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1822 (Nov 8) Entire letter from Colombo to Cape of Good Hope, the letter including "under the uncertainty of this ship "Alexander" touching at the Cape, the Captain informed me that he should not call if he could possibly get provisions at Mauritius ...... I however cannot let this chance escape of letting you know I am well"; the "Alexander" did not call at the Cape and the letter was landed at Deal. Handstamped "INDIA LETTER / DEAL" (In.1) and taken to the London Ship Letter Office where it was detained as unpaid and advertised as such in the 19 March "Daily Packet List" endorsed "4/50 (list 4, letter 50) 19 March 1823". The 1/10 postage, to include the 2d outgoing ship letter rate, was paid in April and the letter forwarded, rated 1/10 in red with red oval "POST PAID SHIP LR / (crown) / 14 AP 14 / 1823 / LONDON" (S.46). The reverse endorsed "this letter cleared 11th April 1823 by A.G.R having been detained in consequence of inland postage not being pd, postage 1/10" and "cleared at the Ship Letter Office London 11 April 1823 & forwarded to Cape by A.G.R". Also an 1814 "Daily Packet List" which includes a list of letters detained in the Ship Letter Office which cannot be forwarded until postage is paid. Finally received on 26 Sept., 10½ months after posting. Later in the 1820s printed forms were introduced for sending to the addressees of unpaid ship letters and "Detained For Postage" marks used on such letters. An exceptional item, believed to be the only recorded example of an advertised unpaid ship letter, illustrated and described by Robertson (page D. 38 /D-E). Photo on Page 215. £1,200-1,500
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1820-35 Entire letters from India (5) or Mauritius all with boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEAL", types In1 (2), In2, In3 (2) or In4, one carried on the "Hydery" which arrived at Deal with the loss of anchor and cable, another unusually redirected as a free frank from London to Cheltenham, all fine. (6). £200-240
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1832 Entire letter from Newstead, Tasmania to London "per Surrey", Capt. Veale, backstamped with an unusually good strike of double oval "LAUNCESTON" and London c.d.s (June 23). Handstamped "INDIA LETTER / DEAL" (In.1) with London local post "2" charge applied upon redirection to Hakes Hotel. Written by Henry Cumming, employed as a clerk with no prospects of advancement as "all the Government transactions are done by the convicts, which they can procure for about 3 or 4 shillings per week". £130-150
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1824-32 Entire letters from India with boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEAL", In 1 or In4, the first with oval "ETAWAH / PT PD" handstamp, carried on the "Atlas" via St. Helena, written by Lt. W. Baring Gould who has received orders to march to Chittagong to fight the Burmese, and writes "Our Governor-General Lord Amherst has made a dreadful blunder". The 1832 entire letter with circular "MHOW / PT PD" (manuscript date), both fine. (2). £100-150
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1839 Entire letter from Sydney carried on the barque "Bengal", Capt. Carson, with red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER / SYDNEY" datestamp (May 6) and boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEAL" (In.1). G. Stanton informs his sister he is to leave for Maitland to be the auctioneer for the great sale of the Agricultural Company. An attractive letter. £130-150
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1787-1814 Entire letters from France, privately carried to Dover and posted as inland letters to evade postage, with 1787 entire letter from Croisic to London endorsed "recd and forwarded from Dover the 11 May 1787 pymh sts Fector & Minet" (also a 1783 printed entire letter from Dover announcing the partnership of Fector & Minet); 1811 (Mar 4) entire letter from Paris to London carried privately to Calais where it was endorsed by the forwarding agent Culie, delayed until the end of the war and posted in July 1814 with "DOVER /72" and a London c.d.s; and 1814 entire with "DOVER / 72" and the endorsement of the Calais forwarding agent J. Leveux. Also 1818 entire letter from Rouen to London endorsed by J. Leveux in Calais with "DOVER / SHIP LETTER" (S.9), and 1766 J. Ellis coloured map showing Kent and the crossing to Calais. An interesting lot, the 1811 letter delayed until 1814 very unusual. (6). £150-180
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1798 Entire letter from Oporto to London with a superb curved "DOVER / SHIP LRE" (S.5) and a London backstamp (June 27), exhibition quality. Photo on Page 212. £200-250
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1800 Entire letter from New York to London with oval "Ship Letter / (crown) / DOVER" (S.6, first year of use), unusually fine. £80-100
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1804 Entire letter from a missionary at Quincy, USA, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in London "By the Gallen" with superb oval "SHIP-LETTER / (crown) / DOVER" (S.8). The letter from Rev. W. Clarke includes "the political state of the country is, no doubt, well known in London, the time for a new election of President draws nigh, and the fermentation in mens minds in promoting their differing views is productive of great feuds and animosities in supporting their different parties, on which I will be silent". President Thomas Jefferson was elected to serve a second term in March 1805. Exhibition quality and an interesting letter, illustrated by Robertson (page E.67). Photo on Page 215. £160-200
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1813 Entire letter to London headed "Flying Fish off the Isle of Wight on Wednesday 19th May at 7 p.m, 1813"; written after a 94hr voyage from Corunna, with a very fine oval "SHIP-LETTER / (crown) / DOVER" (S.8). £120-150
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1814 (May 17) Entire letter written on H.M.S "Andromacke" at sea, part of the force blockading Brest. Written by Capt. George Tobin, who discusses prize money (and notes the sale of the remaining cargo captured on the "Arrow"); later in 1814 he captured the French frigate "Trave". With a superb oval "SHIP-LETTER / (crown) / DOVER" (S.8), exhibition quality. £120-150
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1814 Packet letter to London with a red Calais handstamp and black "DOVER / 72", endorsed "Missent to Dover, Packet letters from Calais", with a London c.d.s (Aug 4), charged 3/6. The Packet service from France reopened by way of Calais and Dover on 18th April 1814 and was discontinued on 15th March 1815 following Napoleon's escape from Elba; the packet mails were supposed to travel direct to London in a sealed bag. A unique missent packet letter, illustrated by Robertson (page E.68/D). Photo on Page 215. £300-350
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1814 Entire letter from Pittsburg and 1830 entire letter from Suriname both posted in Dover as inland letters to evade postage, the second letter referring to the possible sale of Plantation Fairfield, "The estate requires a steam engine instead of the present mill - 40 or 50 good negroes made to the present gang of 116". (2). £100-120
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1815 Entire from Paris with superb "DOVER / SHIP LETTER" (S.9), red boxed "Sous couvert de / Choisnard de Calais" F.A.C, and a London c.d.s (May 6). Sent during the 135 days between Napoleon's escape from Elba and his defeat at Waterloo. The Calais-Dover packet service was suspended during this period, therefore sent via a forwarding agent and put onto a private ship. Exhibition quality. Photo on Page 215. £150-200
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1815 (June 13) Entire letter to Havre prepaid 1/2 with light red "ANGLETERRE / PAR CALAIS", the reverse with a fine "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER / (crown) / 14 JU 14 / 1815 / DOVER" correctly applied across the join. The only known example of this Dover Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter, not recorded by Robertson or Tabeart. Photo on Page 215. £1,200-1,500
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1815 (July 11) Entire letter from Paris to The Chevalier St. Gery at Thomas Coutts in The Strand, probably smuggled through France to the coast and taken by private ship to Dover, with superb "DOVER / SHIP LETTER" (S.9), charged 9d (1d ship letter + 8d inland postage, the final month before the ship letter charge increased to 8d). The letter mentions the re-entry of King Louis into Paris. Exhibition quality. £80-100
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1835 Entire letter from Boulogne and 1853 entire letter from Emden both with "SHIP LETTER / DOVER", the first in black, the second in red with 6d charge, both very fine. The 1853 use an unusual routing (German mail usually sent from Hamburg to Hull), the ship letter rare in red. A good pair. (2). £100-120
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1834 Entire letter to London with superb oval "MAURITIUS / POST OFFICE" and boxed "DOVER / INDIA LETTER" (In.4), an exhibition quality Mauritius letter. Photo on Page 215. £350-400
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1839 Entire letter from Hobart "P. Emma" with oval "HOBART TOWN / V.D.L" crowned datestamp (Jan 9), backstamped red "INDIA LETTER / DOVER" possibly applied in the London Ship Letter Office, a scarce India Letter handstamp only used 1839-40. £200-250
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1839 (May 3) Entire from Manila to London "per John Renwick" marked "1oz" and charged 3/-, backstamped boxed "SHIP LETTER / DOVER" (S.11), corrected to an India letter in the London Ship Letter Office where two strikes of red "INDIA LETTER / DOVER" (In.7) were applied, one over the incorrect Ship Letter mark, with a matching red London c.d.s (Oct 23). A scarce India letter error. Photo on Page 217. £300-350
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1844 Entire letter from Le Havre to Brighton posted on the Cross Channel Mobile Box which was opened upon arrival at Dover, handstamped boxed "MB" and "SHIP LETTER / DOVER" (S.11), backstamped at Dover (Sep 17), London and Brighton. Part of lower flap cut away and reapplied to the upper flap to display the complete Ship Letter handstamp and backstamps, otherwise fine and very rare. Only one or two examples of this Dover "MB" recorded, this example illustrated by Robertson (page E.68/F). Photo on Page 217. £400-500
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1834 Entire letter from Buenos Ayres to Manchester "pr Livorno", a single sheet of paper 22x17 inches folded down many times and therefore unusually wide, however endorsed "single sheet" and accepted as such only charged 1/8, backstamped "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.3) and a London c.d.s (June 9). £150-200
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1839 (Aug 7) Entire letter from Rio de Janeiro to Huth in London "p. Vulture" backstamped "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.3) and charged 2/8, but endorsed "Only double Fred Huth & Co" and returned by them to the Ship Letter Office, rerated at 1/8 with the rare red "REBATE / (crown) / 18 OC 18 / 1839 / SHIP LETTER OFFICE" datestamp (Rob 1, only recorded Oct. - Nov. 1839, "OC" reversed in the handstamp). Light file folds, otherwise fine, unique with the Folkestone Ship Letter. Photo on Page 217. £1,000-1,200
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1840 Entire letter from Montevideo to London "per Gottfried Mencken" backstamped with a fine oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / FOLKSTONE" (S.2) and a London c.d.s (Nov 5). The interesting letter has news of the imminent raising of the blockade of Buenos Ayres, the landing of Lavalle with an army of 3,000 aided by the French, and his defeat of the vanguard of Rosa's General Pachus. Light file fold, otherwise superb. Exhibition quality strike of this very scarce ship letter and an interesting letter, ex Robertson. Photo on Page 217. £500-600
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1841 Entire letter from Montevideo to London "p. Charlotte via Antwerp" backstamped with a superb oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / FOLKSTONE" and a London c.d.s (4 Jan. 1842), exhibition quality and very scarce. Photo on Page 217. £350-400
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1846 Entire letter from Itagoahy, Brazil, to Surrey per "Gypsy", backstamped "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" and a London c.d.s (Nov 20), incorrectly treated as an internal letter and charged 2d. An unusual error. £100-120
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1850 (Nov 15) Entire from Canton to London endorsed "p. Mary Graham, Consignees", backstamped blue "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.4) with London "(crown) / EXEMPT SHIP LR" (EX2) on the front and a London c.d.s (Apr. 21 1851), only charged 3d. A unique exempt Ship Letter from Folkestone, the Ship Letter handstamp only recorded in blue in 1851, ex Robertson. Photo on Page 217. £300-350
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1851 Entire letter from Colombo to London, listing 208 bags of coffee sent on the "Cornelia", sent with the goods on the "Cornelia" but not endorsed as a consignee letter, therefore charged the full 1oz rate of 1/4, backstamped with a fine blue "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.4), only recorded in blue in 1851, scarce. Photo on Page 219. £250-300
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1852 Stampless cover to Arundel backstamped by a superb "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.4) in brown and datestamps of London and Arundel, charged 1/3, the packet rate from France. A very scarce and unusual cover, the ship letter not recorded in brown and the cover incorrectly charged. Photo on Page 219. £200-250
