Lot
924 
1834 (Nov. 15) New York N.Y. to Augusta Ga. via Charleston S.C., datelined folded letter carried by David Brown from New York Nov. 15th to Charleston arriving Nov. 20th, entered mails with red "Charleston S.C., Nov 20" cds and matching "Steamboat" straightline with red manuscript "25" cent due rating for over 400 miles from New York to Augusta. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED COVER CARRIED BY THE NEW YORK AND CHARLESTON STEAM PACKET CO. DAVID BROWN.
Reference: "The New York and Charleston Steam Packet Company" by James Baird, Chronicle 249, Feb. 2016, pp. 78-95, fig. 1.
Excerpts from the article: "The New York and Charleston Steam Packet Company operated from mid-1832 until early 1838, employing five ships, the "David Brown", the "William Gibbons", the "Columbia", the "New York" and (briefly and tragically) the "Home". The line managed to gain a contract with the United States Post Office, the first such contract granted to an offshore "coastal" steamship line. The "David Brown" was a small ship, 130 feet long and about 190 tons. James P. Allaire designed and built it to carry the output of his New Jersey casting works (the Howell Works) up to New York City. The Brown made a few trips in this role before Allaire began running her on a fortnightly schedule between New York and Charleston. The Brown's first voyage to Charleston was on November 17, 1832. She made four round voyages (New York-Charleston-New York) before she was taken off the line for the winter on January 20, 1833. While waiting for spring she had new boilers installed, which would permit burning anthracite coal. Operations resumed on April 20, 1833. She then operated more or less continuously, interrupted by a two-week layover in Charleston for maintenance and by delays in New York caused by a cholera outbreak. In early December, after Brown had completed 15 round trips over a period of 35 weeks, the partners again laid her up for the winter. The success enjoyed in 1833 convinced Allaire and his new partner, Charles Morgan, that the route had sufficient promise to run two ships, and they ordered another to be built.".
Realized: $750