Lot
1507 
"Great Western" New York May 9th - Bristol May 23rd 1840, folded May 4th letter from Charleston, S.C. to Guebwiller, France, carried privately to New York where red "De Rham & Moore" forwarders oval applied on back and freight money letter fee paid (not shown), red "Bristol/Ship Letter" handstamp and "8" pence rating for incoming ship letter fee, London "1/6" 1s6d manuscript debit, French "38" décimes due rating from addressee, Very Fine, ex-Winter, J. Pullin. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
1508
"Great Western" New York November 23rd - Bristol December 7th 1838, Nov. 22nd folded letter datelined from New York to Madeira via London, "Bristol, Ship-Letter" framed handstamp with manuscript "1/5" due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 9d inland, red London (12.8) arrival backstamps including Penny Post framed postmarks, remailed by forwarder with London (1.2) backstamp and red manuscript "2/7" 2s7d rating to Madeira, manuscript "160" reis due rating, docketed received Jan. 24th, Very Fine and scarce destination, ex-J. Pullin. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
1509
"President" Maiden Return Voyage, New York September 1st - Liverpool September 17th 1840, docketed Sep. 1, 1840 gray folded cover endorsed "Steamer President, Sept. 1." at top left, bold "Liverpool / Ship Letter" two-line backstamp and manuscript "8" pence due rating for 8¢ ship letter fee, partial red London arrival backstamp; some file fold toning, F.-V.F., ex-J. Pullin. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $160
Lot
1510
"President" Maiden Voyage, Liverpool Aug. 1st to New York arriving Aug. 17th, Jul. 28th 1840 folded letter from Glasgow, Scotland to Salem, N.Y. with red "Glasgow, Paid, Jy 28, 1840" boxed datestamp and red manuscript "8d" prepaid ship rating, reverse choice red strike of crowned "Ship Letter / 30 JY 1840 /Liverpool" handstamp, red "New-York, Ship, Aug 13" cds and manuscript "20½" cents due rating for 18½¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, ex-Pacetti, J. Pullin. Estimate $400 - 600.
A SCARCE USE CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE PIONEER STEAMSHIP "PRESIDENT".
The "President" of 2,366 tons was built at Carling & Young's London yard in 1840 for The British and American Steam Navigation Company. Left from London on her maiden voyage to New York on the 1st August 1840 arriving on the 18th. On the fourth return voyage of the "President" from New York she was lost without trace on the 11th March 1841 with the loss of 136 lives. This would bankrupt the British and American Steam Navigation Co.
Realized: $200
Lot
1511
"President" Maiden Voyage, Liverpool August 1st - New York August 17th 1840, datelined Jul. 31st 1840 folded letter and printed circular from Liverpool to New York, endorsed "P President" at top left, red London "Paid Ship Letter, Liverpool, 31 JY 31, 1840" crown postmark with red manuscript "2/8" pence rating for a quadruple-rate ship letter of 1½-2 oz., New York manuscript "6" cents due rating, Very Fine, ex-J. Pullin. Estimate $500 - 750.
The "President" was a vessel of the British & American Steam Navigation Company, which also owned the "Sirius" and the "British Queen". She was lost without a trace on her third eastbound sailing.
Realized: $250
Lot
1512
"Royal William" Last Voyage, New York Jan. 16th - Liverpool Feb. 3rd 1839, folded letter with red "Baltimore Md. Jan 13" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp, manuscript "Ship 25" freight money fee and "18¾" for 18¾¢ inland postage to N.Y., red "New-York, Jan 15" cds, "Liverpool / Ship Letter" two-line backstamp and manuscript "1/7" due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 11d inland postage, red London (2.4) arrival backstamp, a Very Fine freight money cover, ex-J. Pullin. Estimate $200 - 300.
Baltimore used "ship" designation on early freight money letters.
Realized: $100
Lot
1513
"Royal William" Maiden Return Voyage, New York August 4th - Liverpool August 19th 1838, gray Aug. 4, 1838 folded letter from New York to London endorsed "pr. Steam Ship, Royal William", "Ship Letter, Liverpool" framed backstamp and manuscript "1/7" due rating for 8d ship fee plus 11d inland postage, red London (8.21) arrival backstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $150
Lot
1514
"Sirius" Final Return Voyage, New York Jul. 1st - Plymouth Jul. 16th, 1838, folded letter datelined "Philadelphia June 4th 1838" to London, England, endorsed "pr Packet Monongahela" at bottom left crossed out and updated to "Steamship - Sirius" at bottom left, carried to ship's agent in New York, manuscript "Paid 25" freight money fee at top right, red "Ship Letter, Plymouth" framed backstamp and manuscript "1/7" due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 11d inland postage, red London (7.18) backstamp and matching "G.P." handstamp (Willocks & Jay L682) applied by GPO indicating penny post charge due; edge wear, Very Fine, ex-J. Pullin. Estimate $300 - 400.
The June 25, 1838 New York Commercial Advertiser contained an advertisement "Letters received on board will be charged 25¢ per single letter, large letters and parcels in proportion." This was the birth of the Freight Money charge for the service provided by steamships. This fee remained in effect until the first voyage of an American owned steamship departing New York on June 1, 1847.
Realized: $475
Lot
1515
"Sirius" Maiden Return Voyage, New York May 1st - Falmouth May 18th 1838., folded letter datelined "New York 30th April 1838" to Sheffield, England endorsed "Per Steamer Ship 'Sirius' 1st May" at top, red "Falmouth / Ship Letter" framed handstamp on flap and manuscript "1/9" for 8d ship letter rate plus 1s1d inland to Sheffield, Very Fine, Atlantic transit of 17 days. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
"Sirius" made only two roundtrip transatlantic sailings for the British and American Steam Navigation Company. The company chartered the Irish Sea steamer from the St. George Steam Packet Company in order to beat the "Great Western" for the first transatlantic steamship voyage.
Realized: $375