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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 69

(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 went underwent a number of route changes before it was finally abandoned in 1840 and contracted to Cunard. There are seven different routes
Route 2, War of 1812 Period, March 1813-March 1815
During the War of 1812 naval vessels carried mail and the route was changed to avoid New York. A modified summer route was used year-round. Naval vessels continued to carry mail between Halifax and Bermuda. The new rate of 2/2d. to and from London began on 10 July 1812 and ran through until 1839. The packet portion was 1/2d.
1814 (23 July) entire letter from Bermuda per a small warship to Halifax and thence to Portsmouth, written by an Admiralty officer aboard H.M.S. Royal Oak at Bermuda, rated "2/3" (deleted) and "2/2" and showing rare oval-framed "Ship Letter/Crown/halifax" handstamp and Halifax datestamp (18.8). Photo

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