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Sale 73: The March Sale

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Foreign Mails - 1746 to 1840

Lots 1248-1257 Lots 1258-1267 Lots 1268-1274

Lot 1258    

1815 (May 11) Bristol, England to Quebec, Canada, folded letter with "Bristol, May 11 1815" dateline taken privately to Liverpool, bearing partial "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter, Liverpool, 26 MY 1815" double-circle crown handstamp on reverse, prepaid red manuscript "-/9" pence rating (2s4d / 3 = 9 pence), letter released for private transmission to Quebec; flap tear affects marking, Fine and scarce War of 1812 use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $210

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Lot 1259    

1815 (Jun. 5) Liverpool, England to Providence R.I., docketed folded cover with mostly clear strike of red "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter Liverpool, 5 JU 1815" double-circle Crown datestamp on reverse, red "New-York 6 Aug" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "27½" rate for 25½¢ war surcharge rate of 150-300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine, ex-Frajola.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE LIVERPOOL POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER DATESTAMP.

The Act of October 10th 1814, made it illegal to place an outbound letter on any ship privately, unless the letter had first been presented to the British Post Office and a fee paid equal to one-third of the combined inland and sea packet postage. Upon payment, the letter received the "Withdrawn Ship Letter" handstamp and the sender was allowed to send the letter by any ship of his choice. In that the Post Office was providing no service at all for this little used and unpopular act, it as terminated on July 11th 1815 after only 11 months.


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Lot 1260    

1819 (Feb. 19) New York N.Y. to Birmingham, England, datelined folded letter sent unpaid and endorsed per private ship "Canton", entered mails with sharp strike of boxed "LIVERPOOL / SHIP LETTER" handstamp with "4/3" rating for ship and inland postage, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $110

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Lot 1261    

1819 (Feb. 26) Glasgow, Scotland to Montreal, Canada via New York, folded letter with Jan. 23rd copy discussing potash and Feb. 26th with original reports arrival of Greenfield, addressed to care of New York City forwarder, endorsed "p James Monroe" at lower left, red name-of-ship "Packet Ship James Munroe, Liverpool, W. Atkinson, Sailed March 1, 1819" oval datestamp and matching "Packet Ship" arc handstamp at top center, carried by Black Ball Line James Munroe from Liverpool to New York, flap with "N. York Apl 8. 1819, Rec'd & forwarded by yr Respectfully, Boorman & Johnston, proof. Jno. M. Holley" forwarder's endorsement, red "New York Apr 8" cds and manuscript "18½" cent rating for postage to border, red manuscript "1N8" for combined U.S. postage and 9d Canadian, consisting of 4½d for up to 60 miles, 1½d Montreal special border fee plus 3d 50% War of 1812 surcharge, fresh and Very Fine transatlantic cross-border use showing the Canadian War of 1812 surcharge, ex-Hahn.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

AN EXTREMELY RARE TRANSATLANTIC PACKET HANDSTAMP THAT WAS USED ONLY ON THIS ONE SAILING (MARCH 1, 1819).

The 424-ton James Munroe was among the first four ships in the Black Ball fleet. The Canadian War of 1812 50% surcharge was discontinued in April 1819, making this a very late use.

Realized: $625

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Lot 1262    

1820 (Mar. 9) Halifax, Nova Scotia to Boston Mass., datelined folded letter endorsed "p Atlantic", red "Ship Atlantic * Sailed March. 17. * W. Matlock" cogged oval name-of-boat handstamp, red "New-York Apr 29" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with "20½" rating for 18½¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee; file folds, Very Fine and rare, ex-Hahn.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE SHIP ATLANTIC NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMP ON MAIL FROM HALIFAX.

Realized: $400

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Lot 1263    

1829 (Nov. 28) Arbroath, Scotland to Quebec, Canada, datelined folded letter with "ABERBROTHWICK" straightline on reverse and matching boxed "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "1/7½" prepaid rating, red Edinburgh "Paid, Nov 25, 1829", carried from Liverpool to New York, entered mails with partial red "New York Jan 3" cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp with red manuscript "20¾" cents rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship ship fee, red Montreal (1.7) cds and red manuscript "2/1" Cy due (1/1 for U.S. postage plus 1/- from the U.S. border to Quebec)., Very Fine and choice cross-border incoming transatlantic cover, ex-Arthur White.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The British prepayment comprised 1/- inland to Liverpool, 7d ship letter fee, and ½d Scottish Toll Tax.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1264    

1835 (Mar. 31) Apalachicola, Fla. Terr. to London, England, datelined folded letter with black "Apalachicola F.Ty. Mar 31" cds, manuscript notation "Forwarded from Apaa." on flap, red "Columbus Ga. Apr 5" cds and matching "Paid" straightline with red manuscript "50" cent rating, indistinct Liverpool Ship framed handstamp on back with manuscript rating, red London (5.11) arrival backstamp and manuscript. "4/9" 4s9d due rating: 8d ship, 11d inland, triple rate for greater than 200 miles; some edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

A RARE FLORIDA TERRITORIAL TRANSATLANTIC USE TO LONDON.

British rates at this time were based on the number of sheets rather than weight.

Realized: $675

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Lot 1265    

1835 (Jul. 31) Bridgeton N.J. to U.S. Ship "Peacock", Canton, China, datelined folded letter from the Rusehenberger correspondence addressed to care of American Consul at Canton, bold "Bridgeton N.J., Jul 31" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "10" rating to F.R. Smith at Philadelphia Pa., the enclosure reveals that the letter will be carried out of the mails from Philadelphia to the American Consul at Canton, Very Fine and early use to China.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

The addressee, William Samuel Waithman Ruschenberger, M.D. (1807-1895) was a surgeon for the United States Navy, naturalist and author. He wrote several works based on his service in the Pacific and along the coast of South America. He commissioned with the U. S. Sloop-of-war Peacock in 1836, and accompanied the second mission of diplomatist Edmund Roberts to Muscat and Siam, subsequently fleet surgeon of the East India Squadron 1835-1837.

Realized: $1,350

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Lot 1266    

1837 (Mar. 15) Canton, China to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter datelined "Canton March 15. 1837" and carried by private ship to New York, entered mails with sharp strike of red "New-York Jul 10" cds and matching "Ship" straightline with red manuscript "12½" rating for 80-150 miles without 2¢ ship fee noted, forwarded upon arrival back to New York with sharp strike of blue "Philada Pa. Jul 11" cds and ms. "12½" rating, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

AN EARLY INCOMING SHIP USE FROM CANTON TO THE UNITED STATES.

Realized: $600

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Lot 1267    

1837 (Oct. 12) Canton Mass. to Paris, France, yellow folded letter with red "Canton Mass. Oct '12' " cds with manuscript date and matching "Free, T. P. Johnson, P.M." free frank rating, endorsed "Via New York Pr. first Packet for Havre" at lower left, framed "Pays D'Outermer / Par Le Havre" handstamp manuscript "19" decimes rating, blue Nov. 6th backstamp and Bureau Maritime (11.7) arrival cds, Very Fine and scarce early transatlantic Postmaster free frank.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lots 1248-1257 Lots 1258-1267 Lots 1268-1274

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