1835 Portsmouth Ship Letter
Portsmouth accounted for between 6 and 6.5% of all British ship letters.

FERRIAGE - "PAID 9 & 25"

In addition to the Canadian internal rate a 'ferriage' charge of 2d per letter was levied on mail from Upper Canada crossing the border, usually a river or lake, with the U.S.A. This applied from February 3rd 1929 until March 6th 1937,

Toronto, Canada to London, England via New York - July 20th 1835

The cover is marked “via New York”

Postmarks: -
“CITY of TORONTO U.C. JY 20 1835”
“PORTSMOUTH SHIP LETTER” Robertson type $13 recorded in black 1815-39,
“E24 AU 24 1835” (London)

Transit time to London 35 days.

Rate Markings: -
“PAID 9 & 25” (9d Cy & 25 cents U.S.) 9d Cy. made up of 7d + 2d ferriage,
“1/4” (Stg) 8d ship letter and 8d inland postage Portsmouth-London,

DUNNVILLE U.C. 4 July 1836 to New York folded letter with "Dunnville U.C." double-circle postmark with manuscript "Paid 6" and "Paid 25"

FERRIAGE - "PAID 1/11 & 75"

In North America the letter was treated as a three sheet letter but in Britain as a two sheet letter. It may have had an enclosure as the item above is one folded sheet. Note the ferriage charge is fixed regardless of the number of sheets.

FERRIAGE - "PAID 9 & 25"
Toronto, Canada to London, England via U.S.A. and Hastings - July 17th 1836

Postmarks: -
"CITY of TORONTO U.C. JY 17 1836" in red
"SHIP LETTER HASTINGS" Robertson type S4 only recorded in red 1837-40
"F 17 AU 17 1836" (London)

Transit time to London 31 days. The 'TOO LATE' mark shows late posting in the day.

Rate Markings: -
"PAID 9 & 25" (9d Cy & 25 cents U.S.) - 9d Cy. made up of 7d + 2d ferriage
"1/4" (Stg) - 8d ship letter and 1/- inland postage Hastings-London

FERRIAGE - "PAID 9 & 25"
Toronto, Canada to London, England via Falmouth - April 18" 1836

Postmarks:
"CITY of TORONTO U.C. AP 18 1836"
"FALMOUTH SHIP LETTER" Robertson type S6 recorded in red 1812-49,
"C 2 JU 2 1836" (London). Transit time to London 45 days

Rate Markings: -
"PAID 9 & 25" (9d Cy & 25 cents U.S.) - 9d Cy, made up of 7d + 2d ferriage,
"1/8" (Ste) - 8d ship letter and 1/- inland postage Falmouth-London