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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 98

(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 7, July 1833-June 1840 by Cunard to Halifax
In July 1833 the Admiralty discontinued its Bermuda-Halifax service and contracted it to Samuel Cunard. The Cunard Line carried mail to and from Bermuda by one route or another until 1886. During this period Cunard used five sailing vessels to carry the mail from Bermuda to Halifax and return. From Halifax mail was carried by an Admiralty packet to Great Britain or the United States
1836 (1 Jan.) entire from Bermuda to London direct by packet Hope (22.1) to Falmouth, rated "2/2" and showing, on reverse, a light strike of the "bermuda" fleuron datestamp (PM2) and arrival datestamp (22.2). A most unusual direct carriage from Bermuda to England and believed to be the only example of mail carried this way. Photo

Note: Normally this cover would have gone via Halifax but a special trip was made direct to England by the "Hope" because the November trip of the "Star" met with delay after being damaged in a gale. H.M.S. "Racehorse" took the "Star's" mail to Bermuda arriving on 22 January. It was immediately put on the "Hope" which set sail that day, also carrying this letter. Had this not happened this letter would not have arrived until 23 March

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Estimate
£700 to £800