Lot
2520 
Falmouth Packet Duke of Cumberland 1801. Commercial folded letter mailed at Manchester and addressed to Boston. Prepaid one shilling eightpence, being 8d British internal postage to Falmouth plus one shilling packet postage. Mailed 2 January and carried on the Duke of Cumberland, departing Falmouth on January 23. Rated 17 cents at New York for the 1799 single sheet rate between 150 and 300 miles, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
This was the second packet to bear the name Duke of Cumberland.
Realized: $220
Lot
2521
Per Dublin Packet 1797, but actually a Ship Letter. Folded letter originating in Birmingham and carried to New York for onward transmission to Philadelphia; rated "Sh 14" at New York, being 4 cents ship fee plus 10 cents inland single postage to Philadelphia; hint of wax seal stain, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
The endorsement "Per Dublin Packet" is misleading. Over time, it became customary to use the term "packet" to mean any ship which might carry letters. Private ships had no mail contracts, but they did carry mail.
Realized: $425
Lot
2522
Halifax, Nova Scotia to Rhode Island via Packet to New York 1799. The British post office in the late 1700s added Halifax as a packet port of call, usually en route from Falmouth to New York. This folded letter is addressed to Newport with the endorsement "Pr Pkt via New York", Rated by Halifax at the port to port rate of 4d sterling, converted to local currency as "Paid 4-1/2". At New York rated 17 cents unpaid for the 180 miles to Newport. Legible Halifax maritime cds and "Post/Paid" in black circle (both scarce markings); file folds, Very Fine, An uncommon routing. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
2523
Rotterdam - New York - Philadelphia of 1802. Entire and wrapper dated "Rotterdam 26 Juillet 1802 endorsed "Pr the Independent Capt. E. Tiffany, New York" arrived New York 1st November to receive the |"Scallop Shell" datestamp. Charged "27" Cents being 2 x 12½ Cents double sheet rate for under 150 miles of 1799 plus 2 Cents ship letter fee. Atlantic transit of 52 days, Extremely Fine& one of the finest known examples of this New York marking. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $450
Lot
2524
Pittsburgh - New York - Falmouth - Derby of 1808, Second "Chesterfield" Captain H. Gibbon. Entire dated "Pittsburgh Nov. 13. 1808", back flap endorsed "forwarded from New York 14 Dec. 1808 Pr Chesterfield Packet by yr. Mo obt. Sert. Robert Henderty". Stamped on arrival at Falmouth with the circular "FALMOUTH PACKET" and sent to Derby via the Exeter Road and then cross post to Derby. Charge double letter rate of 2s. packet rate plus 2/2d. inland., Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $290
Lot
2525
Falmouth Packet Manchester 1809. Folded letter from New York to Derby; the Manchester arrived at Falmouth 31 January where the circular "Falmouth : Packet : Lre" stamp (Tabeart P1) was applied, a year later than previously recorded. Rated 2/2d. collect, which may be an overcharge of 3d for the correct inland postage of 1/11d, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $240
Lot
2526
Packet Letter New York-Falmouth-St. Mawes 1809. Folded letter addressed to Admiral Thomas Spry (Admiral of the Red 1799), step type FALMOUTH/PACKET LETTER (used in 1809 only) applied on arrival at Falmouth where the letter was rated 3/2d. to collect, being the double packet letter rate of 2/2d. plus one shilling inland postage to St. Mawes. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $300
Lot
2527
Falmouth Packet Express, Niagara - New York - Falmouth - Thornbury 1810. Folded letter with manuscript postmark Niag'a 11 Jan: (not listed as a New York post office but origin confirmed by contents) prepaid 25 cents to New York, sailed on Express January 21, arriving Falmouth March 9th where the blue unframed postmark (Robinson FP1) was applied a year earlier than was previously recorded. Charged on arrival 1/1d packet postage plus 10d. inland, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $350
Lot
2528
Falmouth Packet Letter 1828 from Massachusetts to London Carried by Naval Packet Skylark. Folded letter carried by Cunard feeder ship from Boston to Halifax, then by Skylark to London where it received oval datestamp and red boxed "PACKET LETTER", nearly two months in transit, Very Fine. Estimate $600 - 800.
From 1823 onward the Falmouth packets of the British Post Office were gradually replaced by naval brigs of the British Admiralty. The Skylark was one such naval vessel.
Realized: $525
Lot
2529
Falmouth Packet Manchester Final Voyage. Folded letter posted at Falmouth with that city's red cds of February 14, 1822, somewhat faint "P1/3" shows prepayment of 1/3d. packet fee, addressed to Salem, Massachusetts and rated 18½ cents postage from New York. The Manchester arrived at New York April 7th after a four day layover at Bermuda, then ceases to appear on the packet lists after June 25, 1882, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $290