12" due rating for 2¢ ship fee plus 10¢ inland postage, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $130.00
Will close during Public Auction

1297

1847 (Jan. 13) Havre, France to Kingston Mass. Datelined blue folded letter with blue "Forwarded by / Yours respectfully / Havre '14 Jan '47' Wm. Slade" three-line forwarder's handstamp, red London Paid (1.19) Maltese cross and matching "Paid Ship Letter, London, 19 IA 19, 1847" crown rimless oval with red "8" pence prepaid rating, carried by Sands & Co. Sarah Sands from Liverpool from Jan. 20th to New York arriving Feb. 10th, red "New-York, Ship, 7 cts, Feb 11" integral due cds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE USE CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF PIONEER STEAMSHIP "SARAH SANDS".

The "Sarah Sands" of 1,400 tons was built for Sands & Company of Liverpool by James Hudson & Company, also of Liverpool as an iron screw propelled vessel and launched in September 1846. The maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York left on the 20th January 1847 and the Prices Current shown below traveled on that voyage. (Image1)

Est. $1,000-1,500
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1298

1847 (Jun. 1) New York, N.Y. to London, England. Folded letter with red "New York Jun 1" cds with matching arced "Paid" handstamp, endorsed "per Washington", carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Jun. 1st to Southampton arriving Jun. 15th, red "London 16 JU 1847" arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/" shilling discriminatory due rating, Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

A RARE LETTER CARRIED ON THE INAUGURAL VOYAGE OF AMERICAN TRANSATLANTIC PACKET SERVICE.

The commencement of the American Packet service led to Britain imposing a "Discriminatory Rate" on mails landed at Southampton with all US prepayment ignored and the One Shilling Packet Rate charged to the addressee. There are four recorded examples to Great Britain, each showing the discriminatory fee. There are also three recorded covers on this voyage to France and Germany. (Image1)

Est. $1,500-2,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1299

1847 (Aug. 14) New York, N.Y. to Paris, France. Blue folded letter addressed in care of U.S. Consul Robert Walsh, red "New-York, 5 cts. 14 Aug" cds and matching "Paid" arc handstamp with pencil "8" rating although endorsed for the Maiden Voyage of Herout & deHandel "Steamer Philadelphie", actually carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston Aug. 15th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 26th, red London (8.28) transit backstamp and matching "Colonies/&c.Art.13" framed accounting handstamp, red Boulogne (8.30) entry cds and manuscript "15" decimes due rating, additional "1-50c" notation, Very Fine and interesting use.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1300

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. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction