Summer 2025 | July 18-20, 2025

Letter datelined November 2, 1848, from Troy, N.Y. to Plattsburgh, N.Y.; manuscript "12" for 10 cents postage plus 2 cents ship fee.

Rated for 5c postage plus 2c steam boat fee. Very Fine.

Rated for 5c postage plus 2c steam boat fee. Very Fine.

The stamp with manuscript cancel, addressed to Mechanicville, Saratoga County, N.Y., struck with black boxed "TROY & NEW YORK / STEAM BOAT" marking. Additional manuscript "2" for ship fee, though the letter was prepaid.
The 2c due was added in pencil, despite the 1855 statute and postal regulations which only permitted the charge on letters where the postage had not been paid.

The boxed steamboat marking was introduced at Troy in 1856, making this an early example of this marking in use.

"TROY, N.Y. AUG 25" circular datestamp on cover to Saratoga Springs, N.Y., boxed "TROY & NEW YORK / STEAM BOAT" handstamp and manuscript "2" due marking for ship fee.

Folded letter dated July 5, 1839. Addressed to Kingston, carried on the Hudson River. Letter with small corner piece out at bottom right.

Folded letter from Hudson, New York to New York City, postmarked with black 28mm circular HUDSON/NOV/6/N.Y. handstamp and red straightline STEAM BOAT, rated "121/2 in manuscript. The letter concerning Sprague & Curtis's hoop iron.
This STEAM BOAT marking differs notably from similar markings used in New York City beginning in June 1832 until 1834. This marking also differs from the Hudson mark with unique characteristics, including a wide base on the “T”, shape of the "s" and the size. This is a unique example.

Folded letter datelined New York City Oct 22, 1839. Addressed to Kingston, carried on the Hudson River. Letter with stains at left and on the interior of the letter.

Folded letter datelined New York City, April 25, 1836, to Kingston, Ulster County, New York. Light but legible 15x2mm red "S.BOAT." handstamp with manuscript "12½" rate.
This is recorded by Calvet Hahn to be the earliest of the small S.BOAT markings, with only four recorded.

Some staining and some faults.

Milgram No. 544-545.
Four strikes of the “KOUNS’ RED RIVER LINE GRAND ERA” handstamp, three on front and one on back. Printed schedule shows sailing from New Orleans to Shreveport on Saturday, January 15, with return on Thursday, January 20. Addressed to Messrs. Thos. McCoy & Co., New Orleans. Indicia oxidized.

Grand Era. Clear strike of 6-line handstamp with additional strike of the 5-line handstamp at left, on 1864, 3¢ pink entire to New Orleans, La.; second strike of the 6-line handstamp on reverse. Very Fine and choice. The listing example in Milgram.

Packet Belle Sulphur, vivid red oval handstamp on blue cover front to New Orleans La., entered mails with "New Orleans La. Jan 26" cds and bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), tied by matching "Steam" STRAIGHT LINE.

Cover locally addressed. "Detroit Mich/Jul 28" circular datetamp and "JUL 28" marking at bottom right.

Red “BOSTON APR 2” circular datestamp with "75" in manuscript. Addressed to Messrs. David S. Brown & Co., Merchants, Philadelphia.

1848 folded letter to London with manuscript routing directive "Per Hibernia from New York 20th Feby"

June 6, 1839 from New York to Paris, redirected to London with a combination of U.S., French, and British transit markings. An unusual combination of rates and manuscript markings, including large “21” and “1/5” rate notations.

Mailed from Havana, Cuba, April 10, 1839, to London. It arrived June 12 in London.

Folded letter forwarded through Gilpin’s Exchange Reading Room in New York and carried privately aboard the U.S. ship Ohio to Marseilles, France, and subsequently delivered via the ship "Silvia de Grasse", with forwarding notations indicating receipt at Naples on July 6. Enclosed letter of a daughter writing to her father about fine art, travel, and New York City.

Folded letter datelined Naples, April 28, 1839, carried under separate cover to Welles & Co. in Paris, likely by way of Marseilles and French rail, then forwarded through Le Havre to the U.S. with a red oval "Forwarded by Y. Ob. Servants Welles & Co." handstamp. In New York, the cover was received by Gracie & Co., who struck their own red oval "Forwarded by Gracie & Co. New York" handstamp before inserting the letter into the U.S. mails to Philadelphia. Red manuscript "12 1/2" rating reflects the domestic postage from New York, and the absence of any U.S. "Ship" marking indicates it bypassed typical incoming ship mail handling.

"FORWARDED BY HARNDEN & CO. NO. 20. WATER ST LIVERPOOL" with ship in center (1844-48, oval 40 x 29, black) on front, Boston to London Via Liverpool. "PAID 1844" tombstone mark at London.
Red "LIVERPOOL 1844." Addressed to Thomas Aspinwall, American Consul at London.

This folded letter is datelined June 22, 1840, and was carried from Boston when it entered the mail in New York as a drop letter and rated "1" in manuscript.
This date falls within the period when William Harnden carried mail under contract with the U.S. Post Office Department between Boston and New York, an arrangement that lasted from 1839 until June 30, 1844.
William Harnden established the first independent mail company to carry small packages and money between Boston and New York. His first advertisement appeared February 23, 1839 and announced four trips each week between Boston and New York.

Addressed to Fredrick City, Md.

"Burlington Vt. JUL 7" datestamp at left, with matching red grid. Addressed to Rev. John T. Stone, Montpelier, Vt.

Addressed to Miss Margaret Patten in Albany, New York. The stamp with a hole in bottom left margin.

"NEW-YORK JUN 27" postmark with pencil "5"