Lot
295 
1843 (Aug. 17) Gibraltar to Boston, Mass., greenish folded letter datelined "Gibraltar, 17th August 1843" posted with "Gibraltar / Paid" framed handstamp and red manuscript "2/11" 2s11d prepaid single packet rate, endorsed "pr Steamer via England", probably carried by P&O Pacha arriving at Falmouth Aug. 26th, Liverpool (8.27) transit backstamp, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Sep. 5th to Boston arriving Sep. 20th, Boston red "Ship 6" fancy due handstamp, Very Fine and rare Gibraltar rate. Estimate $300 - 400.
According to the Treasury Warrant of Feb. 1st 1841 that fixed "the Rates of Postage on Letters transited by the Post to and from Foreign Countries through the United Kingdom". The eighth schedule reads as follows: Rates of postage to be charged on letters arriving at any port in the United Kingdom, and forwarded thence, without passing through London, between Gibraltar and the countries and places hereinafter mention: that is to say,
United States of America……………………………………2s 11d
Brazil……………………………………………………………4s 6d
Buenos Ayres, Chili, and Peru………………………………4s 6d
Mexico, Columbia, and Cuba………………………………4s.
Realized: $220
Lot
296
1844 (May 5) Cavalla, Turkey to New York N.Y. via Boston, datelined folded missionary letter carried by privately to the U.S., flap with manuscript "Recd & forwarded Oct 5th 1844, We are advised of a Col. vessel to sail from Baltimore at the 1st Nov. - S.D.D." forwarder's notation, entered mails with partial red Boston Mass. cds and and matching "Ship" handstamp with magenta "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, returned to Boston with "American Letter Mail Company, Office, 12 State Street, Boston" oval handstamp and matching Collect box and small "PAID" handstamps, Very Fine and remarkable use, sent from missionaries in Turkey to the U.S., entered government mails at Boston as a ship letter, then sent back to Boston by Independent Mail, ex-Puliafito. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $700
Lot
297
1844 (Oct. 18) Manchester, England to New York N.Y. via Boston, datelined folded letter endorsed "p. Steamer 'Hibernia' " at top, carried privately by Cunard Line Hibernia from Liverpool Oct. 19th to Boston arriving Nov. 2nd, red "Forwarded by Hale & Co. from Boston" red oval handstamp and matching Collect box handstamp with 6c rate changed in pencil to "18" cents for triple rate to New York City, letter mentions enclosures (thus triple rate), Very Fine, a scarce transatlantic letter carried outside the mails to Boston and given to Hale & Co. for transport to New York City, ex-Schwartz, Puliafito. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $200
Lot
298
1845 (Feb. 28) Charleston Mass. to "U.S.S. Plymouth", Port Mahon, Balearic Islands via Marseilles, France, blue folded letter with red "Forwarded from Harndens Package Express & Foreign Letter Office, Boston" oval handstamp and matching "Pd. H" in circle handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Hibernia from Boston Mar. 1st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 17th, black "Forwarded by Harnden & Co., Liverpool" illustrated oval handstamp, entered mails with red "Liverpool Paid" (3.17) transit cds, red London (3.18) tombstone datestamp and matching "PF" oval crossed out and updated with "PF" oval, red Boulogne (3.20) entry cds and Marseilles arrival backstamp, forwarded privately by Mess. Fitch Bros. & Co. to Port Mahon, Very Fine, ex-Meroni, Rawlins. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A RARE TRANSATLANTIC USE FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE BALEARIC ISLANDS VIA HARNDEN'S EXPRESS.
