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Sale 61: The Fall Sale

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Pioneer Steamships to Foreign Destinations

Lots 260-266

Lot 260    

"Great Britain", 1846 (Jul. 5) Darbyshire, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter endorsed "G Western" corrected to "Britain" at lower left, rimless "Ship-Letter, Liverpool, JY 7 46" crown cds on the reverse, red "8" pence prepaid rating handstamp, carried as endorsed by Great Britain from Liverpool Jul. 7th to New York arriving Jul. 24th, blue manuscript "7" cents due for 5¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, letterhead with very detailed engraved illustration of village view occupying the upper half of the first page with "Matlock" caption, Very Fine, This was the Last Voyage of the Great Britain.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Letter carried on the fourth and last voyage of the Great Britain to New York before she ran hard aground on the sandy beach of Dundrum Bay near Belfast in September 1846. The "Great Britain" at 3,450 tons was the world's largest steamship when launched.

Realized: $475

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Lot 261    

"Great Western", 1839 (Jun. 5) Mobile Ala. to London, England, folded letter endorsed "Express 1" with blue "Mobile Ala. Jun 5" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "75" rating, carried by Great Western from New York Jun. 13th to Bristol arriving Jun. 27th, "Bristol / Ship Letter" two-line handstamp and manuscript "1/5" 1s5d rating, red London (6.28) arrival backstamp; light edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

A RARE U.S. EXPRESS MAIL TRANSATLANTIC USE BY PIONEER STEAMSHIP "GREAT WESTERN".

Letter sent by U.S. Express Mail from Mobile at the 75¢ express mail rate (triple the normal rates or 3x25¢) to forwarding agent in New York, who placed letter in steamship's letter bag. Bristol marked 1s5d due in London (8d ship fee plus 13d inland fee to London).

Realized: $1,200

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Lot 262    

"Great Western", 1840 (Sep. 11) London, England to New York N.Y., folded letter with red "Paid Ship Letter, London, 11 SP 11 1840" crown handstamp and red manuscript "8" pence prepaid rating, carried as endorsed Great Western from Bristol Sep. 12th to New York arriving Sep. 16th, New York manuscript "6" cent due rating, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Lot 263    

"Liverpool", 1839 (Dec. 1) New Orleans La. to London, England, datelined folded letter with blue "New Orleans La. Dec 1" cds with red manuscript "25" cent rating, carried by Transatlantic Steamship Co. Liverpool from New York Dec. 15th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 11th, two-line "Liverpool / Ship Letter" handstamp with manuscript "8" pence uniform ship letter rating; file fold wear, F.-V.F., This was the last return voyage of the Transatlantic Steamship Co. Liverpool.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

THIS WAS THE FIRST STEAMSHIP MAIL UNDER THE BRITISH 8D UNIFORM SHIP LETTER RATE EFFECTIVE JAN. 10TH 1840.

"Liverpool" put into Fayal, Azores on Dec. 31st for coal. She departed on the evening of Jan. 4th for Liverpool according to John Pollock, the Liverpool agent for the line. This was a non-contract steamship sailing subject to the uniform British ship letter rate.

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Lot 264    

"Sarah Sands" Maiden Voyage, 1847 (Jan. 15) London, England to Salem Mass., folded letter endorsed "p. Sarah Sands" with red "Ship Letter, London, 15 JA 15 '47" crown datestamp and red manuscript "8" rating for the 8d outgoing ship letter rate, carried by Sarah Sands from Liverpool Jan. 20 to New York arriving Feb. 10, red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Feb 11" due cds, Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY 12 RECORDED LETTERS CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE SARAH SANDS.

The "Sarah Sands" was only the second iron screw propelled vessel on the North Atlantic and launched in September 1846. The maiden voyage was under charter to the Red Cross Line. She made fifteen round voyages between 1847-1852, but she proved too slow for Atlantic trade and was sold to the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company in 1850 arriving San Francisco June 5th. Sold on in July 1851 for service to Australia and sank near Bombay in 1858.

Realized: $325

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Lot 265    

"Sarah Sands", 1849 (Mar. 1) New York N.Y. to Liverpool, England, 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    $200 - 300.

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Lot 266    

1838-46, Pioneer Transatlantic Steamship Mail, group of 6 covers including 1839 Philadelphia to London by British Queen, 1841 New York to France by Britannia, 1839 New York-London and Plymouth-New York by Liverpool, 1839 England to Richmond Va. by Great Western, and 1846 New York to London by Great Britain; some flaws, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $260

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Lots 260-266

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