Lot
1055 
Le Courier de l'Amerique/*New York* (Atlantic Ocean), clear strike of red French Royal Packet name-of-ship two-line handstamp on folded letter to London, sent under cover to Regie agent in New York who applied the straightline and placed it aboard Le Courier de l'Amerique, sent to France with two line "Col. Par L'Orient" handstamp and sent on to London with postage rate calculated at left, Very Fine, Unlisted in Milgram. Milgram No. 308A.Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS FIRST ROYAL PACKET NAME-OF-SHIP MARKING AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE STRUCK IN RED.
This cover was carried from New York of the French Royal Packet Line by Le Courier de l'Amerique on Feb. 21, 1784 on her return maiden voyage and arrived in France at L'Orient on March 25. Carried across the English Channel to London where it was struck on reverse with Bishop mark on 9 April.
The French consul served as the agent for the Premiere Regie in New York, creating departure markings that included ship names for each voyage from February 1784 to June 1785. Only eleven covers are known to exist, featuring eight distinct ship-name departure markings. This is one of only three recorded examples of the "Le Courier de l'Amérique" marking.