Lot
1 
"Britannia" Boston November 16th - London November 30th 1841, folded Oct. 30 cover from Havana, Cuba to London, letter carried out of mails by unknown forwarder (manuscript "Fa & Co." in manuscript on reverse) to New York, who turned the letter over to "Goodhue & Co., New York" (red oval backstamp) and forwarded to Boston, red "Forwd. by T.W. Ward, Boston" oval h.s. with matching "Pr. Britannia" name-of-boat straightline, London (1 DE 1841) arrival backstamp and "1" shilling packet rating, Very Fine, a scarce Ward name-of-boat marking on a triple forwarded cover. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $425
Lot
2
"British Queen" Maiden Voyage, London July 10th - New York July 28th 1839, folded June 19th letter outer sheet (no side flaps) from Smyrna, Turkey to Boston via Liverpool, Smyrna (6.19) origin cds, Malta disinfected h.s. and two chisel slits for fumigation, red "London Paid Ship Letter 10 JY 1839" crown d.s. with manuscript "5/5" (5s/5d) prepaid rating updated to a "2" shilling ship fee to Boston, red "New York 'Ship' Jul 28" cds and "20¾" rating for the 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; Very Fine, a rare non-contract steamship letter showing disinfection. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Letter posted at French post office in Smyrna and carried by French steamer "Eurotas" to Malta, where it was disinfected (two chisel slits for fumigation). Malta applied mark of purification, then sent letter by French steamer Rhamses to Marseille. London marked on reverse 2x1s10½d=3s9d "foreign" fees and 2x10d=1s8d "British" fees for postage due of 5s5d for double rate letter. Forwarding agent Woolley Bell & Co. in Liverpool paid this fee and 2x1s=2s outgoing ship fee to re-direct letter by non-contract steamship.
Realized: $3,000
Lot
3
"British Queen" Maiden Return Voyage, New York Aug. 1st - Portsmouth Aug. 15th 1839, folded Aug. 1st cover from New York to London, letter taken directly to ship's letter bag, London (8.16) arrival backstamp with manuscript "1/4" 1s4d due rating for 8d incoming ship fee plus 8d inland postage, Extremely Fine and choice use. Estimate $500 - 750.
The "British Queen" was a vessel of the British & American Steam Navigation Company, which also owned the "Sirius" and the "President".
Lot
4
"British Queen" Maiden Return Voyage, New York Aug. 1st - Portsmouth Aug. 15th 1839, folded Aug. 1st cover from New York to Paris, France endorsed "Per 'British Queen' ", letter taken directly to ship's letter bag, "Portsmouth Ship Letter" stepped h.s. with manuscript "2/8" due 2s8d rating, London (8.16) backstamps, red Calais (8.18) transit, various manuscript ratings, Very Fine, Scarce cover showing rating on letter from the United States under 1836 Anglo-French Convention. Estimate $500 - 750.
Portsmouth marked 2s8d due in the United Kingdom for double-rate letter. London crossed through this and debited France 2 x 1s6d = 3s under the 1836 postal convention with France. France marked 5 franc 6 decimes postage due for 10 gram letter, 36 decimes to London and 20 decimes internal postage.
Realized: $650
Lot
5
"British Queen" London September 1st - New York September 20th 1839, folded Aug. 30th letter from Liverpool to Salem, Mass., endorsed "p 'British Queen' ", red "New-York 'Ship' Sep 21" cds and matching "2nd Delivery" straightline h.s. with "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Extremely Fine and choice. Estimate $400 - 600.
Letter taken directly to ship letter bag in London and not posted, avoiding ship letter rate. This was British Queen's second voyage to New York. Postage due included 2¢ ship fee and 18¾¢ for U.S. inland fee. New York struck red 2nd DELIVERY handstamp to account for delay in handling of letter, which was probably brought to the post office subsequent to the principal mail bag delivery by the ship's captain. This marking is scarce on transatlantic steamship covers.
Realized: $750
Lot
6
"British Queen" New York December 2nd - London December 25th 1839, folded Nov. 30th letter from Boston to London, sent unpaid, red "Ship Letter/Gravesend" framed backstamp and London (12.30) backstamp, manuscript "1/" shilling due rating (8d incoming ship rating plus 4d uniform inland fees), Very Fine, one of only three recorded covers from this voyage showing the 4d rate. Estimate $300 - 400.
Letter carried privately to New York and placed in ship's letter bag by unknown agent. Letter carried on third return of nine round voyages by British Queen before the steamer was sold to the Belgian Government. This voyage of British Queen was the only steamship voyage into G.B. during the five week experimental 4d uniform inland rate period.
Realized: $450
Lot
7
"British Queen" New York June 1st - London June 17th 1840, folded June 30 letter from New York to Cologne, Germany on the fifth of nine round voyages by "British Queen" before the steamer was sold to the Belgian Government, letter sent out of mails to London, posted by agent to Germany via Belgium with red manuscript 1s8d prepaid rating, Ostend sent letter to Prussia debiting 20 Dutch cents, Prussia marked red manuscript "7" silbergroschen due; Very Fine, a scarce pioneer steamship letter to Germany. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
8
"British Queen" Portsmouth July 1st - New York July 18th 1840, folded June 30 letter from London with red "Paid Ship Letter" crown handstamp to Boston, Mass. on the sixth of nine round voyages by "British Queen" before the steamer was sold to the Belgian Government, prepayment was 1s4d (two times 8 pence) for ½-1 ounce, red "New York Ship Jul 18" cds and "77" cents rating for postage due of four-times 18¾¢ plus 2¢ ship fee, the postage in the U.S. was still based on number of sheets and not weight, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
On the same day that this letter arrived in New York on the non-contract steamship 'British Queen', the Cunard steamship Britannia arrived at Boston with the first contract mails.
Realized: $230
Lot
9
"British Queen" Portsmouth September 1st - New York September 16th 1840, folded August 29 letter from Liverpool to Albany, N.Y., red "Ship Letter Liverpool 31 AU 1840" and "Ship Letter London 1 SP 1840" postmarks with matching red "8" pence rating handstamp for outgoing ship rate, red "New-York 'Ship' Sep 17" cds; light file fold, 15 days transit, Very Fine and attractive, unusual usage with three different ship letter handstamps. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $400
Lot
10
"British Queen" Portsmouth September 1st - New York September 16th 1840, folded Aug. 31st letter from London to Philadelphia, red "Paid Ship Letter - London 1 SP 1840" crown handstamp, large "1" penny handstamp believed to indicate payment of late fee, red "New York Ship Sep 17" cds with manuscript "14½" due rating for 12½¢ letter rate plus 2¢ ship fee, clean and Very Fine, The Only Recorded Non-Contract Steamship Letter With Extra Penny Fee Paid. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $650