Lot
1037 
(Atlantic Lines - Jamaica) 1853 (Sep. 28) Kingston, Jamaica to Brooklyn N.Y., blue folded letter with red "Kingston, Jamaica, Paid, SP 23, 1853" rimless cds and magenta "4" prepaid rating, carried by U.S. Mail S.S. Illinois from Jamaica Sep. 28th to New York, "Steamship 10" in circle due handstamp struck for 10¢ steamship rate, F.-V.F., ex-Wierenga. Estimate $150 - 200.
The "Illinois" was a steamer of the United States Mail Steamship Company which operated intermittently between New York and Chagres from 1851 until 1859.
Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 106, fig. 142.
Realized: $140
Lot
1038
(Atlantic Lines - US Brazil) 1865 (Dec. 20) Maracaibo, Venezuela to New York N.Y., blue folded letter with blue Botica Alemania de Alincke merchants oval, sent privately to St. Thomas, "St. Thomas, 20/12, 1865" cds and carried by U.S. Brazil Line North America from St. Thomas Dec. 20th to New York arriving Dec. 26th, bold "Steamship 10" in circle due handstamp for 10¢ steamship rate; light fold toning, Very Fine, Carried on the maiden return voyage of the US Brazil Line North America, the second return voyage of the line., ex-Wierenga. Estimate $150 - 200.
Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 78-79, fig. 106.
Realized: $190
Lot
1039
(Atlantic Lines - US Brazil) 1867 (Nov. 12) Buenos Ayres, Argentina to New York N.Y., blue folded letter with French "Buenos-Ayres, Paq. Fr. K No. 1, 12 Nov 67" cds and pencil "3" for triple rate up to ¾ oz., carried by French mail steamer to Rio de Janeiro, then by U.S. Brazil Line North America from Rio Nov. 25th to New York, "N.York, Steamship, Dec 23" arrival cds and manuscript "54" rating for three-times the 18¢ rate, Very Fine and intriguing letter, ex-Wierenga. Estimate $300 - 400.
Under United States-French postal agreement, French debited U.S. three rates or 24¢ using the ¾ oz. weight progression. New York added 3 X 10¢ using French weight progression instead of 2 X 10¢ using U.S. ½ oz. progression, marking letter for 54¢ postage due in error instead of 44¢, the normal postage due on a letter of three French rates and two U.S. rates.
Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 78-79, fig. 108.
Realized: $250
Lot
1040
(US Brazil) 1870 (Apr. 14) St. Thomas, Danish West Indies to New York N.Y., blue folded cover with "Elias, Dunlop & Co., Saint Thomas, 13 Apr 1870" flap seal handstamp bearing 10¢ yellow (116), intense shade, tied by "N. York Steamship Apr 21" cds, carried by USBMC North America from St. Thomas Apr. 14th to New York arriving Apr. 21st; light file fold well away from stamp, 10¢ light diagonal crease, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lot
1041
(Atlantic Lines - US Brazil) 1872 (Apr. 12) St. John's, Antigua to Charleston S.C. via St. Thomas, printed prices current with "Antigua, AP 12 72" origin backstamp and red crayon "1" pence prepayment, carried by RMSP Arno from Antigua Apr. 12th to St. Thomas arriving Apr. 13th, transferred to US Brazil Mail S.S. South America from St. Thomas Apr. 13th to New York arriving Apr. 20th, New York "2" cent due handstamp; small faults, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $130
Lot
1042
(Atlantic Lines) 1852 (Dec. 10) Barbados to Philadelphia Pa., cover with "Barbadoes, DE 10, 1852" double-arc backstamp and red "Paid at Barbadoes" crown mark with magenta "1/-" prepaid rating, St. Thomas (12.20) transit backstamp, New York "Steamship 10" in circle due handstamp for 10¢ steamship rate, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $170
Lot
1043
(Atlantic Lines) 1853 (May 2) Barranguilla, Colombia to New York N.Y., light gray folded letter sent privately to St. Thomas, "Recd. & Forwd. by M. Pretto & Co., St. Thomas" forwarder's oval, faint "St-Thomas, MY 18, 1853" double-arc backstamp and faint red "Paid at St. Thomas" crown mark with red crayon "1/" prepaid rating, New York "Steamship 10" in circle due handstamp for 10¢ steamship rate, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $100
Lot
1044
(Atlantic Lines) 1856 (Jul. 12) Puerto Cabello, Venezuela to New York N.Y., blue folded letter endorsed "per Tennessee" at top left, carried by S de Agreda, Jove & Co's line Tennessee from Puerto Cabello Jul. 12th to New York arriving Jul. 25th, the fifth return voyage from Puerto Cabello by the line, New York "Steamship 10" in circle due handstamp, docketed as received Jul. 25th, Very Fine and rare, ex-Wierenga. Estimate $500 - 750.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COVERS CARRIED BY THE SHORT-LIVED WEST INDIES LINE.
The announcement of the National Intelligencer, December 29, 1855: "Important Mail Communication with St. Johns, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, La Guayra, and Puerto Cabello. A semi-monthly line of steamships, commencing with the "Tennessee," on or about the 8th of January next, will run between New York and Puerto Cabello, South America, touching at St. Johns, Porto Rico, St. Thomas, and La Guayra. Mails for these points will be regularly made up at the New York Post Office and dispatched by this line, the United States postage charge being ten cents the single rate, prepayment required." The S de Agreda, Jove & Co's West Indies line ran the "Tennessee" ran only six round-voyages before she was transferred to the New York and Nicaragua route in the fall of 1856, probably because this route was more lucrative to the owners. She first sailed for Nicaragua about September 12, 1856.
Reference: United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875, Second Edition, Wierenga, illustrated and discussed on p. 83-84, fig. 114.
Realized: $250
Lot
1045
(Atlantic Lines) 1860 (Sep. 8) Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to New York N.Y. via St. Thomas, datelined folded letter with "San Juan - Porto-Rico, SP 11, 1860" double-arc backstamp and red "Paid at San Juan, Porto Rico" crown mark, red crayon "1/-" schilling rating, carried by RMSP Solent from San Juan Sep. 11th to St. Thomas arriving Sep. 12th, St. Thomas (9.12) transit backstamp, RMSP Clyde from St. Thomas Sep. 16th to Havana arriving Sep. 21th, then by M.O. Roberts Star of the West departing Sep. 24th to New York arriving Sep. 29th; file fold toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $290