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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 68

(x) Packet Letters
G.P.O./Admiralty Period, 1806-1840
The G.P.O. continued its Falmouth Packet service to North America, extending it to Bermuda in 1806 in response to military needs. At first the G.P.O. had a virtual monopoly on the North America route though by 1823 competition from American companies rendered the service unprofitable and the Admiralty assumed responsibility for it since military needs remained unchanged
The service underwent a number of route changes before it was finally abandoned in 1840 and contracted to Cunard. There are seven different routes
Route 1, October 1806-February 1813
There were two routes dependent on the weather. The winter route (November-February), Falmouth-Bermuda-New York, Halifax-Falmouth by packet throughout, and the summer route Falmouth-Halifax-New York-Halifax-Falmouth with naval vessels carrying the mail from Halifax to Bermuda and return until 1827. The rate was 2/- with the packet portion being 1/-
1807 (2 Dec.) entire letter from London to Bermuda, marked "p Packet" and carried on the Princess Adolphus , Paid despatch datestamp on face. The earliest known Admiralty Packet Letter to Bermuda. Photo

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Estimate
£800 to £1,000