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