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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 84

(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 du
Sub-route 5c: 1827 (8 Sept.) double rate entire letter (a little toned at right) from Couper, Fife to New York, per Admiralty Swallow to Bermuda, per Cunard Susan to Annapolis and thence overland to New York, showing despatch Paid datestamp, rated "Paid 2/6½" and written over with "39½" cents, Annapolis datestamp at left, despatch mileage mark handstamp on reverse. The ninth and last trip on this route and the sole recorded cover by this trip. Photo

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Estimate
£800 to £1,000