One of three known examples of the large crude New York Post Office 24c hand stamp, and the only one on a cover bearing the British 1sh embossed adhesive.   Beginning in July 1, 1840, Samuel Cunard’s line of British packet steamers began carrying letters between the U.S. and U.K., at a rate of 1 […]

The colors of the paper on which the NY Provisional was printed include bluish-white, gray and blue.  Bluish-white accounts for perhaps 95% of all stamps.  The others – blue and gray – are believed to have come from the last printing of 100 sheets which was delivered on January 7, 1847.  All known blue and […]

This 0-1/2 oz. tissue paper letter was datelined in Henthada, Burma on Feb. 17, 1855 and sent to Boston.  A pair of the first Issue of India paid the rate to Calcutta, but it was unpaid thereafter.  From there it took P&O steamers to Southampton and a Cunard steamer from Liverpool to Boston.  The 1 […]

1775 letter from Bristol by Falmouth packet, carried through the British blockade of New York harbor. War broke out in April 1775 with the battles of Lexington and Concord. American attacks on British ships soon followed, and led to withdrawal of scheduled packet service to New York. The last advertised mail from Falmouth departed on […]

One of America’s most beautiful postal markings – Philadelphia’s full-rigged ship, used on incoming ship mail for destinations beyond the port. This letter was sent from Liverpool on the 8 October 1835 sailing of the ship Pocahontas, owned by Brown’s Line of Baltimore but assigned to the Cope Line of Philadelphia. On arrival at Philadelphia […]