The APS Sale

1808 (Feb. 6) Baltimore Md. to Sebastian, Spain, datelined folded letter with red "Baltimore Md., Feb 6" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with ms. "17" rating, endorsed "pr. Government Vapor via New York" at bottom left, manuscript due ratings, Fine and scarce early use to Spain.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1815 (Feb. 16) Liverpool, England to New Haven Ct., folded cover with red " Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter Liverpool, 16 Fe 16, 1815 " double-circle datestamp on reverse and red manuscript "1/6" 1s6d prepaid rating, endorsed "pr. Swedish Brig Sophia - via Amelia Island" at bottom left, entered mails with red "New.York May 27" cds and red manuscript "32" cent war ship rating (double the 10¢ inland rate plus 50% surcharge and the 2¢ ship fee); some paper loss from wax seal removal, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

A SCARCE LIVERPOOL WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER USE.

The Act of October 10th 1814, made it illegal to place an outbound letter on any ship privately, unless the letter had first been presented to the British Post Office and a fee paid equal to one-third of the combined inland and sea packet postage. Upon payment, the letter received the "Withdrawn Ship Letter" handstamp and the sender was allowed to send the letter by any ship of his choice. In that the Post Office was providing no service at all for this little used and unpopular act, it as terminated on July 11th 1815.

1826 (Dec. 29) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. via Annapolis Md., double-weight folded letter with red London "Paid" (12.26) cds and red manuscript "4/4" 4s4d rating for prepaid packet fee, carried by Falmouth Packet Redpole from Falmouth Jan. 11th to Bermuda arriving Mar. 3rd, then Cunard Sailing Packet Susan to Annapolis arriving Mar. 18th after running aground twice, red "Annaps. Md. Mar 19" cds with matching "Ship" handstamp and ms. "14½" due incorrect rating for single-rate to Philadelphia, Very Fine and choice, the first of only nine monthly voyages to Annapolis, a very rare British packet service cover.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF FOUR COVERS RECORDED FROM THIS FIRST MONTHLY VOYAGE. ONLY 10 COVERS ARE KNOWN FROM ALL VOYAGES.

Since the British Falmouth packet service to New York was suspended in late 1826, letters for America in 1827 were put off at Bermuda, where a Cunard sailing packet was contracted to carry them to Annapolis, Maryland, where they entered the U.S. mail system. This letter was carried on the first of only nine monthly voyages to Annapolis before the British Government ended the service. About 1,200 letters were landed on each voyage.

1831 (Feb. 10) New York N.Y. to Bordeaux, France, folded price list datelined "New York, February 10, 1831" with sharp " Par CHAS. CARROLL, 12 Feb 1831 " two-line handstamp, entered French mails with boxed "Pays D'outremer Par Le Havre" and manuscript "14" decimes, Very Fine and rare ship marking.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

1833 (Oct. 15) St. Helena to Boston Mass. via New York, folded letter datelined "Ship Clifford Wayne, St. Helena, October 15th 1833", "Portsmouth, Ship Letter" framed handstamp with manuscript "2/8" due rating, red London (2.9) backstamp and light strike of "Held for Postage" framed handstamp at top left, entered U.S. mails with "New-York, Ship, Feb 22" cds and red manuscript "58½" due rating, Very Fine and scarce early use from St. Helena.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1835 (Mar. 12) Bordeaux, France to New Orleans La. and forwarded New York City, folded letter datelined "Bordeaux 12 March 1835" and endorsed endorsed " Pr Pomona " at top left, addressed originally to New Orleans and rewritten as New York, clear red "Phila., May 5" octagon datestamp and matching Full Rigged Ship octagon handstamp with red manuscript "14½" rating rerated to double "27" rate most likely in New York, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $2,000 - 3,000.

A CHOICE STRIKE OF THE POPULAR PHILADELPHIA RIGGED SHIP HANDSTAMP.

