Lot
4001 
Australian States: New South Wales, 1837 (Jan. 28) Sydney, New South Wales to Glastonbury, Conn., datelined folded letter endorsed "p Columbus", carried as endorsed via Cape Horn to Liverpool, reverse with "Lpool 17 July - Received and forwarded by Your Ob Svt, R. F. Breed & Eceleston" across Atlantic, entered mail with red "New-York 'Ship' Aug 29" cds and manuscript "14½" due rating for 12½¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED STATES.
Realized: $950
Lot
4002
1837 (Feb. 15) Sydney, New South Wales to Glastonbury Conn., folded letter datelined "Bark Brothers, Feb 9 1837" and reading "…the pilot on board going past the Heads of Sydney Harbor…" from Horace Hale back home to his wife, carried by Ship Jessie from Sydney Feb. 26th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 13th, manuscript "Lpool 14 June - recd and forwarded by R.F. Breed & Eceleston" forwarder's endorsement on back flap, carried transatlantic as endorsed by ship North America from Liverpool Jun. 19th to New York arriving Jul. 21st, entered mails with red "New-York, Ship, Aug 1" cds and magenta "14½" due rating for 12½¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST ARRIVING LETTER FROM THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES TO THE UNITED STATES.
The other Hale letter offered in the previous lot took 7 months to arrive from Australia, whereas this letter took only 5½ months. This shows how erratic mail service could be between the Colonies and the United States during this early time period.
Realized: $700
Lot
4003
1841 (Jul. 7) Sydney, New South Wales to Philadelphia Pa. via Boston, folded letter datelined "Sydney, 7 July 1841" carried out-of-mails by ship Beatrice via Cape Horn, red London (1.3) Maltese cross with red manuscript "1/-" prepaid rating for 1s transatlantic packet, Liverpool (1.4) octagon datestamp, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool Jan. 4th to Boston arriving Jan. 21st, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jan 21" cds and ms. "20¾" due rating for 18¾¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee; some fold wear, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $400
Lot
4004
1843 (Jun. 20) "Fluro Bagly Park", New South Wales to Boston Mass., folded letter datelined "Fluro Bagly Park, 30 miles from Sydney, 20th June 1843", carried by private ship via Cape Horn to London, entered mails with red London (12.2) Maltese cross datestamp with red manuscript "1/-" prepaid rating for 1s transatlantic packet, Liverpool (12.3) transit oval, carried by Cunard Hibernia from Liverpool Dec. 5th to Boston arriving Dec. 20th, red Boston "Ship 6" ribbon handstamp for 6¢ ship fee to port; light toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $210
Lot
4005
1847 (May 17) Hobart Town, Tasmania to Salem Mass. via London, gray folded letter care of Baring Bros at London showing red "General Post Office, Hobart Town, 17 May, 1847" crown handstamp and red manuscript "1/" rating crossed out, carried as endorsed by Nathan Moses & Co. Tropic from Hobart Mar. 18th to London arriving Aug. 7th, red London (8.7) arrival backstamp and "2/8" due rating later crossed out, remailed with red London Paid (8.18) Maltese cross and red manuscript "4/" prepaid rating, carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Aug. 16th to Boston arriving Sep. 2nd, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship; Sep 3" cds and "17" cent due rating to Salem, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EARLY SHIP LETTER USE FROM TASMANIA.
The Samuel Moses family in Van Diemen's Land was one of the early Jewish settlers and among the founders of the Hobart Synagogue that opened in 1845.
Realized: $1,000