Lot
1 
(Freight Money) Auburn, New York to London, England. 1840 folded letter sheet with red "Auburn N.Y., Oct 7" cds & matching "Paid" handstamp, blue manuscript "43 ?" and black "Bristol Ship Letter" straight line handstamp, manuscript "8" pence due private ship letter fee, endorsed "Steamer Great Western", red "OC 25, 1840" receiving cds on the reverse, the 43 ?¢ rate represents 18 ?¢ inland for a single sheet of paper + 25¢ freight money fee; light staining, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
Carried per the steamer "Great Western" departing New York 10-Oct & arriving Bristol 24-Oct. An early census of freight money letters by Charles Hahn in a series of articles in the American Philatelist (Sep-79, Aug-80, May-85) lists the following from Auburn: Aug-39 single 25 and 18 3/4, Dec-40 single 25 and 18 ?, and Mar-40 combined 87 ½, per the "Great Western", departing New York 10-Oct & arriving Bristol 24-Oct. Very few are know from Auburn.
Realized: $725