"Royal William" Maiden Voyage, Liverpool July 5th - New York July 24th 1838, folded July 4th letter from London to Washington, D.C., endorsed "Royal William Steam Boat 5 July", green "Forwarded by Coates & Co. London" oval backstamp, red "New York 'Ship' July 25" cds and manuscript "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Fine and rare maiden voyage.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Letter given to forwarding agent, Coates & Co. of London (green oval handstamp on reverse), who placed it directly in ship letter bags, avoiding post office ship letter charge. Letter carried on maiden voyage of Royal William, which made only three round voyages.

"Unicorn" Maiden Voyage, Liverpool May 16th - Boston June 3rd 1840, folded letter from the Abraham Bell correpsonde to New York datelined "Liverpool 4 Mo 30th 1840", endorsed " 'Unicorn' via Halifax & Boston ", carried by Cunard Line Unicorn from Liverpool May 16th to Boston arriving Jun. 3rd, entered U.S. mails with red "Boston Ms., Ship, Jun 4" cds with "39" cent rating for two-times the 18½¢ inland postage (150-400 miles) plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $2,000 - 3,000.

THIS VOYAGE MARKED THE INAUGURATION OF CUNARD LINE SERVICE.

The "Unicorn" made the First Transatlantic Voyage of the Cunard Line in anticipation of a feeder service she would perform between Pictou, Nova Scotia and Quebec and to insure facilities were ready at Boston for the inaugural mail voyage of the line in July 1840. This was the maiden voyage of the "Unicorn".

1841 (Dec. 4) Richmond Va. to London, England, blue folded letter with blue "Richmond Va. Dec 4" cds and matching "Paid" h.s. with blue manuscript "18¾" cent rating for postage to New York, flap with matching blue "Steam" and "Paid" h.s. with manuscript "25" rating for freight money fee, "Liverpool/Ship Letter" h.s. on flap with manuscript "8" pence due rating for ship fee; some light fold soiling, Very Fine and scarce freight money "Too Late" use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1847 (Mar. 11) Canton, China to Boston Mass. via New York City, fresh folded letter from Augustine Heard & Co. with "Canton 11 March 1847" dateline, endorsed per ship "Horatio" at bottom left, entered U.S. mails with red "New-York 'Ship 12 cts' Jul 13" integral-rate cds, Very Fine and choice.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1847 (Jul. 2) Bremen to Cambridge, Mass., folded letter endorsed " U.S. Consulate, Leipsig " at top right and "pr. Steamship Washington via Bremen", sent by diplomatic courier to Bremen, flap with manuscript " Received & forwarded, U.S. Consulate at Bremen " and "from Southampton" endorsement added, entered mails with Bremen (7.2) origin cds and dark magenta framed "Paid." handstamp with magenta "3" schilling credit to G.B. rating for double the 1s6d rate, red London "Paid 5 JY 1847" transit cds, carried by Ocean Line Washington from Southampton Jul. 15th to New York arriving Jul. 30th, New York blue ms. "34" due rating for 24¢ American packet fee plus 10¢ inland postage; some edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Friedrich Meyer.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED LETTERS CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF OCEAN LINE'S "WASHINGTON", THIS BEING THE ONLY INVOLVING FORWARDING VIA THE U.S. CONSULATE AT BREMEN.

While letters on the eastbound route during the Discriminatory Rate period are relatively rare, those on westbound voyages are exceptional. On arrival at New York, they were charged the full US sea postage rate of 24 cents plus the appropriate inland rate for delivery. The "Washington" was delayed 2½ days due to repairs.

References: Friedrich A. Meyer, "An Early Westbound Bremen-Mail Letter and the First Three Round Trips of the Pioneer Steamer Washington", Chronicle 255, Aug. 2017, pp. 295-307.

(Retaliatory Rate) 1848 (Aug. 3) London, England to New York N.Y., folded ALS letter free franked " Joseph Hume " as Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons, also marked "Paid" and "1s" in Hume's hand, entered mails with red "UpperBerkeley-Sq" straightline and red manuscript "1/0" prepaid packet rating, red London Paid (8.3) cds and Liverpool (8.4) transit lozenge, carried by Cunard Line Cambria from Liverpool Aug. 5th to New York arriving Aug. 19th, red New York "24" cents due rating handstamp for retaliatory packet fee; two vertical file folds, F.-V.F. and rare free franked transatlantic letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1851 (Jan. 31) Liverpool, England to Philadelpia Pa., blue folded letter with Liverpool (1.31) cds and additional oval backstamp, matching bold "19 / Cents" debit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Africa from Liverpool Feb. 1st to New York arriving Feb. 15th, Philadelphia crude blue " 24 " due rating handstamp, Very Fine and choice strike, ex-Winter .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Although in use for a year and a half, the Philadelphia crude "24" due rating is scarce. The "Africa" carried the mails from disabled "Atlantic" on this voyage.

1852 (Mar. 15) San Francisco, Cal. to Herford, Germany, blue folded letter with red "San Francisco, Cal. 15 Mar" cds and matching bold "Paid" and error "26" rating handstamps (26¢ British rate instead of 27¢ for Bremen Mail), red "New York, Apr 21" exchange backstamp and matching "PAID ALL" straightline with "26" rating crossed out and magenta "7" cent credit, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Apr. 24th to Bremen arriving Sep. 8th, Hannover P.O. in Bremen red script " Fr. 2 5/12 " straightline applied, Minden (5.10) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and unique error use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

A BEAUTIFUL SAN FRANCISCO BREMEN MAILS TRANSATLANTIC ERROR USE WITH ALL MARKINGS STRUCK IN RED.

San Francisco erroneously struck "26" (British Rate of 10¢ plus 16¢, instead of 27¢ for Bremen Mail). New York noticed the error and crossed out the "26" and still credited "7" cents. The "Paid All" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid to destination. The Hanover P.O. in Bremen red "Fr. 2 5/12" gutegroschen credit handstamp is know used only from April to June 1852.

1852 (Jul. 31) Syracuse, N.Y. to Halle, Prussia, cover with blue rimless "Syracuse N.Y. Jul 29" cds and matching fancy framed "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "21" rating, endorsed "Paid to Bremen", red "New-York, Jul 31" exchange backstamp and bold " New-York 'Paid Part' 31 Jul " cds, carried in Bremen Closed Mails by N.Y. & Havre Humboldt from New York Jul. 31st to Bremen arriving Aug. 16th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, pencil "3" and blue ms. "3" rating, Aug. 17th arrival backstamp; cover tear at left, otherwise Very Fine and attractive Bremen Closed Mails use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

AN ATTRACTIVE BREMEN CLOSED MAILS USE WITH THE RARE NEW-YORK PART PAID INTEGRAL EXCHANGE CDS.

New York marked PAID PART as only the 20¢ Treaty rate to Bremen was prepaid.

1852 (Sep. 7) Boston, Mass. to London, England, blue folded cover with "Express Mail 'Boston, Mass' 7 Sep" route agent cds and red crayon "24" cent rating, New York "5" in circle debit handstamp, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Asia from New York Sep. 8th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 20th, red London (9.21.52) arrival backstamp and ms. "1/" due rating; some edge tears at top and wear, F.-V.F. and scarce transatlantic use via the Long Island Sound steamboat route.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

1853 (Jan.) Bombay, India to Haverhill Mass. via London and New York, cover with red "G.P.O." framed backstamp and matching framed "India" with ms. "44" rating, endorsed "per 'Oriental' " at top left, red London (2.14) transit backstamp and ms. "1/10" 1s10d debit rating, "New-York, Am. Pkt. Mar 1" exchange cds and matching "65" due rating handstamp, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1853 (Aug.) Pisa, Italy via Paris forwarder to Groton Mass., cover written in Pisa and endorsed "p Humboldt", sent under separate cover to forwarder Green & Co., Paris with company cachet struck on reverse, red Havre (8.2) exchange cds and matching "PD" framed handstamp, carried as endorsed by Havre Line Humboldt from Havre Sep. 3rd to New York arriving Aug. 15th, bold "N. York, Am. Pkt. '40' Aug 16" integral exchange debit cds; some edge wear and small tear, a Very Fine and scarce New York "40" debit exchange cds.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1854 (Oct.) Havana, Cuba to Madrid, Spain via New York, folded letter carried per "Black Warrior" to New York, forwarder Gudewill & Mohr prepaid 73¢ for the expensive rate via Southampton to Spain, red "New.York Am. Packet, Nov 4" exhange cds with pencil " 73 " prepaid rating and magenta " 53 " cent credit to G.B., carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Nov. 4th to Southampton arriving Nov. 19th, red-orange London Paid (11.20) transit and matching "PF" oval, arrived after the Peninsula packet had sailed, so sent to Madrid by French railways, Spain "20 Rs." reales due handstamp for Spanish inland, Very Fine and rare 73¢ rate to Spain via British Open Mail and French Transit.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

1855 (Dec 12) New York N.Y. to Canton, China, blue Augustine Heard correspondence letter with bold "New-York, Dec 12" cds with pencil " 33 " cent prepaid rating, magenta "12" credit rating, red London Paid (12.24) transit cds, partial Hong Kong double-arc transit backstamp, letter concerns tea purchases; small top edge tear, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1856 (Jan. 11) New York N.Y. to Birmingham, England, forwarded back to Bristol R.I., yellow cover with embossed " Texas Western Rail Road Company " illustrated corner card showing steam locomotive , bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) tied by "New York, Jan 11" cds and "N.York, Am. Pkt. '21' Jan 12" debit exchange cds, red London (1.26) arrival backstamp and ms. "1/" 1s due rating, green Birmingham (1.27) arrival backstamp, forwarded back to Bristol R.I. with green Birmingham (1.29) cds and green Liverpool (1.30) dispatch backstamp, bold "Boston, 24" exchange debit cds, Very Fine and scarce forwarded transatlantic use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1857 (Nov. 17) Bombay, India to Haverhill Mass. via London and New York, yellow cover with "Bombay, NO 17, 1857" double-arc backstamp and framed " India Unpaid " handstamp, endorsed "Overland via Marseilles" and "Str Bombay", various ms. ratings, reverse with Bombay forwarder's oval and red London (12.14) transit backstamps, bold "New.York Am. Packet, Dec 31" excahnge cds and matching "45" due handstamp, Very Fine use at the 45¢ British Mail rate via Marseilles.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

A folded letter from this correspondence to Haverhill (see Rumsey sale 73 lot 1456) indicates that the origin of this letter was probably Ceylon. Hence the forwarder's oval backstamp.

1858 (Jun. 23) San Diego Cal. to Midi-Pyrénées, France via Panama & New York, orange buff cover with "San Diego Cal. Jun 23" cds initially rated with manuscript "Paid 16 cts" in box notation, crossed out and "Paid 26" circular rating handstamp struck, neither of these rates was in accordance with current 15¢ up to ¾ ounce rate, black "New York Jul 24" cds and matching "Short Paid" framed handstamp struck as letter apparently over ¾ ounces, black "30" circular debit rating struck, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston July 28th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 7th, Calais (10.10.1858) entry cds with matching "16" décimes due rating handstamp; minor edgewear, Very Fine and interesting error rate cover.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Although the early sailings by the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company under their contract for the San Francisco to Panama route made landings at San Diego, these were dropped in the interest of speed in early 1851. It was not until October 1858 that a San Francisco to San Diego coastal route was contracted. It is probable that mails to and from San Diego were entrusted to coastal ships Masters who were known to be calling at San Francisco, Acapulco or Panama. They were either paid at the 2¢ ship letter rate, or a local contract for the trip negotiated.

1859 (Jun. 3) Philadelphia Pa. to Cape Palmas, Liberia, orange buff cover to Rev. Jacob Rambo with red "Philadelphia Pa. 'Paid' Jun 3" cds and matching circled "Paid" handstamp with magenta "33" cent prepaid rating, carried by Inman Line City of Baltimore from New York Jun. 4th to Queenstown arriving Jun. 14th, red London Paid (6.15) and Liverpool (6.16) transits, then by African Steam Ship Co. from Liverpool to Cape Palmas, Very Fine and rare transatlantic use to Liberia.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF MAIL TO LIBERIA DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.

Cover was prepaid 33¢ for 5¢ inland, 16¢ transatlantic and 12¢ Br. packet to Liberia.

