RARE TRANSATLANTIC FREE FRANK FROM THE G.B. POST OFFICE VIA ...

Hammer

£650

RARE TRANSATLANTIC FREE FRANK FROM THE G.B. POST OFFICE VIA NEW YORK TO MONTREAL; 26 Feb. 1839 front sent "By Private Ship" from London to a Hussars Officer in "La Prairie Barracks, Montreal" (the Barracks housed troops during the 1837-39 unrest of the Rebellions); it was signed by the Secretary to the British P.O. "W. L. Maberly" and so went free with the London crowned "FREE" d.s. and a very fine matching strike of the very rare boxed London Ship Letter Office "FREE" d.s. (Jay L848; recorded 1835-39 but with only a few example recorded). There are NEW YORK/SHIP and MONTREAL transit cds's along with various (US?) postal rates and a red h.s. "FORWARDED" because La Prairie is not in Montreal itself but a few miles away across the river. Unique(?) usage of the rare boxed "FREE" d.s. on Transatlantic mail.Cross Reference: TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, SHIP LETTERS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA