Transatlantic cover to France

June 17, 1856

June 17, 1856, letter carried "out of the mails," probably in another letter or package, from Havana, Cuba, to New York agent Goodhue & Company, which stamped its marking on the reverse, and then it posted the letter unpaid to France in the British open mail. The agent paid 5-cents for the letter, marked in pencil in the lower left corner. The letter was included in a closed mailbag made up at New York on July 1 for the next day sailing of the steamship from Boston. It was carried from Boston (July 2) on the Cunard steamship 'America' to Liverpool (July 13) and arrived at London on July 14, 1856. The letter was sent to Paris (July 15), entering France on the train from Calais to Paris. This was shown by the entry marking, ETATS-UNIS.PAQ.BRIT. A.CALAIS D. This marking indicated that the letter was from the US, was carried by British packet to the UK, and entered France on the ambulant (train) from Calais. The train clerk marked the letter for thirteen decimes postage due, the correct amount for a letter up to 7.5 grams by this route.