Lot
1214 
"Sirius" Maiden Return Voyage, New York May 1st - Falmouth May 18th 1838, datelined greenish folded letter datelined "Vera Cruz 19 Mars 1838" to London, England, carried privately from Mexico to New York, flap with black "Forwarded by Meyer & Hupeden, New-York" oval handstamp inscribed "1st May 1838, p Sirius", flap with red "Ship Letter / Falmouth" framed handstamp and red London (5.21) arrival cds, manuscript "1/8" due rating; some fold wear and toning, F.-V.F., A rare maiden return voyage use.. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $400
Lot
1215
"Sirius" Final Return Voyage, New York Jul. 1st - Plymouth Jul. 16th, 1838, folded letter datelined "New York 29th June 1838" to Sheffield, England, endorsed "Sirius" at top, reverse with red "Ship Letter / Plymouth" framed handstamp and manuscript "3/4" due rating, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
"Sirius" made only two roundtrip transatlantic sailings for the British and American Steam Navigation Company. The company chartered the Irish Sea steamer from the St. George Steam Packet Company in order to beat the "Great Western" for the first transatlantic steamship voyage.
Realized: $325
Lot
1216
"British Queen" New York Dec. 2nd - Liverpool Dec. 25th 1839, docketed Dec. 2nd folded letter to Messrs. Rothschild & Sons endorsed "p B Queen", reverse with red "Ship Letter, Gravesend" framed handstamp and London (12.26) cds, manuscript "1/-" rating for 8d ship letter fee plus uniform 4d rate, Very Fine, ex-Needs. Estimate $300 - 400.
This was carried on the 3rd of only 6 voyages of the "British Queen" under the UK flag. This is the only possible voyage showing the scarce uniform 4d rate period on steamers arriving from the United States effective from Dec. 5th 1839 to Jan. 9th 1840. .