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1861 Entire letter from Boulogne to "Captain Biroche of the ship Reine Hortense, care of Mess. C.D Watson & Co, Ship Brokers, Liverpool" franked by a 1d red to pay the inland postage, the letter apparently assumed to be a consignees letter but not accepted as such in the London Inland inspection office where the stamp was cancelled with the "50" numeral. Backstamped "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.4) with a Folkestone c.d.s (Jan 31) applied alongside the stamp, charged 8d in London as an unpaid letter from France, with London and Liverpool datestamps. An exceptionally unusual item, the Ship Letter handstamp nine years later than previously recorded. Photo on Page 219. £200-250
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1830 (Dec 30) Entire letter from Manila to London "p Corsair" backstamped "FOLKSTONE / SHIP LETTER" (S.3) in error and overstruck by boxed "INDIA" (In.8 of London) with a London c.d.s (Aug 3), charged 2/4. Refolded at right, shortening the visible address panel by 2cm, otherwise fine, an unusual India Letter error, unique from Folkestone. Ex Robertson. Photo on Page 219. £300-350
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1831 Entire letter from India to Scotland with oval "SHEERGHOTTY / POST OFFICE" and boxed "INDIA LETTER / FOLKSTONE" (In.1), charged 3/5. A fine strike of this rare India Letter handstamp, only recorded in 1831. Photo on Page 219. £350-400
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1847 Entire to "Louis Mackinnon, Haln Hall Estate, Lime Savanna P.O, Clarendon, Jamaica" posted into the Boulogne to Folkestone Mobile Box, with superb boxed "M-B", backstamped at Folkstone (Aug 30) and London, the charges reduced from 2/- to 1/2, the rate from G.B to Jamaica only, carried on the R.M.S.P "Forth" from Southampton. An exceptional destination for any Mobile Box letter, especially with this distinctive and scarce mark of Folkestone. Photo on Page 221. £200-250
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1846 Cover endorsed "being too late to bring by post - sent by Boul. via Folkestone" charged 10d, and 1851 entire letter from Boulogne charged the packet rate of 1/3, both with the distinctive boxed "M-B" of Folkestone, the 1851 entire letter unusually with a blue Folkstone datestamp on the front. The 1846 cover with part reverse missing at left, the 1851 entire letter with vertical file fold but otherwise largely fine. Two attractive items posted into the cross channel Mobile Box to Folkestone. (2). £200-250
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1873 Cover and a large piece with French stamps cancelled "FOLKESTONE / 303" duplex with red tombstone type "FOLKSTONE / FRANCE / MB" datestamps (MB2) on the front. The cover franked 30c; the piece from a USA postal stationery envelope, addressed to New York with 10c and 25c strip of four applied over the embossed US stamp. Two attractive items, the MB datestamps unusually fine and rare. (2). Photo on Page 219. £750-850
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1801 Entire letter from Philadelphia to London "P. Wm Penn" with two line "GRAVESEND / SHIP LRE" and London backstamp (Mar 16), light file folds, otherwise extremely fine and rare. This Ship Letter handstamp unlisted by Robertson or Tabeart, the finer of two examples now recorded (used 1800-01, between types S1 and S2). Photo on Page 221. £500-600
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1802 Entire letter from Philadelphia "p Brig Ann" and an 1804 entire letter (origin unknown) both charged 2/- to London, both with fine oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / GRAVESEND" (S.2), scarce so fine. (2). Photo on Page 221. £300-350
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1814 Entire from Havana to London per "Robert Bruce" with rare single oval "SHIP LETTER / (crown) / GRAVESEND" (S.3), London c.d.s (May 12), charged 10d. The finest of the few recorded examples, ex Robertson, illustrated by him (page E.102/A). Photo on Page 221. £600-750
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1817 Entire letter from Dum Dum to Scotland "P. Lord Wellington" with scarce red boxed "KING'S SEA / POSTE PAID / CALCUTTA", a fine "SHIP LETTER / GRAVESEND" (S.7) and boxed "MORE TO PAY" of London (Jay 1098), charged 1/4, very unusual. Photo on Page 221. £500-600
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1818-42 Entire letters from Montevideo, Valparaiso, Newstead near Sydney, Warrenton (with manuscript "Warrenton Sept 1818" postal endorsement), Bellary (with red boxed "BELLARY / POST PAID") or from "on board the Gilbert Jamieson off Sheerness", Gravesend handstamps comprising ship letter types S4 or S9 (2), India letters type In2 in black (2) or red, all fine, one letter with an interesting reference to the blockade of Buenos Ayres. (6). £400-500
