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Sale 91: The December Sale

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Foreign Mails - 1815 to 1849

Lots 1527-1536 Lots 1537-1546 Lots 1547-1551

Lot 1527    

1815 (Jun. 3) London, England to Portsmouth N.H., datelined folded letter with "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter, London, 22 JU 22, 1815" circular postmark across flaps and manuscript "8" due rating for 8d ship letter rate, carried by ship "Galen" as endorsed, light strike of red "Boston Ms." cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with red manuscript "17" rating for 15¢ war surcharge rate (10¢ plus 50%) plus 2¢ ship letter fee, ex-J. Pullin.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

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Lot 1528    

(Withdrawn Ship Letter) 1815 (Jun. 5) Liverpool, England to Providence R.I., docketed folded cover with mostly clear strike of red "Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter Liverpool, 5 JU 1815" double-circle Crown datestamp on reverse, red "New-York 6 Aug" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "27½" rate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    $500 - 750.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE LIVERPOOL POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER DATESTAMP.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 Upon payment, the letter received the "Withdrawn Ship Letter" handstamp and the sender was allowed to send the letter by any ship of his choice.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 1529    

1819 (Mar. 1) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with clear strike of magenta "James-Munroe, Liverpool, Watkinson, Sailed Mar. 1. 1819" double-oval and matching arced "Packet Ship" handstamp, endorsed "p James Monroe" at bottom left, carried by Black Ball James Monroe from Liverpool Mar. 1st to New York arriving Apr. 9th, New York manuscript "6" pence due rating for 6¢ ship fee; small erosion spot in address, Very Fine, ex-J. Pullin.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE JAMES MUNROE 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.

Realized: $1,450

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Lot 1530    

1820 (Mar. 9) Halifax, England 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    $200 - 300.

Realized: $200

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Lot 1531    

1830 (Mar. 17) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y., folded mourning letter sent from Scotland with Edinburgh (3.13) backstamp and matching "Addl. ½" Scottish wheel tax with manuscript "1/6" for 8d ship letter fee plus 10d inland, sent in care and forwarded by U.S. Consul F.B. Ogden with his manuscript endorsement and "Forwarded from the Consulate of the U.S.A. Liverpool." framed handstamp across backflaps, manuscript "1/10" 1s10d rating, carried by Blue Swallowtail Line George Canning from Liverpool Mar. 25th to New York arriving Apr. 14th, New York red manuscript "6" cent rating; some fold separations, Very Fine, ex-J. Pullin.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS U.S. CONSUL LIVERPOOL FORWARDER HANDSTAMP.

This letter is from the Douglas family to the wife of President Monroe's nephew. Her maiden name was Douglas.

Realized: $300

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Lot 1532    

(Express Mail) 1837 (Apr. 22) Birmingham, England to New Orleans La. via New York, datelined folded letter carried privately to New York, endorsed "Single pr Express Mail" at top, red "New-York, Jun 3" cds and manuscript "75" express rating to New Orleans; light toning, Fine, a rare transatlantic westbound use sent via express mail.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $400

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Lot 1533    

1838 (May 18) New Orleans La. to London, England via New York Express Mail, folded letter with partial red "New Orleans La. May 18" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with magenta "75" cent express mail rating, endorsed "per express mail and per first packet, either to Liverpool or London direct", flap with red "Forwarded by Heckscher, Coster & Matfield, New York '26 May 1838' " red oval with manuscript dating, carried by Sheffield from New York May 26th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 17th, "Liverpool, Ship Letter" framed backstamp and manuscript "3/2" rating for double the 8d ship letter fee plus double 11d inland postage, red London (6.18) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, ex-J. Pullin.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $300

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Lot 1534    

1838 (Nov. 5) New Orleans La. to London, England via New York Express Mail, datelined gray folded letter with indistinct red New Orleans cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "75" cent express mail rating to New York care of Mess. J.W. Schmidt & Co., endorsed "Pr. Express Mail" in red manuscript, forwarded on Great Western from New York Nov. 23rd to Bristol arriving Dec. 7th, "Bristol, Ship-Letter" framed handstamp with manuscript "1/3" due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 10d inland, reverse with red London (12.8) arrival cds and framed London Two Penny Post datestamp (Wilcox & Jay 459d), Very Fine and scarce express mail use via the "Great Western", ex-J. Pullin.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

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Lot 1535    

(Express Mail) 1838 (Nov. 16) Jackson Miss. to London, England via New Orleans and New York, datelined folded letter entered mails with partial red "New Orleans L." cds and matching "Paid" straightline with red manuscript "150" rating, addressed in care of Messrs. F.W. Schmidt & Co., New York, red endorsement "Pr. Express Mail" and "Double" at top, and "Paid" at bottom left, upon arrival "Forwarded Through Gilpin's Exchange and Reading Room and Foreign Letter Office, N-York." oval handstamp struck on flap, transatlantic to London, entered mails with red London (1.3.1839) backstamp and manuscript "3/2" 3s2d due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1536    

1838 (Dec. 15) New Orleans La. to London, England via New York, datelined folded letter addressed in care of Messr. Goodhue & Co. of New York to Baring Brothers at London, partial red "New Orleans" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with "75" cent express mail rating, endorsed "Express Mail", red "Forwarded By, Goodhue & Co., New York" oval handstamp on flap, sent by private ship, entered mails with "Liverpool, Ship Letter" two-line handstamp and manuscript "1/7" rating, red London (1.26.1839) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice with Goodhue forwarders oval.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

A RARE TRANSATLANTIC EXPRESS MAIL USE VIA NEW YORK TO LONDON.

Letter sent by U.S. Express Mail from New Orleans at the single 75¢ express mail rate (three-times the normal letter of rate 25¢) to forwarding agent Goodhue & Co. in New York.

Realized: $625

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Lots 1527-1536 Lots 1537-1546 Lots 1547-1551

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