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Sale 89: The John Barwis Collection of Philadelphia Postal History

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Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1819-1839 Post-War Period Sailing Ships to Steamships

Lots 3066-3075 Lots 3076-3085 Lots 3086-3091

Lot 3066    

(Cope Line) 1819 (Jul. 14) Broomfield, England to Concord Pa. via Liverpool, folded letter datelined "Broomfield 14th of 7 mo. 1819", entered mails with red "CHELMSFORD/29" two-line handstamp to "Thos. Thompson, Chemist and Druggist, Liverpool" and marked "Post Paid", London with dark red London "Paid/21 JY 21/1819" tombstone-style datestamp and matching "SHIP" handstamp with red manuscript "P 1/-" prepaid one-shilling packet charge, Thompson was the forwarder who arranged for the letter's transport to the U.S. unpaid and crossed out his address, bold strike of "LANCASTER" straightline applied by ship purser, carried by Cope Line Ship Lancaster from Liverpool Jul. 21st to Philadelphia Sept. 13th, Philadelphia red "Phi, 13, Sep" cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp with red manuscript "8" rating for 6¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and exceptional Cope Line name-of-ship handstamp use, ex-Robertson, Hahn.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED COPE LINE "LANCASTER." NAME-OF-SHIP STRAIGHTLINE PURSER MARKINGS, THIS BEING THE ONLY STRIKE IN BLACK.

Thomas P. Cope's ships operated from 1806, and on a monthly schedule between Philadelphia and Liverpool from 1822 to 1872. Often termed the "Philadelphia Packet" or "Liverpool Packet," none of Cope's voyages were under mail contracts. The 383-ton
Lancaster was the first ship in Cope's Philadelphia-Liverpool line with Thomas Potts as master.

Letters from the United Kingdom to overseas destinations via the Falmouth packet required compulsory prepayment of the packet rate in addition to the U.K. inland rate from posting via London to Falmouth. However, iif the sender chose to instruct the post office to send by private ship from a particular port, the only compulsory part of the postage was the inland rate via London to the port of exit as in the case here.

Realized: $1,800

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Lot 3067    

(Bevans & Humphreys Line of Philadelphia) 1819 (Oct. 14) Philadelphia Pa. to Liverpool, England, datelined folded letter endorsed "Telegraph." at lower left, sent unpaid, red "Ship Telegraph, H. Coffin." purser handstamp, carried by Ship Telegraph from Philadelphia Oct. 18th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 14th, "Liverpool/Ship Letter" framed handstamp and manuscript "8" pence due ship rating, docketed as received Nov. 15th; file folds and tone spot, Fine and rare marking.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE FANCY "SHIP TELEGRAPH, H. COFFIN" HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $160

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Lot 3068    

(Carrington Line of Providence, R.I.) 1820 (Apr. 14) Baltimore Md. to Liverpool, England, folded letter datelined "Sea View April 14th 1820", sent privately to Philadelphia, endorsed for "Bainbridge" but sent on Ship Superior from Philadelphia Apr. 29th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 10th, "Liverpool, Ship Letter" two-line framed handstamp and manuscript "8" pence due ship rating, returned via Philadelphia by Ship Stranger from Liverpool Jun. 24th to Philadelphia arriving Aug. 23rd, entered mails with red "Phil, 23, Aug" cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp with manuscript "14½" due rating to Baltimore; some edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $160

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Lot 3069    

1820 (Dec. 14) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter being an invoice for books shipped from Liverpool, endorsed via forwarder and sent unpaid, exceptional bold strike of olive green "Ship. Atlantic * W. Matlock * Sailed Decem. 17" purser name-of-boat handstamp, carried by Ship Atlantic from London Dec. 17th to New York arriving Feb. 19th, red "New-York, Feb 19" cds and "Ship" handstamp with red manuscript "14½" for 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee; expertly restored cover tear through front, otherwise F.-V.F.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED "SHIP ATLANTIC, W. MATLOCK" PURSER NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMPS STRUCK IN OLIVE GREEN, ALL USED ON THIS SAILING ONLY.

By the 1820s American lines sailing regular schedules sprung up in many eastern U.S. ports. Intense competition for cargo and passengers was evident in newspaper advertisements. Name-of-ship markings provided additional advertising.

Letter to the publisher and bookseller Matthew Carey, a revolutionary, close friend of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, and early advocate of strong naval power as a necessary role of federalism.

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Lot 3070    

(Cope Line) 1824 (Jun. 17) Philadelphia Pa. to Liverpool, England, datelined folded letter endorsed "Montezuma" at bottom left, clear strike of brownish "MONTEZUMA" name-of-ship straightline, carried by Cope Line Montezuma from Philadelphia Jun. 20th to Liverpool arriving Jul. 13th, cover tear with wrinkling and edge wear, Fine and rare, ex-Mayer, Hahn.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COPE LINE "MONTEZUMA" STRAIGHTLINE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMPS.

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Lot 3071    

(Cope Line) 1824 (c., Jun. 20) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, folded cover docketed from Philadelphia endorsed "p. Montezuma" at bottom left, brownish "MONTEZUMA" name-of-ship straightline, carried by Cope Line Montezuma from Philadelphia Jun. 20th to Liverpool arriving Jul. 13th, reverse with "Liverpool, Ship Letter" framed handstamp and manuscript "3/2" rating for double the 11d inland postage and 8d ship rate, red London (7.15.1824) arrival backstamp; light cover stain, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COPE LINE "MONTEZUMA" STRAIGHTLINE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMPS.

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Lot 3072    

(Walker Line) 1824 (c., Jun. 22) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, folded cover endorsed "per Ship Julius Caesar" at lower left, clear strike of brownish "JULIUS CAESAR" straightline name-of-ship straightline applied by ship pursor, sent unpaid by Ship Julius Caesar from Philadelphia Jun. 22nd to Liverpool arriving Jul. 18th, "Liverpool, Ship Letter" two-line framed backstamp and manuscript "1/7" due rating for 11d inland plus 8d ship, London red (7.19.1824) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and rare, ex-Hugh Feldman.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED WALKER LINE "JULIUS CAESAR" STRAIGHTLINE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMPS.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 3073    

(Hutchinson Line) 1824 (Jul. 10) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, folded letter Quaker-datelined "Philadelphia 7th mo: 10th 1824" endorsed "Wm Hodgson" at lower left, sent privately to Baltimore, "PARAGON" straightline name-of-boat handstamp applied by purser, carried by Brig Paragon from Baltimore Jul. 20th to Gravesend arriving Aug. 16th, clear strike of "Ship Letter, Gravesend" framed handstamp, London (8.16.1824) arrival backstamp with manuscript "1/2" due rating for 6d inland plus 8d ship, Extremely Fine and choice use, ex-Jarrett (realized $800 almost 30 years ago), Hugh Feldman.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED HUTCHINSON LINE "PARAGON" STRAIGHTLINE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $2,900

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Lot 3074    

(Cope Line) 1824 (Jul. 13) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, datelined folded letter sent unpaid by private ship, brownish "ALGONQUIN" name-of-ship straightline applied by purser, carried by Ship Algonquin from Philadelphia Jul. 20th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 16th, partial "Ship Letter, Liverpool" rectangular backstamp, London (8.15) arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/7" due rating for 11d inland plus 8d ship, forwarded to Sussex with London (8.16) backstamp and manuscript "8" pence due rating, docketed received Aug. 17th; some wear, Fine and scarce use carried on the Maiden Voyage of the Cope Line "Algonquin", ex-Hugh Feldman.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COPE LINE "ALGONQUIN" STRAIGHTLINE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMPS.

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Lot 3075    

(Cope Line) 1824 (Jul. 19) Philadelphia Pa. to Liverpool, England, dateline on Consignor's folded letter, endorsed "Algonquin" at bottom left, clear strike of brownish "ALGONQUIN" name-of-ship straightline applied by purser, carried by Ship Algonquin from Philadelphia Jul. 20th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 16th; edge wear, Very Fine and scarce use carried on the Maiden Voyage of the Cope Line "Algonquin", ex-Hahn.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COPE LINE "ALGONQUIN" STRAIGHTLINE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMPS.

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Lots 3066-3075 Lots 3076-3085 Lots 3086-3091

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