Lot
995 
(Post War - Baltimore) 1866 (Sep. 10) Alford, England to Claridon Ohio, mourning cover bearing GB 1s green tied by Alford (9.10) duplex, red London (9.11) backstamp and matching "21" credit handstamp to U.S., carried by Baltimore & Liverpool S.S. Co. Worcester from Liverpool Sep. 12th to Baltimore arriving Oct. 2nd, red "Baltimore Am. Pkt. Paid Oct 2 1866" exchange cds; some edgewear, Very Fine, ex-Winter. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL MOURNING COVER FROM GREAT BRITAIN CARRIED BY THE SHORT-LIVED BALTIMORE & LIVERPOOL STEAMSHIP CO. TO BALTIMORE.
In November 1865 an exchange office for British mails was established at Baltimore, Maryland. Mails carried directly to Liverpool by American contract steamships was processed here instead of being sent to New York. The Baltimore & Liverpool Steamship Company, which had this contract, was in operation for only three years. Covers carried by this steamship company are quite scarce.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
996
(Post War - Baltimore) 1867 (Jul. 2) London, England to Charleston S.C., cover bearing G.B. 1s green tied by "S 16" barred oval duplexed with "London S, JY 2 '67" cds, red "21/Cents" credit to U.S. handstamp, carried by Baltimore & Liverpool SS Co. Worcester from Liverpool Jul. 3rd to Baltimore arriving Jul. 18th, red "Baltimore Am. Pkt., Paid, Jul 19, 1867" exchange cds; some edge wear, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,150
Lot
997
(Post War - Baltimore) 1867 (Nov. 19) Havana, Cuba to New York N.Y. via Baltimore, datelined folded letter from Lanman & Kemp correspondence carried as endorsed by Baltimore & Havana SS Co. Liberty from Havana to Baltimore, "Baltimore Am. Pkt. Nov 25 1867" exchange cds and matching "10" cent due handstamp for 10¢ steamship rate, Very Fine and scarce. Estimate $350 - 500.
Realized: $250
Lot
998
(Post War - North American) 1870 (Aug. 19) New Orleans La. to Montargis, France, orange cover bearing 10¢ brown (150), tied by cork cancel, matching strike of "New Orleans La. Aug 19" duplex adjacent, sharp red "New York, Aug 24" exchange cds, carried on North American Steamship Co. Guiding Star departing New York Aug. 25th to Le Havre arriving Sep. 9th with extremely rare strike of red "Etats-Unis Le Havre 9 Sept. '70" arrival datestamp, Montargis (9.11) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, ex-Noel, Walske; signed Frajola. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED USAGES CARRIED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN STEAMSHIP CO., ONE OF ONLY TWO AMERICAN PACKET VOYAGES BY THIS LINE.
When this letter reached New York, the French packet Ligne H steamer had already departed and it would be two more weeks for the next sailing. Instead of waiting, the New York postmaster sent the cover on a special sailing (one of only two that were contracted) by American Packet on the North American Steamship Co. "Guiding Star". The company was the last of the American steamship lines until the advent of the American line in 1873. Of the company's three voyages across the Atlantic, two by the "Santiago de Cuba" and one by "Guiding Star". When this cover reached Le Havre, it was accepted as though it had been carried on a French Packet and struck with the rare "Etats-Unis Le Havre" arrival datestamp.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
999
(Post War - NY & Bremen) 1867 (Apr. 18) Exeter, Conn. to Malaga, Spain, cover with partial "Exeter Conn. Apr 18" cds and bearing 1¢ blue (63) and 10¢ yellow green (68) vertical pair, rough perfs at right, all tied by quartered open corks, red "New-York Am Pkt. Apr 20" exchange cds, "Paid-Only / To England" handstamp, red London (5.4.67) arrival backstamp, red "8.R" (reales) handstamp applied at the Spanish exchange office, Malaga (5.8) arrival backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, ex-Feldman, Pacetti. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Carried on New York & Bremen Steamship Company "Baltic" that departed New York April 20th and arrived at Southampton on May 4th 1867. The rate to Spain via Britain by American Packet was 21¢ between October 1858 and February 1867. This steamship line was short lived operating only from February to December 1867 with four steamships undertaking 17 round trips with an Atlantic Transit of 14 days.
Reference: Illustrated in U. S. Steamship Lines That Failed, p. 195.
Realized: $1,100
Lot
1000
(Post War - Ruger) 1870 (Mar. 15) San Francisco Cal. to Jarnac, France, blue cover bearing 15¢ brown & blue (119), tied by bold strike of small eight-point star fancy cancel, matching "San Francisco Cal. Mar 15" cds, red "New York Mar 24" exchange office cds, carried by Ruger's American Line Rising Star from New York Mar. 24th to Havre arriving Apr. 9th, rare red "Et. Unis Serv. Am. V.A. Havre 3 Avril. '70" arrival datestamp (re-use of obsolete 1863 marking), "8" décimes due handstamp, reverse with Paris (4.10) transit and Jarnac (1.11) arrival cds, Very Fine. Estimate $6,000 - 8,000.
The 1857 U.S.-French postal treaty expired on Dec. 31, 1869, making it difficult to fully prepay postage between the two countries, and impossible to fully prepay postage to France with U.S. stamps alone (with the exception of the unannounced phantom rate from New York via British mails). This cover was prepaid for the expired 15¢ treaty rate and was sent via the 10¢ American Packet Direct rate, with French postage due on arrival.
Lot
1001
(Post War - Ruger) 1870 (Mar. 22) Pittsburgh Pa. to Paris, France, orange buff cover bearing 10¢ orange (116) vertical pair, tied by "Pittsburgh Pa. Mar 22" duplex, red "New York, Mar 24" exchange cds, carried by Ruger's American Line Rising Star from New York Mar. 24th to Havre arriving Apr. 9th, Havre red octagon entry datestamp and "24" décimes due handstamp; small faults, Fine and rare 1869 carried by this line, ex-Lopex. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY 10 RECORDED COVERS CARRIED BY RUGER'S AMERICAN LINE.
References: Illustrated in Laurence 10¢ 1869 book on page 177. U.S. Transatlantic Steamship Lines That Failed, James Baird, Chronicle 254, May 2017, pp. 184-203.
Realized: $800