STAMPED COVERS OF GREAT BRITAIN

Beautiful Clean 1862 Trans-Atlantic Civil War Cover with Scarce Portland American Packet Cancel, Lovely Scott #28a Wing Margin 1 Shilling stamp on attractive, well marked, scarce destination cover which includes interesting contents about a man who is being held in Rome as a Spy!

Scott #28a - Stanley Gibbons #73

Great Britain 1 Shilling Pale Green 1856 Issue on 1862 Trans-Atlantic Civil War cover from Winchester, England to West Falls, New York. Cancelled black "WINCHESTER/C/OC29/62" CDS with "888" Obliterator, Scarce red "PORTLAND 24 Me-Am-Pkt//NOV19/1862/PAID" receiving mark with red "21/CENTS" as 16¢ portion due to United States for American Packet Fee & 5¢ inland postage to West Falls. The other 3¢ went back to England for its inland postage from Winchester to London. Backstamped "LONDON/CR/OC30/62" in red circle. Nice Manuscript Notation "Stamped". Enclosed Letter has Civil War Content as the writer's son is being held as a spy in Rome for smuggling letters. Stamp is very fine with right wing margin, small tear upper right in wing margin, nicely tied to cover. Cover has pencil notes on back. Tear upper right of front cover and tear along back of cover.

The general Trans-Atlantic Packet rate from England to the United States at this time was 1 shilling for a standard weight letter (up to ½ ounce). This equaled 24¢ in US currency or 12 pence in British sterling. For American Packet carriage this sum was allocated as 3¢ (1½d) due England for its inland carriage to the Packet, 16¢ (8d) due to the packet itself for the ocean carriage and 5¢ (2½) due the US for its inland carriage.

Scott values this stamp on cover at $350 and the American Stampless Cover Catalogue values the scarce Portland Packet cancel alone at $150. An exceptional pairing. Stanley Gibbons values this stamp on cover at £350 or $640

[ References: Hargest, History of Letter Communications between US and Europe 1845-1874, Starnes, US Letter Rates to Foreign Destination 1847-GPU; Tabeart, United Kingdom Letter Rates 1657-1900; Moubray, British Letter Mail to Overseas Destinations 1840-1875, Arnell, A History of Mail Service between Great Britain and Canada to 1889 ]

Scarce Red Portland, Maine "24" "PAID" American Packet Cancel
Dated November 19, 1862

Stamp Detail

"21/CENTS" Accountancy Mark showing amount due US for Packet & Inland Postage Delivery

Black Winchester CDS with "888" barred obliterator. Nice light cancel properly applied
Dated October 29, 1862

Details

Red London transit backstamp
 dated October 30, 1862

My Dear Aunt Esther

You see I lose no time in replying to your letters and was very pleased to have one from dear Martha – but wish I could have seen her more reconciled to her affections. I think it must be very pleasant to live so near to each other, especially as your husband is so far away during the week- What is his trade or occupation? I am truly sorry that hr has the least thought of going into the Army - ???thought is a pity poor Kerry left his wife. Single young men have mostly parents to leave  but when a young life is left it seems like killing two at once – I hope your husband will never enter unless obliged. War is at all times bad, but what is termed a Civil War is worse – actual murder. Your Father’s age & bodily infirmities protect him, I hope – I was pleased to hear you found them all well at Calder & pretty comfortable – Domestic news is always desirable and I am disappointed if I do not hear what Cattle is on the Farm etc. – By the bye why did your Father not be present at your wedding? Did he disapprove it? – I only ask the question of you – and when you write tell me faithfully – I never speak of anything confidential – when you direct your envelope let it be written longer and your ink blacker if you can procure it – tell me about your younger brothers and dear Lily – their dispositions, presents, etc. – your dear Mother must have less to do now that her family is so reduced –tho’ industrious persons always find employment – Is your Father able to do any thing in the Farm – not without help of course – have they a cow, etc. – how many miles are you and your parents apart? – I hope Mr. Moore will not move now, as it is so pleasant for families to live united & with love. I send you my Photograph – which was taken at Winchester after I passed my 80^th year & is singular that I scarcely have a gray hair – altho my sons I think are both gray – My oldest Grand Son, James, is still in Prison tho’ not considered a condemned one & I trust he will be liberated – there is such a spite against him, because he would not give up the name of the Gentleman who asked him to take the letters into Rome where he was going – and yet they could not find him guilty of any conspiracy at his trial. He is very dear and proud – he could not brook the cruel treatment those Police showed him, neither would he for them to be liberated – it has been a sad grief to us all – Everything will be made public soon, I hope – the Italian Government is a sad set. With love to you all including your husband – ever yours fondly A. E. Dale

Superscript: would it not be desirable to gain Martha some {???} is visiting it would arouse her, we cannot be better employed – or we know not what we may want

Envelope reverse notation - Martha – I expect our folks at our house today & I want you to be sure & come down. Come right away & bring this letter back with you so that father can read it.

Reverse of Cover

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