1860 (Mar. 20) Valença, Portugal to Boston Mass. via New York, gray folded letter sent unpaid endorsed "Via England", red London (3.5) transit backstamp and manuscript "24" cent debit to U.S., carried by Havre Line Fulton from Southampton Mar. 7th to New York arriving Mar. 20th, "New.York, Am. Packet, Mar 20" exchange cds with matching bold "45" cent due rating, Very Fine and scarce use from Portugal.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1860 (Apr. 18) London, England to Elmira N.Y. via Portland Me. Exchange, cover front with William Bemrose of Derby cartoon bearing London (4.18) origin cds and "3/Cents" debit handstamp, carried by Allan Line North Briton from Liverpool Apr. 18th to Quebec arriving May 1st, exchanged with "Portland Am. Pkt. '24' May 2, 1860" debit exchange, a Very Fine front.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1863 (c.) New York, N.Y. to Bremen, Germany, folded cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by NY fancy leaf cancel used on circular mail, matching sharp "PAID ALL", endorsed "p. Teutonia via Hamburg" at top left and "1 printed Price Current, Paid" at bottom left, carried as endorsed by HAPAG Line Teutonia from New York to Hamburg; upper right corner flaw, a Very Fine and scarce use at the 3¢ Hamburg newspaper rate.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

Another newspaper use from the same correspondence is dated January 23rd 1863 and endorsed "p Teutonia via Hamburg". Under Article V of the 1857 U.S.-Hamburg Convention, the rate to other parts of the G.A.P.U. was 3&cent (2¢ to Hamburg, 1¢ to G.A.P.U.).

(Depreciated Currency) 1864 (Dec. 8) Smyrna, Turkey to New York N.Y., blue unpaid triple-weight folded letter from the Lanman & Kemp correspondence datelined "Smyrna, December 8th 1864" with "Smyrne 8 Dec 64" origin cds, Marseilles (12.15, 12.16) transit backstamps, carried by Havre Line Etna from Queenstown Dec. 22nd to New York arriving Jan. 2nd, "New-York, Am. Pkt. Jan 2" exchange cds with manuscript " 198/90 " depreciated currency rating adjacent for 90¢ in gold or 198¢ in notes, Very Fine and scarce high-rate use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

1865 (Oct. 2) Portland Me. to St. Petersburg, Russia, cover bearing 30¢ orange (71) cancelled by target duplexed with "Portland Me. Oct 2, 1865" cds, a 5¢ stamp removed by postal clerk after being entered as a fully prepaid cover for the 35¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate but actually sent at the 30¢ French mail rate, red "Portland Me. 'Paid' Oct 6" exchange office datestamp and red crayon "27" cent credit rating to France, carried by Allan Line Moravian from Quebec Oct. 7th to Londonderry arriving Oct. 17th, French (10.18) transit and matching "P.D." framed handstamp, blue "Aachen Franco" (10.18) cds struck partly where stamp was originally affixed; pencil "Rec'd Oct. 9/21. 1865" docketing at left, Very Fine and unusual Portland Exchange office use, ex-Blake, Lebow .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE AND IMPORTANT PORTLAND EXCHANGE OFFICE COVER TO RUSSIA PREPAID AT THE 30¢ FRENCH MAIL RATE.

This is an unusual cover that was originally franked with an additional 5¢ stamp to pay the 35¢ rate via Prussian Closed mail, but after postmarking and prior to processing in the Portland exchange office, the postal clerk removed the 5¢ stamp and the letter was prepared for the 30¢ French mail rate. The red crayon "27" credit to France for 12¢ transatlantic packet to France (considered British even though Allan Line contracted to carry American mails) plus 15¢ foreign transit fee to Russia. There is at least one other recorded Pierce correspondence use, dated Oct 9, 1865, from Portland to Russia with a stamp removed originally intended for P.C.M. but sent by French mail. This cover is discussed in "United States-Russia Mail:1840-1875" by Winter, Chronicle 242, May 2014, pp. 168-187 as fig. 23.

