Lot 3156
1851 (Sep. 17) Liverpool, England to Buffalo N.Y., folded letter bearing Great Britain 1841, 2d blue (2) horizontal strip of four, large margins to shaving framelines, position 3 with pinhole, tied by "466" barred ovals prepaying the 8d outgoing ship letter rate, Liverpool "Ship Letter SP 17 1851" crown backstamp, carried by Inman Line City of Manchester from Liverpool Sep. 17th to Philadelphia arriving Oct. 3rd, blue "Philadelphia Pa. Oct 3" cds and matching "Ship" and "7" circled ratings for the 5¢ domestic rate to Buffalo plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and rare prepaid non-contract steamship sailing, ex-Winter; with 2013 P.F. certificate.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED BRITISH PREPAID SHIP LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA.
Letter carried on the second voyage of the "City of Manchester" and fifth voyage of the Inman Line. The Inman Line operated from Liverpool to Philadelphia from 1851-1856, then shifted the U.S. terminus to New York beginning in 1857.