Lot
37 
"Liverpool" Liverpool September 21st - New York October 10th 1839, folded cover from Smyrna, Turkey to Boston, Mass. with "Smyrne (Turquie) 19 Aout 1839" origin double circle date stamp, cover disinfected in Malta, London backstamp and "British/Foreign" framed h.s. with manuscript "1/8" and "3/9" ratings respectively totaled to "5/5" 5s5d on front, carried by Transatlantic S.S. Co. Liverpool from Liverpool Sep. 21 to New York arriving Oct. 10, red "New-York 'Ship' Oct 10" cds and manuscript "37½" double-weight rating to Boston, some paper loss, Fine, Rare non-contract steamship letter showing disinfection. Estimate $200 - 300.
Posted at French post office in Smyrna and carried by French steamer Leonidas to Malta, where it was disinfected. Malta applied mark of purification, then sent letter by French steamer Mentor to Marseilles. London marked on reverse 2x1s10½d = 3s9d "foreign" fee and 2x10d-1s8d "British" fee for postage due of 5s5d for double-rate letter. Forwarding agent Woolley Bell & Co. in Liverpool paid this fee and placed the letter in steamship's letter bag, bypassing the post.
Realized: $350
Lot
38
"Massachusetts" Return Maiden Voyage, Liverpool October 22nd - Holmes Hole November 20th 1845, folded Oct. 18 bill of lading from forwarding agent Harnden & Co. of Liverpool to New York, who placed the letter directly into ship's letter bag bypassing the post office, illustrated "Forwarded by Harnden & Co., Liverpool" h.s., entered U.S. mails with red "Holmes Hole Ms. Nov 20" cds and red manuscript "Ship" and "7" due ratings for 5¢ inland postage and 2¢ ship fee, Extremely Fine, A Remarkable Usage of a Non-Contract Steamer Calling At Holmes Hole Due To Weather, One of Only Two Recorded Examples From This Voyage. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The Massachusetts, an auxiliary wooden steamer with Ericsson propeller, was the first American-owned steamship to operate on the North Atlantic route. Only two round voyages were made before the steamer was sold to the U.S. Navy in 1847. This letter was carried on the maiden return voyage. Because of a rough Atlantic voyage the steamer put into Holmes Hole, Martha's Vineyard, on November 18, 1845.
Realized: $5,000
Lot
39
"Massachusetts" Final Return Voyage, London January 21st - New York March 4th 1846, folded cover endorsed in purple "Pr Steamer Massachusetts" and "8d" prepaid for outgoing ship fee, red London Paid Ship letter crown d.s., New York manuscript "6" due rating, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
Outer sheet of letter contained printed prices from public sales of merchandise in London, presumably prepared by Hulle & Co. Although "Massachusetts" made only two round voyages, all but one of the covers recorded were carried on the second return voyage to the U.S., as was this one.
Realized: $450
Lot
40
"Massachusetts" Final Return Voyage, Liverpool January 21st - New York March 4th 1846, folded Jan. 17 letter from Liverpool to Duxbury, Mass. bearing illustrated "Forwarded by Harnden & Co., Liverpool" forwarding oval h.s., who placed the letter directly into ship's letter bag bypassing the post office, entered U.S. mails with red "New-York 'Ship 7cts' Mar 5" cds for 5¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Massachusetts ran only two round voyages before she was sold to the U.S. Navy in 1847. This letter was carried on the final return voyage arriving into New York on the evening of March 4 after a 42 day passage. She experienced "…constant succession of westerly gales, which almost entirely prevented the use of her steam power" according to a report the next day in the New York Herald.
Realized: $450
Lot
41
"Massachusetts" Final Return Voyage, Liverpool January 21st - New York March 4th 1846, folded Jan. 17 letter from Liverpool to New York bearing illustrated "Forwarded by Harnden & Co., Liverpool" forwarding oval h.s., who placed the letter directly into ship's letter bag bypassing the post office, entered U.S. mails with manuscript "6" cents rating for incoming ship fee to port of arrival, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Massachusetts ran only two round voyages before she was sold to the U.S. Navy in 1847. This letter was carried on the final return voyage.
Realized: $425
Lot
42
"President" Liverpool October 1st - New York October 18th 1840, folded letter from London to New York carried on the second (and last completed) voyage of this ship which was lost without a trace on her third eastbound sailing. As only Cunard had a mail contract, red London "Paid Ship Letter" crown postmark with red manuscript "8" pence rating, New York "6" cents due rating, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 500.
The President was a vessel of the British & American Steam Navigation Company, which also owned the Sirius and the British Queen.
Realized: $400
Lot
43
"President" New York November 2nd - London November 27th 1840, folded letter from Auburn, N.Y. to London carried on the second return (and last completed) voyage of this ship which was lost without a trace on her third eastbound sailing, entered mails with fancy red "Utica N.Y. Oct 23" oval postmark and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "18¾" rating, red "New York Oct 26" cds, "Liverpool/Ship Letter" backstamp, London manuscript "8" pence due rating, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $500 - 750.
This is the second return voyage of the President, who encountered severe gales outbound from New York and had to return to port of November 9. The voyage was resumed on November 11, thus explaining the very long transit (by steamship) of this cover.
Realized: $600
Lot
44
"President" Final Voyage Liverpool February 10th - New York March 3rd 1841, folded Feb. 9th letter from Manchester, England to New York, red "Manchester Fe 9 1841" split ring cds and manuscript "8" prepaid rating for ship letter, "Ship Letter, Liverpool 10 Fe 1841" crown backstamp, New York manuscript "6" due rating for incoming ship letter, Very Fine and rare. Estimate $600 - 800.
Letter carried on the third and last voyage by the President to New York. On the return of this third voyage, which left New York on March 11, the President disappeared without a trace.
Realized: $475
Lot
45
"Royal William" Maiden Voyage, Liverpool July 5th - New York July 24th 1838, folded July 4th letter from London to Washington, D.C., endorsed "Royal William Steam Boat 5 July", green "Forwarded by Coates & Co. London" oval backstamp, red "New York 'Ship' July 25" cds and manuscript "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; Fine and rare maiden voyage. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Letter given to forwarding agent, Coates & Co. of London (green oval handstamp on reverse), who placed it directly in ship letter bags, avoiding post office ship letter charge. Letter carried on maiden voyage of Royal William, which made only three round voyages.
Lot
46
"Royal William" New York January 16th to Cognac, France 1839, folded letter carried by City of Dublin Steam Packet Company Royal William that departed New York Jan. 16 to Liverpool arriving Feb. 3, "Liverpool/Ship Letter" and London (2.4) backstamps, framed "Packet Letter" handstamp, blue Calais (2.6) entry cds and Cognac (2.8) arrival backstamp, manuscript "32" decimes due rating, Very Fine, Letters carried on any of the three Royal William voyages destined for France are quite uncommon. Estimate $400 - 600.
Letter taken to mail bag at ship agent's office and not to post office, where 25¢ freight money fee undoubtedly paid, but not shown on letter. Liverpool marked 1s7d postage due in London (8d ship fee plus 11d British transit to London). London Foreign Office debited French 1s6d under Anglo-French Convention of 1836 (8d ship fee plus 10d British transit fee to France). Paris marked 32 decimes postage due (18 dec. for British debit plus 14 dec. French inland fee).
Realized: $325