Lot
354 
1844 (Apr. 30) New York N.Y. to Liverpool, England, datelined folded letter addressed to Capt. Thomas B. Cropper of Ship 'New York' at Liverpool, with red "Forwd by T.W. Ward, Boston" oval handstamp with matching "PR. ACADIA", carried by Cunard Line Acadia from Boston May 1st to Liverpool arriving May 15th, Liverpool America oval handstamp with matching "1/" shilling rating handstamp, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce Ward name-of-boat marking. Estimate $500 - 750.
The forwarding agents T.W. Ward of Boston used a set of handstamps for four Cunard vessels operating the mail packet contract in the 1842-44 time period. There are two versions of this Ward name of boat straightline, one with a large "R" in "PR", and the other with a small cap "R".