Lot
554 
1773 (July 7) Dublin, Ireland to Albany, N.Y., folded letter with brown "7/Jy" Bishop mark on reverse and additional New York straight line with matching "4 Se" Franklin mark, front with "1¼oz" weight notation, "2/6" rating crossed out and re-rated "7N6" with "10/3" totalled due rating at left, letter regarding obtaining a captain's commission; small repaired cover tear at top, otherwise Very Fine, a very scarce early transatlantic usage. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
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Lot
555
1785 (c.) New York N.Y. to Paris, France via Le Havre, undated folded cover with mostly readable black "PAQ. NEW YORK" straightline handstamp, red "20" sols due marking on back, red "NEW-YORCK/PAR LE HAVRE" two-line handstamp and manuscript "27" sols due, F.-V.F. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A VERY RARE FRENCH ROYAL PACKET COVER DURING THE SECOND AGENCY THROUGH LE HAVRE.
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Realized: $1,050
Lot
556
1793 (Feb. 16) New York N.Y. to Havre de Grace, France, datelined folded letter with black "P.F. DE NEW YORK." straightline handstamp on reverse, red "Amerique Septentrionale P. L'Orient" double-circle handstamp, manuscript "1" crossed out and re-rated "30" sols, Very Fine and rare. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE FRENCH PACKET USE CARRIED FROM NEW YORK TO L'ORIENT, FRANCE.
This was probably carried on the DuBois packets under contract with the French government, the Le Suffren departed New York on March 15, 1793 to L'Orient arriving on May 15th.
Lot
557
1797, 1803 L'Orient, France to Newport R.I. via Salem and New York, two folded letters from Benjamin Peirce, 1797 entered mails with red "Salem, Feb 11" two-line postmark and manuscript. "Sh 14" rating, 1803 with black "New York" clamshell postmark with red manuscript "Sh 19" rating and additional "Fordd. from Pro", some interesting 1797 content in the aftermath of the XYZ affairs souring US-French relations "…I wrote you 21st September advising you of the William & cargo at the commercial tribunal (commercial court) in France & of the appeal of the captors to the civil tribunal at Vannes, but have found means to keep it off, tho expensive, until the commissioners were received, which gives me some distant hop of an acquittal", He writes that he has enclosed a certificate of the landing of the cargo, which could not be done before. He writes about the cargo loaded onto the William, including sugar. He writes about sending copies of the commercial tribunal to Congress, and also to the Vice Consul for the French Republic "I do not believe all ships under the American flag are American property", excellent references to the ongoing problems regarding seizure of American ships leading up to the War of 1812, Very Fine pair of covers. Estimate $200 - 300.
Benjamin Peirce (1778-1831) was a Harvard historian and librarian born in Salem Mass. He received an AB from Harvard in 1801 and following graduation joined his farther's shipping business and served in the Mass. State Senate. In 1826, he was appointed Librarian of Harvard, and compiled a catalog of the library published in 1830.
Realized: $140
Lot
558
(Freight Money) 1838 (Sep. 22) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England via New York, light gray folded letter with red "Forwarded From Hale's For. Letr. Office, New York" four-line handstamp on reverse and pencil "25" cent freight money fee prepaid, placed in letter bag unpaid, carried by Great Western from New York to Bristol, "Bristol/Ship-Letter" handstamp and "1/5" rating crossed out and rerated "2/10" for double the 1s5d, red London "10.18" arrival backstamp, Very Fine and early freight money letter showing prepayment by Hale & Co., ex-Winter. Estimate $500 - 750.
Letters showing freight money prepayment at New York are quite scarce as the fee was seldom marked. The G.B. single letter rate consisted of 8d incoming ship fee plus 9d inland fee from Bristol to London.
Realized: $600
Lot
559
(Freight Money) 1839 (Jun. 12, Jul. 31) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, two folded letters carried by the Great Western from New York to Bristol on the 8th and 9th return voyages, first with "37½" rating for 25¢ freight fee and 12½¢ inland postage to New York; second with "150" rating for quadruple 25¢ freight fee and 12½¢ inland postage to New York, Very Fine pair of freight money letters, ex-Arthur White. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $220
Lot
560
(Freight Money) 1841 (May 13) Philadelphia, Pa. to Halifax, England, folded cover with blue "Philada Pa. Feb 6" cds with matching clear "Paid" double-octagon handstamp and manuscript "25" cent rating for 12½¢ freight fee and 12½¢ inland postage to New York, carried by Sailing Packet from New York to Liverpool, partial "Liverpool/Ship Letter" two-line handstamp and manuscript "8" pence due rating for ship fee, Very Fine freight money letter by sailing packet. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $90
Lot
561
1842 (Jun. 6) London, England to New York N.Y., light gray folded part-printed General Post Office Notice requesting "1/8" one shilling 8 pence for a letter held for postage, entered mails with bold strike of red London Crowned (6.6) datestamp and sent free despite printed "On Her Majesty's Service" and "W.L. Maberly" endorsements, Liverpool (6.7) octagon exchange datestamp (Tabeart M24), carried by Cunard Line Caledonia from Liverpool Jun. 19th to Boston arriving Jul. 5th, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' " arrival cds and manuscript "20¾" due rating for 18¾¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and choice, ex-Pullin. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $190
Lot
562
1842 (Jun. 30) London, England to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter with red "Returned for Postage" and "Detained For Postage" framed handstamps, additional script "Returned for Postage" framed handstamp on flap, manuscript "Forwarded by Majmar Jordain & Co." London forwarder endorsement on flap, both handstamps on face deleted upon payment, red London Paid (9.3) tombstone datestamp and red manuscript 1/-" schilling prepaid rating, carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Liverpool Sep. 4th to Boston arriving Sep. 18th, red "Boston Ms. 'Ship' Sep 18" cds and "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and scarce "Returned for Postage" transatlantic use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $170
Lot
563
1843 Balasore, India to Holliston, Mass., folded missionary letter carried to Boston with with bold "Forwarded from the Baptist Miss. Rooms, Boston" oval forwarder handstamp on reverse, forwarded to Holliston then to East Longmeadow from Boston with Boston, Ms. cds of "Sep 20" and "Sep 26", initially rated "6"` then "12½" totaling "18½", Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $130