Lot
281 
Express Mail, St. John, Jul 16, circular handstamp along with "Province of New Brunswick" circular handstamp and "10" rating to New York, N.Y.; slight corner toning and upper right paper loss, Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
In September 1845, the U.S. Post Office Department appointed steamboat letter carriers to handle the mail on the Boston-Portland-Eastport steamer route. In 1853, the U.S. Post Office extended their steamboat letter carrier system to St. John. The Rates of Postage chargeable on letters thus forwarded are the same as by the land route: 6d cy. or 10¢ per ½oz. When loose letters, either unpaid or prepaid by stamps, were handed to the steamboat letter carrier, they were struck with Express Mail circular datestamps.
Realized: $180