Lot
908 
1764 (July 12) New York, N.Y. To London, England, folded part letter with dateline bearing bold strike of "New York" two-line postmark on reverse and matching partial Franklin mark, manuscript "1N" rating; light edge stain, Fine, an early Colonial packet use. Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
909
1796 (Aug. 16) London, England To Washington, D.C., folded letter datelined "Great Bath Street, August 16, 1796" and addressed to "John Douglas, Stone Cutter, at the Capital Citty of Washington, Mary Land", entered mails with Philadelphia "24 OC" Franklin mark and manuscript "Sh 16½" ship letter rating, letter from Douglas's sister with good content describing her difficulty of finding a husband and advising her brother not to get a wife there, "for by your description of the women, they are not very agreeable creatures" and suggesting she come to America where she could get a husband asking whether "the people have any particular form of religion"; small paper loss at top edge and partial fold separations, Fine, A scarce and very early use to a Washington D.C. stone cutter engaged in the construction of government buildings that were not occupied until 1800. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $270
Lot
910
1815 British Naval Vessel "Near New Orleans" To London, England Via Portsmouth, entire datelined "HMS Asia Jany 27th 1815 Near New Orleans" from Royal Marines Capt. John R. Mascall who had participated at the ill fated British attack on New Orleans on the January 8th. This was 2 weeks after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed and therefore an unnecessary battle. Britain lost 2,000 soldiers including the two Generals leading the attack against a total US loss of 14. entered British mails with "Ship Letter, Portsmouth" with manuscript "1/2" 1s2d inland due rating for 6d ship letter fee plus 8d to London, addressed to the Government Paymasters at Hatton Garden, London; horizontal file fold, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A portion of the letter reads: "I have the pleasure to acquaint you of my safety after the attack on the City of New Orleans, the particulars and disaster I shall not to presume to enumerate, the public accounts will sufficiently evince the event.".
Realized: $2,400
Lot
911
1835 (Jun. 22) Sheffield, England To Philadelphia, Pa., folded cover with red "Sheffield, JU 22, 1835" rimless cds and red crayon "2/2" 2s2d rating on reverse to Philadelphia Pa., endorsed in care of Liverpool firm crossed out and per Frigate "Constitution", file fold toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $100
Lot
912
1837 (Jun. 12) Canton, Mass. To Paris, France, folded letter with red "Canton Mass. June. 12" cds with manuscript date and matching "Free" h.s., manuscript "J.J. Johnson, P.M." free frank endorsement, carried by Union Line Charlemagne from New York June 16 to Havre arriving July 14, Paris "11" decimes final due rating, Very Fine, Free franks used on transatlantic mail are quite uncommon. Estimate $100 - 150.
Letter sent without U.S. inland postage because postmaster of Canton, Mass. was entitled to free postage and used his free frank privilege with the endorsement in the upper right corner. When the letter arrived at France it was marked for 11 decimes postage due (1 decime sea postage plus 10 decimes inland postage). The "decime du mer" was a 1 decime charge for an incoming ship letter, to which the inland fee had to be added.
Realized: $260
Lot
913
1842 (Jan. 13) New Orleans, La. To London, England, datelined folded letter with blue "New Orleans La. Jan 14" cds and red "Paid" straightline with manuscript "1¾oz." and "1.75" ratings for seven-times the 25¢ rate to Boston, endorsed "via Boston p. Steamship", carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Boston Feb. 1 to Liverpool arriving Feb. 15, London (2.16) arrival backstamp and manuscript "4/1-" quadruple packet rating; two file folds, F.-V.F., high multiple rate transatlantic letters are quite difficult to find. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $325
Lot
914
1842 (Feb. 19) Liverpool, England To Boston, Mass., folded letter with red "Paid at Liverpool, FE 19 1842" framed handstamp and matching "1/-" fancy rating handstamp, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Acadia from Liverpool Feb. 19 with unexpected arrival at Halifax Mar. 7, mails transferred to Unicorn to Boston Mar. 10, Very Fine, an unusual contract voyage. Estimate $300 - 400.
"Acadia" transferred her mail to Cunard auxiliary steamer "Unicorn" at Halifax and returned with Unicorn's mail to Liverpool. "Unicorn" carried the mail to Boston. Postage due marked by Boston was 6¢ for the incoming ship letter rate at arrival port. Liverpool indicated one shilling prepayment with a red handstamp of an unusual style. Just a few examples have been recorded.
Lot
915
1842 (Mar. 11) Buffalo, N.Y. To London, England, blue Mar. 11 oval datestamp with matching fancy "Paid" handstamps and manuscript "25" rating, originally endorsed for Cunard Line Columbia, but carried by Cunard Line Unicorn departing Boston Apr. 2 and mail transferred to the Columbia that returned Apr. 20 by sail, red London (4.21) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/2" 1s2d due rating on flap; cover toned, Fine and very rare sailing, ex-Pullin. Estimate $150 - 200.
"Columbia" arrived at Halifax under canvas, having broken a shaft about 450 miles from Halifax on her Mar. 4 sailing from Liverpool. Her mails were transferred to Cunard auxiliary steamer "Unicorn" who carried them to Boston, this letter caught the return sailing to Halifax where the mails were transferred.
Lot
916
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.
Lot
917
1843 (Aug. 13) Barbezieux, France To New Orleans, folded cover addressed to False River, Point Coupee, clear Barbezieux cds, 13 Aug, handstamped red boxed "P.P.", Poitiers and Havre transits on reverse, postmarked blue straightline "SHIP" and matching New Orleans cds, Oct 18, with blue manuscript "14½" rate; small facial nick rebacked, still Very Fine. Estimate $75 - 100.