Realized: $1,200
Lot
299
1845 (Aug. 18) Varipetades, Turkey to Providence R.I. via Boston, datelined missionary letter carried privately by French Ligne du Levant Paquebot Scamandre and Brig Sarah Abagail via Smyrna and Malta to Boston, flap with bold "Forwarded from the Baptist Miss. Rooms, Boston" oval forwarder handstamp, entered mails with red "Boston Mass., Oct 20" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript. "5" rating to Providence, Very Fine, ex-Arthur White (with his pages). Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $150
Lot
300
1846 (Apr. 2) Leige, Belgium to New Orleans, La., folded cover with red Liege (4.2) cds and manuscript "24" prepaid rating on back, red "PD" framed handstamps and manuscript "1/8" 1s8d credit to G.B., red London Paid (4.4) and black Liverpool (4.4) transits, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Apr. 4th to Boston arriving Apr. 20th, New Orleans large blue "12" due handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Winter. Estimate $200 - 300.
The 24 decimes prepayment included 4 decimes Belgium internal, 8 decimes British and 12 decimes transatlantic fees, of which 20 decimes or 1s8d was owed to G.B. Letter not rated at arrival port of Boston, but in New Orleans where large blue "12" was applied for the postage due (2¢ ship plus 10¢ U.S. inland fees).
Realized: $100
Lot
301
1846 (Jun. 18) Le Havre, France to Castine Me. via Southampton, datelined folded letter with red Havre forwarders backstamp, red "Bureau Maritime, Havre, 17 Juin 46" origin cds and "PD" handstamp with prepaid ms. "13" decimes rating on reverse, red "Southampton, JU 18" transit backstamp and matching "Foreign Paid" arc framed handstamp, London (6.18) tombstone transit, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Hibernia from Liverpool Jun. 19th to Boston arriving Jul. 4th, Boston red "7" rating handstamp for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Letter paid 13 decimes (10 decimes to United Kingdom under 1843 Anglo-French convention plus 3 decimes internal fee for 7½-10 gram letter going a distance less than 40 km. FOREIGN PAID marking in red arc box applied at Southampton on letters brought directly from Havre to show that postage was paid beyond England. This is an uncommon marking on transatlantic mails.
Realized: $130
Lot
302
1847 (Jul. 4) Liverpool, England to Boston Mass., printed circular with red "Sitt Day & Co., Prices Current, Newspaper, One Penny" revenue tax stamp impressed, partial strike of red "Paid, Liverpool, Jy 4" framed postmark and matching "2" pence prepaid rating handstamp; overall toning, otherwise Very Fine and rare printed Pre-1848 U.S.-G.B. Treaty circular use. Estimate $500 - 750.
Since 1837, Prices Current and Commercial Lists published regularly could be sent by British packet for one penny each. Each business desiring to use this special rate had to be recorded at the Post Office in London. Sitt Day & Co. printed their prices current and were required to impress a red revenue tax stamp with their name to send the circulars free through the British mails. The additional overseas postage had to be prepaid.
Realized: $325
Lot
303
1847 (Sep. 29) London, England to Wiscasset Me., folded part-printed General Post Office Notice requesting "1/8" one shilling 8 pence for a letter held for postage, entered mails with bold strike of red London Crowned (9.29) datestamp and manuscript "1/-" one shilling rating, apparently not sent free despite printed "On Her Majesty's Service" and "W.L. Maberly" endorsements, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Oct. 5th to Boston arriving Oct. 19th, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Oct 19" cds and matching "7" cent rating handstamp for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $300 - 400.
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Realized: $500
Lot
304
1847 (Dec. 31) Boston Mass. to Paris, France via Liverpool, gray datelined folded letter with red "Forwarded by Harnden & Co. Boston" oval backstamp and matching "Paid H & Co." shield handstamp on face, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Boston Jan. 15th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 29th, black "Postage Paid to Destination by Harnden & Co. of Liverpool" framed handstamp, entered mails with red Liverpool Paid (1.31) cds and magenta "10" pence rating, red London "Paid" (2.1) cds and matching "PD" in oval handstamp, ex-Bryan Wood. Estimate $200 - 300.
Although endorsed for the first Cunard Line sailing out of New York by "Hibernia" on Jan. 1st, this was actually held by Harndens for the next sailing out of Boston on Jan. 15th. Dense fog delayed the "Hibernia" sailing by a day and may have attributed to this letter being held for the next Boston sailing.