Lot
11 
(Pioneer Steamers) New York to London, England. 3 folded letters 1839-1842, all handstamped "Bristol Ship Letter" and endorsed "per Great Western", two 1839 covers marked "1/5" for collection (8d private ship + 9d British inland), one with red oval Gilpins Exchange forwarder on the reverse, and 1842 cover originating in Cuba with manuscript "8" pence due private ship fee, F.-V.F., since these were posted in New York, there is no evidence freight money fees were collected. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $230
Lot
12
(Pioneer Steamers) New York, N.Y. to London, England. With forwarding to Switzerland, 1838 folded letter with "Bristol Ship Letter" boxed handstamp and endorsed "Steam Ship Great Western" at lower left, black manuscript "1/5" rate (8d private ship + 9d British inland), manuscript "1/2" (half ounce rate to Switzerland via France), various transit backstamps, F.-V.F., this was the 5th east-bound crossing of the "Great Western", departing New York 23-Nov and arriving Bristol 7-Dec. Since these were posted in New York, there is no evidence freight money fees were collected. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $425
Lot
13
(Pioneer Steamers) New York, N.Y. to London, England. 1846 folded letter sheet with "pr Gt. Britain 8 June" endorsement and manuscript "8" pence due private ship fee, reverse with octagonal "22 Ju 1846, Liverpool Ship" date stamp and red "23 Ju, 1846" receiving cds, Very Fine, since this was posted in New York, there is no evidence of freight money fees collected, departed New York 8-Jun & arrived Liverpool 22-Jun., from the 3rd eastbound crossing of the Great Britain. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $500
Lot
14
(Pioneer Steamers) Sandy Hill, Maryland to New York, N.Y. Forwarded to Liverpool, England, 1839 folded letter sheet with manuscript "Sandy Hill Md., feb - 9th" origin postmark and matching "Paid 18¾" at top, manuscript "17" added below and totaled "36½" underneath the original rate mark, routing endorsement "Special care of Mr. Henry P. Havrus. If Capt Cropper has left for Liverpool you will please forward this" at lower left, original address crossed through and "Ship Columbus Liverpool" added, "P Ship Great Western" added at left, boxed "Bristol Ship Letter" handstamp and manuscript "1/6" rate, reverse with oval Gilpins Exchange forwarder handstamp; small cover tears at top, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $75
Lot
15
(Pioneer Steamers) Steamer Unicorn. 1840 folded letter from London, England to Salem, Massachusetts, red tombstone "Paid My 13, 1840" handstamp & red manuscript "8" pence private ship rate, rimless "Paid Ship Letter, London, My 13, 1840" date stamp and red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jun 4" receiving cds above, "By the Unicorn" endorsement beneath, Very Fine and choice, per the maiden voyage of the "Unicorn" departing Liverpool 16-May and arriving Boston 3-Jun, this marked the inauguration of Cunard Line service. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $6,500
Lot
16
(Pioneer Steamers) Wreck of the Steamer "Great Britain". 1846 folded letter from Liverpool, England to New York, N.Y., endorsed "p Great Britain" at top, red manuscript "8" pence private ship rate with a red handstamp "7" representing the 2¢ cents ship fee plus 5¢ cents per half ounce U.S. domestic rate, brownish rimless "Ship Letter, Liverpool, Sp 22, 46" cds on the reverse, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 2,500.
This ship, then the largest in the world, after sailing from Liverpool on September 22nd was stranded on the rocks in Dundrum Bay of the coast of Northern Ireland, the mails where quickly salvaged and sent on to New York.
Realized: $4,000
Lot
17
(Pioneer Steamers) Wreck of the Steamer Great Britain. 1846 folded letter from Liverpool, England to New York, N.Y., endorsed "P Great Britain", red manuscript "1/4" rate (double the 8 pence private ship letter fee), red handstamped "7" corrected to "12" in manuscript for double rate, brownish "Ship Letter Liverpool Sp 22 46" cds on the reverse, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
This ship, then the largest in the world, after sailing from Liverpool on September 22nd was stranded on the rocks in Dundrum Bay of the coast of Northern Ireland, Great Britain's mails were returned to Liverpool and brought to Boston per the Cunard Line steamer Caledonia, departing Liverpool 4-Oct and arriving Boston 20-Oct, had these letters actually gone direct to New York they would have been rated as 6¢ due in the port of arrival, since they were landed in Boston they were rated with the ship fee and under 300 miles zone rate for half ounce and between half and one ounce weights. Five examples from this sailing are currently known. .
Realized: $3,750