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Sale 81: The Sescal Sale

Table of Contents

Transatlantic Mails - Pioneer Steamships Usages

Lot 264    

"Britannia" Maiden Voyage, 1840 (Jul. 4) Liverpool, England to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with red "Paid at / Liverpool" framed handstamp and matching "Liverpool JY 4 1840" double-arc backstamp with various red manuscript ratings of "1/" shilling transatlantic packet rating, endorsed "Per Britannia via Halifax" at bottom left, carried by Cunard Line Britannia from Liverpool departing Jul. 4th to Boston arriving Jul. 18th, two partial strikes of red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Jul 19" cds and red manuscript "1½" oz. notation and matching "114½" rating to New York, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THIS WAS THE MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE CUNARD LINE "BRITANNIA" FROM LIVERPOOL TO BOSTON, THE SECOND SAILING OF THE CUNARD LINE.

This letter was apparently only rated as a single rate letter in England, but upon arrival at Boston it was correctly ascertained to be 1½ oz. and rated accordingly.

The new mail contract between the British Post Office and the British & North American Royal Steam Packet Company, popularly called Cunard Line after its founder Samuel Cunard, was to start on the 4th July 1840 with sailings twice monthly from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston during the months up to and including October, then from November to February one sailing per month. Although this sailing schedule was not achieved in 1840, from 1841 onwards the schedule was completed including an additional sailing in November.

Realized: $500

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