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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 56

(x) Ship Letters
Because private ships did not maintain regular schedules, unless the ship is identified on the cover it is very difficult to determine what vessel carried a particular letter. The Bermuda Royal Gazette recorded the appropriate shipping news often permitting the ship's identification
Ship Letters
1863 (15 Dec.) double rate unpaid ship letter envelope, complete with contents, "per E Barss, Cpt. Frith" to Tiffany & Co., New York, marked "Ship Letter.", rated "20" and with large part New York Ship Letter datestamp (20.12); tear at right of face panel and other minor imperfections, otherwise sound. Also a photo of the vessel. Unpaid and fined ship letters are rare at this time. Photo

Note: Between 1 July 1861 and 25 October 1865, the Ship Letter rate was raised to 4c. delivery to port-of-entry, including Bermuda, + internal postage. For the first time the ship fee was tied to weight so the ship letter rate for a double weight letter became 8c. Internal postage was 3c. per ½oz. x 2 = 6c. + 6c. . fine for non-prepayment = 12c. + 8c. ship fee = 20c. due

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Estimate
£400 to £500