Transatlantic cover to Great Britain

November 30, 1826

November 30, 1826, folded letter from New York to Sheffield, England, carried from New York (December 1) to Liverpool (December 23) by the Black Ball Line sailing packet "Britannia." The letter was taken to the ship's letter bag and not to the post office in New York. Upon arrival at Liverpool, the letter was marked on the reverse with a boxed SHIP LETTER/LIVERPOOL handstamp in black ink to show the place at which the letter entered the British mail system. In the upper right corner it was marked for postage due of 4-shilling 3-pence. This amount consisted of three x (8d incoming ship fee plus 9-pence inland fee from Liverpool to Sheffield) = 51 pence or 4-shilling 3-pence. This letter was charged three rates because it consisted of three sheets of paper, the letter and two enclosures.