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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 81

(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 5b: 1827 (8 May) entire letter from Mexico City via Vera Cruz to Belfast and redirected to the Post Office at Cheltenham, endorsed "p Lady Mary Pelham" to Bermuda and thence Falmouth and Belfast, variously rated and showing "franco/ has/ta el puerto (Paid as far as Port) handstamp and Belfast datestamp (12.7) on face, the reverse with very fine "mexico" fleuron handstamp in green, applied at Falmouth, and two Irish datestamps; face panel folds largely separated, nevertheless full of character and the only known cover using this route with none originating in Bermuda. Photo

Note: Return trips from Bermuda were possible either by direct Admiralty route or on homeward bound trip of the Mexican Packet

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