1866 (Nov. 8) Paris, France to Conshohocken Pa., cover bearing France 1862, 80c Rose (28; Yvert 24) tied by Paris five-point star of dots cancels, matching "Paris, PL. de la Madeleine" (11.8.66) cds, "Par Steamer, Pr. Les Etats-Unis" two-line handstamp, carried on CGT Ligne H steamer Ville de Paris from Havre Nov. 9th to New York arriving Nov. 21st, red " New York 'Paid, Fr. Pkt.' Nov 21 " excahnge cds; stamp with small corner flaw from placement near edge, Very Fine, ex-Walske .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

THIS NEW YORK FRENCH PACKET EXCHANGE MARKING WAS RARELY USED AND KNOWN ONLY FROM APR. 1865 TO JUL. 1867.

** References: Illustrated in Walske article "French CGT Packets Between Le Havre and New York Part 1" in Chronicle 246 as figure 26 on p. 191.

1868 (Aug. 1) Belize, British Honduras to Pocasset, Mass. via New Orleans, clear strike of red British Post Office " Belize, Paid, AU 1, 68 " cds and red crayon " 4 " pence rating on all-over gray shaded ad cover of E.R. Poole, Commissioner Merchant, New Orleans, "Agent for the Charleston & Savannah Line of Packets", carried by Steamship Trade Wind direct from Belize to New Orleans arriving Aug. 7th, entered U.S. mails with "New Orleans La., Aug 8" duplex and matching sharp "Steamship 10" circular due handstamp as loose incoming steamship letter; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and attractive.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE INCOMING STEAMSHIP COVER CARRIED BY DIRECT STEAMSHIP PACKET "TRADE WIND" FROM BELIZE TO NEW ORLEANS.

The Steamship "Trade Wind" operated packet service between New Orleans and British Honduras for about two years, from May 1867 to Sept. 24th 1869 when she sank off the coast of Mississippi. She was owned by Spofford & Tiletson of Charleston S.C., a partnership formed by Paul N. Spofford and Thomas Tileston in 1819 as commission agents, later becoming agents for a line of sloops operating New York-Boston and then charterers and finally owners, being involved in the first two coastwise steamships "Southerner" and "Northerner" as part of the New York and Charleston Steam Ship Line that operated from 1848 to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. This route was initially listed as Contract 3197 with weekly service carrying the great Southern mail. They started a Liverpool Line in 1852 and up until 1860 they had a mail contract to Charleston, Savannah, Key West and Havana.

1868 (Sep. 16) Germany to Racine, Wisc., cover with Bremen (9.19) framed transit backstamp and "5/10" debit handstamp, red crayon "6" rating, carried by NGL Line Bremen from Bremerhaven Sep. 23rd to New York arriving Oct. 9th, complete sharp "N.York, Brem. Pkt. '15 or 22 U.S. Notes' Oct 9" depreciated currency exchange cds with 15¢ due in currency or 22¢ in notes; some glue residue bottom right, Very Fine and scarce Bremen use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1876 c. (Jan. 27) Havana, Cuba to Saxony, Germany via New York, cover bearing Cuba 50c black tied by grid cancel, blue merchant "Valentin Gardia Banbon, Habana" double-oval flap seal, sharp black "New York, Jan 27" exchange cds also ties stamp and matching "T" in circle due handstamp, blue "10" due handstamp, Bremen black " Aus Westindien/über Newyork. " framed handstamp and updated with blue crayon "50" pfennings due; flap torn, Very Fine and rare use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY 7 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE BREMEN "AUS WESTINDIEN/ÜBER NEWYORK." HANDSTAMP.

Cuba stamps were not recognized since it did not become a member of the U.P.U. until May 1, 1877. This cover is important because it shows postage due in the 1875 single German currency (1 Mark = 100 pfennings).

1876 (Mar. 18) Tampico, Mexico to Bordeaux, France via New York, folded letter with blue D. Camacho & Co. (3.18.76) company h.s. and endorsed "pr. 'City of Mexico' via N. Orleans", bearing 3¢ green (158) and 12¢ dull violet (151) tied by two strikes of unlisted NYFM grid cancels, red "New York, Apr 12" exchange cds updated to black cds and matching circled "T" due handstamp with blue crayon "2" for double-weight and "70" centimes (14¢) due rating, Calais (4.24) entry cds and "21" decimes due rating, Bordeaux (4.25) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and unusual use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.