Transatlantic cover to London, England

1806

This is a March 5, 1806, folded letter from Demerara (Demerary), British Guiana, to London, carried by sailing ship "Francis" to Greenock, Scotland, where faint red ShipLre/(crown)/Greenock oval handstamp was applied in upper right corner. The letter arrived at London on April 30, 1806, as shown by a circular datestamp on the reverse. At London the letter was marked for 1-shilling 5-pence postage due (manuscript, upper left corner), 4-pence incoming ship fee plus 1-shilling 1-penny inland fee from Greenock to London. In the lower left corner is the talismanic inscription, "Q D C" meaning "Quam (or Quem) Deus Conservet" or "whom God preserve." Endorsements such as this were inscribed on many early letters by the senders to seek preservation and guidance for the ship and its master.