STAMPED COVERS OF GREAT BRITAIN

1860 Trans-Atlantic Packet Cover with Scarce Portland American Packet Cancel, Lovely Scott #28a Wing Margin 1 Shilling Pale Green stamp on well marked London to Kennebunkport, Maine cover.

Scott #28 - Stanley Gibbons #73

Great Britain 1 Shilling Pale Green 1856 Issue on 1860 Trans-Atlantic Packet cover from London, England to “Kennebunk Port”, Maine. Cancelled: black “LONDON-EC/X/MR21/60” cds w/ “86” grid obliterator, Scarce Red “PORTLAND 24 ME-AM-Pkt/APR7/1860/PAID” rec. mark (as per Hargest). Backstamped  “GEO. CROSHAW/LONDON/116FENCHURCHSTREET” in black oval. Carried by the “Canadian” via Queenstown Ireland. Stamp VF wing margin copy showing watermarks and nicely tied.

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 April 7, 1860

Stamp Detail

Black London cds with "86" obliterator

George Croshaw Backstamp

Reverse of Cover

Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd.

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As a Life Member of the American Philatelic Society and in association with the American Philatelic Society's new guidelines on expertization, Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd. will guarantee the authenticity of this philatelic item to the purchaser of record for a period of five years from the date of sale. You will receive a full color receipt with our written guarantee of authenticity - signed and sealed. Please note that our five year Guarantee of Authenticity does not apply to condition issues such as centering, cancel, gum, paper or other aspects of the item. It is the buyer's responsibility to promptly examine the material upon receipt for any vices, defects or other dissatisfactions and return it within our seven day examination and "return-for-any-reason" period. However, if at any time during the five year period you receive an opinion from the American Philatelic Expertizing Service that this item is not authentic, please return the item in its original condition along with the written guarantee and contrary opinion and we will refund you the original purchase price and the cost of the opinion.