Early Ship-Letter Mail to U.S.
| Lot |
Sym. |
Lot Description |
Est/Cat |
Realized |
| 1 |
 |
 "Canton March 16, 1819".
Dateline on folded letter to Philadelphia Pa., red "6" handstamp (2c plus
4c), Sep. 4 receipt docketing indicates 173 days in transit, contents
separated from cover, some slight splitting along folds, small tear at top,
otherwise Fine, scarce early usage (Image) |
E. 400-500 |
550.00 |
| 2 |
|
 "Canton 15 January 1834".
Dateline on folded letter to New York City, red "Boston Ms. May 7" circular
datestamp and "Ship" handstamp, ms. "20-3/4" rate (2c plus 18-3/4c), ship
routing "Neponset", letter reads in part "The hardest of the
season however is over. We have now but 6 or 7 ships left...", light
vertical file folds, Very Fine, 113 days in transit
(Image) |
E. 400-500 |
575.00 |
| 3 |
|
 "Canton December 26, 1837".
Dateline on folded letter from Wetmore & Co. to Boston Mass., red "Ship 6"
handstamp, ship routing "Grand Turk", interesting letter gives
summary of strengths and weaknesses of imports and exports and also a list
of American ships operating and their destinations, additional notation
that "The Brig 'Theodore', bound here from Singapore, went ashore on the
coast of Luconia off Cape Bolinas in a gale on the 25th. Her cargo would
probably be saved, but it was expected the vessel would be lost", some
splitting along folds, otherwise Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 200-300 |
575.00 |
| 4 |
|
 "Canton August 11th 1838".
Dateline on folded letter to Boston Mass., blue "Philadelphia Pa. Feb. 6"
circular datestamp and matching "Ship" handstamp, ms. rate "20-3/4" (2c
plus 18-1/4c), ship routing "Commerce", business contents from
Russell & Co., light horizontal file fold, Very Fine, 180 days in transit
from Canton to Philadelphia (Image) |
E. 200-300 |
750.00 |
| 5 |
|
 "Shanghai April 25th 1845".
Dateline on folded letter to Philadelphia, red "New-York Ship 7 cts Oct.
26" integral-rate circular datestamp, ship routing "Suppho", fresh
and Very Fine, 185 days in transit from Shanghai to New York (Image) |
E. 150-200 |
550.00 |
| 6 |
|
 "Shanghai February 24th
1853". Dateline on 2pp folded printed circular from Russell & Co. to
New York, sent via British Mails and with bold "65" debit handstamp, red
"28 AP 1853" backstamp, additional ms. rating and endorsed "Via
Marseilles", first page of circular discusses current state of the
market and political unrest incl. "this season movement has been
prevented or delayed by fears as to the result of the rebellion...the alarm
at Soochow has been so great as to cause a rise of 15% in the price of
goods...the impression is gaining ground among the Chinese that the rebels
will not risk an attempt upon Nanking...the hindrance to trade will be felt
rather in imports, than exports.", fresh and Very Fine, unusual usage,
the 65c pays 34c British rate, 10c French, 16c transatlantic and 5c U.S.
inland postage (Image) |
E. 200-300 |
400.00 |
| 7 |
|
 "Shanghai Sept. 5, 1856".
Dateline on folded letter from Augustine, Heard & Co. to New York, sent via
British Mails and endorsed "Via Marseilles", neat "Hong Kong 12 SE
1856" and Oct. 30 London backstamps, bold "96" due marking, "New-York Br.
Pkt. Nov. 13" circular datestamp, light horizontal file fold, Very Fine
double-rate usage, the 96c pays British, French and U.S. postage (Image) |
E. 150-200 |
350.00 |
| 8 |
|
 "Shanghae 25th May 1857".
Dateline on part-printed circular from Wetmore & Co. to Boston and
forwarded to Salem Mass., sent via British Mails and endorsed "Via
Marseilles", neat "Hong-Kong 5 JU 1857", London and Boston backstamps,
bold "39" due handstamp uprated in ms. to "42" to pay forwarding postage,
"Due 3 cents" crossed out and "Forwarded" handstamps, some erosion along
vertical file fold, otherwise Fine usage, 84 days in transit from Shanghai
to Boston (Image) |
E. 150-200 |
450.00 |