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Sale 81: The Sescal Sale

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Transatlantic Mails - Pioneer Steamships Usages

Lots 263-272 Lots 273-274

Lot 263    

"Acadia" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Aug. 4) Llangollen, Wales to New York, N.Y. via Liverpool, datelined folded letter with red "Forwarded by M. Edwards & Co." backstamp, entered mails with red "Liverpool, AU 4, 1840" cds and red manuscript "1/-" 1s prepaid packet rating, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Acadia from Liverpool departing Aug. 4th to Boston arriving Aug. 17th, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

THIS WAS THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE CUNARD LINE "ACADIA" FROM LIVERPOOL TO NEW YORK, THE THIRD SAILING OF THE CUNARD LINE.

Realized: $550

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Lot 264    

"Britannia" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Jul. 4) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with red "Paid at / Liverpool" framed handstamp and matching "Liverpool JY 4 1840" double-arc backstamp with various red manuscript ratings of "1/" shilling transatlantic packet rating, endorsed "Per Britannia via Halifax" at bottom left, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool departing Jul. 4th to Boston arriving Jul. 18th, two partial strikes of red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Jul 19" cds and red manuscript "1½" oz. notation and matching "114½" rating to New York, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THIS WAS THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE CUNARD LINE "BRITANNIA" FROM LIVERPOOL TO BOSTON, THE SECOND SAILING OF THE CUNARD LINE.

This letter was apparently only rated as a single rate letter in England, but upon arrival at Boston it was correctly ascertained to be 1½ oz. and rated accordingly.

The new mail contract between the British Post Office and the British & North American Royal Steam Packet Company, popularly called Cunard Line after its founder Samuel Cunard, was to start on the 4th July 1840 with sailings twice monthly from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston during the months up to and including October, then from November to February one sailing per month. Although this sailing schedule was not achieved in 1840, from 1841 onwards the schedule was completed including an additional sailing in November.

Realized: $500

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Lot 265    

"Britannia" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Jun. 18) London, England to Wellington Square, Canada, datelined folded letter with red London "Paid, 18 JU 18, 1840" tombstone handstamp and red manuscript "Pd 1/-" shilling transatlantic packet rating, endorsed "Per Steam Ship" at left, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool departing Jul. 4th to Halifax arriving arriving Jul. 17th, red "More to Pay" double-arc handstamp and "2" pence postage due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE LETTER TO CANADA CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE CUNARD LINE "BRITANNIA" FROM LIVERPOOL TO HALIFAX, THE SECOND SAILING OF THE CUNARD LINE.

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Lot 266    

"Britannia" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Jun. 3) Belfast, Ireland to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with red "Belfast, Paid" double-arc handstamp and "Belfast, JU 3, 1840" double-arc backstamp, red manuscript "1/-" packet rating, red London "Paid, 5 JU 5, 1840" transit cds, carried on Falmouth non-contract packet Opposum departing Jun. 5th to Halifax arriving Jun. 13th, mail bag transferred to Cunard Line Britannia on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Boston arriving Jul. 19th, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jul 19" cds, postage due would be 20¾¢ for 18¾¢ for 150-400 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

AN UNUSUAL USE FROM IRELAND CARRIED BY NON-CONTRACT FALMOUTH PACKET TO HALIFAX CONNECTING WITH THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE CUNARD LINE "BRITANNIA" FROM LIVERPOOL TO BOSTON, THE SECOND SAILING OF THE CUNARD LINE.

The new mail contract between the British Post Office and the British & North American Royal Steam Packet Company, popularly called Cunard Line after its founder Samuel Cunard, was to start on the 4th July 1840 with sailings twice monthly from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston during the months up to and including October, then from November to February one sailing per month. Although this sailing schedule was not achieved in 1840, from 1841 onwards the schedule was completed including an additional sailing in November.

Realized: $700

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Lot 267    

"Caledonia" Maiden Return, 1840 (Oct. 12) Quebec, Canada to Aberdeenshire, Scotland, folded cover with red "Quebec L.C., Oct 12, 1840" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript. "1/2" and "1/4" ratings, endorsed "Per Steamer via Halifax" at bottom left, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Halifax Oct. 17th to Liverpool Oct. 30th, Edinburgh "Paid, Nov 1, 1840" transit cds, Very Fine, Letter carried on Maiden Voyage of the Caledonia, and fourth round trip voyage of the Cunard Line.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

From July 6th 1840, the rate by British packet to and from British North America was one shilling two pence Sterling, or one shilling four pence Currency. At this time paid letters from British North America were usually marked with the sum in both Sterling and Currency. Carried on the maiden return voyage of Cunard Line "Caledonia" on her first return voyage out of Boston on Oct. 16th 1840, calling at Halifax the following day.

Realized: $250

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Lot 268    

"Cambria" Maiden Voyage, Two Covers: Maiden Voyage, 1845 (Jan. 3) Manchester, England to New York carried on Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Jan. 4th to Boston arriving Jan. 24th, red "Manchester, JA 3, 1845" double-arc datestamp and red manuscript. "P 1/-" rating, Boston blue manuscript. "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, soiled file fold; Maiden Return Voyage, 1845 (Jan. 1) Savannah Ga. to Wurttemberg, Germany carried on Cunard Line Cambria from Boston Feb. 1st to Liverpool arriving Feb. 13th, red "Savannah Geo. Jan 1" cds and "Paid" handstamp with "25" cent rating, reverse with black boxed "Packet Letter" and two-line red "England / over Rotterdam" handstamps, various ratings, F.-V.F. and rare pair.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $425

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Lot 269    

"Cambria" Second Voyage, 1845 (Mar. 31) Salem Mass. to London, England, datelined folded letter with red "Forwarded from Harndens Package Express & Foreign Letter Office, Boston" oval and matching "Pd. H" in circle handstamp, red manuscript "paid to London by Harnden & Co" endorsement at left, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Cambria from Boston Apr. 1st to Liverpool arriving Apr. 13th, black "Forwarded by Harnden & Co., Liverpool" illustrated ship oval handstamp, red Liverpool Paid (4.14) cds and matching "1" shilling rating for transatlantic packet, London (4.14) tombstone arrival, Very Fine, this was the second sailing of Cunard Cambria.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $350

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Lot 270    

"Columbia" Maiden Return Voyage, 1841 (Feb. 22) Charleston S.C. to London, England, datelined folded letter with red "Charleston S.C., Feb 22" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "100" rating for four-times the 25¢ rate for 400 miles, endorsed "pr Royal Mail Steamer - fm Boston 1 March" at top, carried by Cunard Line Columbia from Boston Mar. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Mar. 16th, flap with bold "America, L" oval and red London (3.17) arrival cds, manuscript "4/0" due rating for four-times the one shilling packet fee, Extremely Fine and scarce maiden return sailing.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

"Columbia" of 1,175 tons built at Greenock in 1840 made her maiden voyage to Boston on January 5th 1841, she returned to Liverpool leaving March 2nd. Ran aground and was wrecked at Cape Sable, Nova Scotia on July 2nd 1843 without loss of life.

Realized: $220

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Lot 271    

"Columbia" Maiden Return Voyage, 1841 (Feb. 28) Boston, Mass. to Paris, France, datelined folded letter with bold "Forwarded from Harndens Package Express & Foreign Letter Office, Boston" oval handstamp and matching "Pd. H" in circle handstamp, endorsed "pr Steam Ship Columbia", carried on Cunard Line Columbia from Boston Mar. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Mar. 16th, bold red "Paid at / Liverpool" framed handstamp and matching backstamp, London Paid (3.7) tombstone and matching bold "P.F." oval handstamp (Paid to Frontier), red Calais entry cds and manuscript "10" decimes due rating, Very Fine and scarce Harndens use on maiden return sailing.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

"Columbia" of 1,175 tons built at Greenock in 1840 made her maiden voyage to Boston on January 5th 1841, she returned to Liverpool leaving March 2nd. Ran aground and was wrecked at Cape Sable, Nova Scotia on July 2nd 1843 without loss of life.

Realized: $375

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Lot 272    

"President" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Jul. 31) London, England to Boston Mass., gray folded letter with attractive "Paid, Ship Letter, London, 31 JY 31 1840" rimless crown datestamp with red manuscript "8" rating, carried as endorsed by Liverpool from Liverpool Aug. 1st to New York arriving Aug. 17th, red "New-York, Paid, Aug 18" cds and manuscript "20¾" rating, Extremely Fine and choice Maiden voyage use, ex-Hegland.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $450

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Lots 263-272 Lots 273-274

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