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1837 Entire letter from Barreilly, India, to Lew Trenchard in Cornwall and redirected to Hampshire, backstamped with Calcutta G.P.O ship letter datestamp and red boxed "INDIA LETTER / GRAVESEND" (In.1), with datestamps of London, Exeter and Launceston and boxed "Launceston / Penny Post". £80-100
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1839 (July 27) Entire letter from Rio de Janeiro to London "Pr Catherine Jamieson" backstamped with red "INDIA LETTER / GRAVESEND" (In.4, only recorded 1839), possibly applied in London, a similar red London Sunday c.d.s alongside, charged 1/10. An unusual error, letters from Brazil not subject to the India Letter concession. Light file fold, otherwise superb and rare. Photo on Page 221. £250-300
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1839 Entire letters from Boston or New York both carried on the "British Queen" and landed at Gravesend on Christmas Day, backstamped with red "SHIP LETTER / GRAVESEND" type S6 or S8, the Boston letter with red oval "FORWARDED BY / GEORGE HART / NEW-YORK". A scarce pair showing differing Ship Letter handstamps from the same sailing, carried on the only transatlantic steamer to reach Britain during the Uniform 4d Post period, charged 1/- or 2/- (both including inland postage of 4d or 8d double rate). (2). Photo on Page 223. £200-250
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1840 and 1849 Consignees letters to London both only charged the inland postage, the 1840 entire letter containing an invoice for leaf tobacco sent on the "Napoleon" handstamped "Gravesend / Ship Letter" (S.9), most unusually endorsed "Exempt Ship" with the postage reduced from 1/4 to 4d; the 1849 entire from Buenos Ayres endorsed "pr Eliza Robson. Consignees" with blue "SHIP LETTER / GRAVESEND" (S.7) and "(crown) / EXEMPT SHIP LR" (Ex2 of London), also charged 4d. Both with a pressed file fold, otherwise fine and very scarce. (2). Photo on Page 223. £300-350
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1856 Stampless cover to London "per Vesta" with an oval Porto datestamp (June 25), backstamped blue "GRAVESEND / SHIP LETTERS" (S.10) and red "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp (S.29, July 1), charged 8d, very unusual and rare. Photo on Page 221. £350-400
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1866 Stampless cover to New Bedford, Mass., endorsed "via England" backstamped with a Gravesend c.d.s (Dec 21) and rare "GRAVESEND / SHIP LETTER" (S.11) with red "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" c.d.s (S.33) and arrival datestamps of Boston Br. Pkt and New Bedford (Jan 3), carried to Boston on the Cunard liner "China", rated "30" and finally charged 35c in coin or 44c in notes, with "IN U.S NOTES" handstamp. A fine and rare cover. Photo on Page 221. £500-600
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1808 Entire letter from Rotterdam to London landed in the vicinity of Margate by an agent of Cobb & Co., endorsed "Margate 2 July 1808 Cobb & Co" and handed into the Margate Post Office as an incoming ship letter. Handstamped "MARGATE / SHIP-LRE" (S.1), charged 8d. Unusual and very rare, only two or three examples of this first Margate Ship Letter believed to exist. Photo on Page 223. £300-350
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1815 Entire from London to Bordeaux with superb "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER / (crown) / 5 MY 5 / 1815 / MARGATE" applied across the flap, prepaid 1/2, then strangely returned to the London Ship Letter Office 19 days later handstamped with red "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" c.d.s (S.44, May 24), blue "ANGLETERRE / PAR CALAIS", charged 19 decimes. Upper flap removed and joined to the lower flap to display the complete Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letter handstamp. Ex Robertson, illustrated by him (page E.212/A). Exceptional quality and unique. Photo on Page 223. £1,200-1,500
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1828 and 1838 Entire letters from Vera Cruz or Funchal to London both with "SHIP LETTER / MARGATE" (S.5), the first in black, the second in red, both very fine. (2). £120-150
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1830 (Oct 18) Entire letter from Sandwich to Margate showing an unofficial 2d charge and superb oval "(crown) / MARGATE" type S2 with "Ship Lre" removed. This handstamp is still not known in its original Ship Lre form, just a few examples of the modified handstamp recorded on local letters in 1829-30. Probably the finest recorded example, illustrated by Robertson (page E.212/A). Photo on Page 223. £400-500
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