Lot
266 
"Britannia" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Jun. 3) Belfast, Ireland to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with red "Belfast, Paid" double-arc handstamp and "Belfast, JU 3, 1840" double-arc backstamp, red manuscript "1/-" packet rating, red London "Paid, 5 JU 5, 1840" transit cds, carried on Falmouth non-contract packet Opposum departing Jun. 5th to Halifax arriving Jun. 13th, mail bag transferred to Cunard Line Britannia on her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Boston arriving Jul. 19th, red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jul 19" cds, postage due would be 20¾¢ for 18¾¢ for 150-400 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
AN UNUSUAL USE FROM IRELAND CARRIED BY NON-CONTRACT FALMOUTH PACKET TO HALIFAX CONNECTING WITH THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE CUNARD LINE "BRITANNIA" FROM LIVERPOOL TO BOSTON, THE SECOND SAILING OF THE CUNARD LINE.
The new mail contract between the British Post Office and the British & North American Royal Steam Packet Company, popularly called Cunard Line after its founder Samuel Cunard, was to start on the 4th July 1840 with sailings twice monthly from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston during the months up to and including October, then from November to February one sailing per month. Although this sailing schedule was not achieved in 1840, from 1841 onwards the schedule was completed including an additional sailing in November.
Realized: $700