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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 79

(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 5 with three sub-routes, January-September 1827
In response to competition from American Packets the Admiralty ceased its run to New York from Halifax after December 1826. There were three routes used during this period as the Admiralty sought to find the best way to accommodate the competing needs of Her Majesty's Government and the mercantile communities of both Bermuda and the United States. Sub-routes a, direct from and to Bermuda, b, the Mexico Packet and c, the Annapolis Packet
Sub-route 5a: 1827 (10 Mar.) entire from Rev. Moore at Hamilton to London and carried on the earlier summer routing, rated "2/2" and showing, on reverse, "bermuda" fleuron datestamp (PM1) in black (very rare with only six examples recorded) alongside arrival datestamp (7.4). Fine and rare. Photo

Note: Forand and Freeland suggest that this cover was probably carried by a naval ship, as the packet "Redpole" sailed on 8 March and no other packet is recorded as leaving Bermuda until late May. The cleric reports on the congregation and speculates on the scope for expanding the influence of the Church in Bermuda

provenance:
Sir Henry Tucker, October 1978

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