Lot
17 
(Pioneer Steamers) Wreck of the Steamer Great Britain. 1846 folded letter from Liverpool, England to New York, N.Y., endorsed "P Great Britain", red manuscript "1/4" rate (double the 8 pence private ship letter fee), red handstamped "7" corrected to "12" in manuscript for double rate, brownish "Ship Letter Liverpool Sp 22 46" cds on the reverse, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
This ship, then the largest in the world, after sailing from Liverpool on September 22nd was stranded on the rocks in Dundrum Bay of the coast of Northern Ireland, Great Britain's mails were returned to Liverpool and brought to Boston per the Cunard Line steamer Caledonia, departing Liverpool 4-Oct and arriving Boston 20-Oct, had these letters actually gone direct to New York they would have been rated as 6¢ due in the port of arrival, since they were landed in Boston they were rated with the ship fee and under 300 miles zone rate for half ounce and between half and one ounce weights. Five examples from this sailing are currently known. .
Realized: $3,750