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Front: Early Boston Circle Postmark (BPM #201) + ms Sh(ip)
22. Likely a double rate letter 20¢ (2x10) for a letter traveling 40-90
miles or Boston to Newbury Port + the 2¢ ship fee for ocean carriage as
based on the new postal rates promulgated March 2, 1799. It is
interesting to note that from the north of Boston Harbor it is 39 miles
along the Boston Post Road (now essentially Route 1) to Newbury Port and
we have also seen Boston to Newbury Port Ship Letters (in this same time
period) with charges of 8¢ for a distance of under 40 miles. We assume
that perhaps this vessel docked in the South Harbour which would put the
distance at just over 40 miles.
Reverse: Penciled Exhibit #. Docketing Note: Thomas
Dickason & Co. Letter 3 January 1801, London.
Notes: It is an interesting aspect of this letter that the
Dateline by the writer is January 3, 1800 but the docketing notation is
January 3, 1801. Since the letter did not reach Boston until March 19th,
it is less likely that the Docketeer made an error in the "year date"
and more likely that the writer, from habit, merely wrote "1800"
although the year had changed over, yet this is somewhat counterbalanced
by the fact that the writer corrected the "day" part of the date and
might also be presumed to have caught an incorrect year date. Simply a conundrum upon which to cogitate. From the Moses Brown correspondence. Nice example
of a Trans-Atlantic ship letter from London to Massachusetts.
Condition: Very Fine with usual file folds and some
spotting.
Contents: Legible English: Standard end of year Account
Balancing and mention of Captain Pickett.
Reverse of Cover
Offered by Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd. |
