SS Great Western

June 2, 1840

May 20, 1840, folded letter written in Florence, Tuscany, and sent privately to an agent in London (probably within another letter). The agent posted the letter in London on June 2 at the Lombard Street station and paid 8 pence for an outgoing ship letter from the UK. A London postal clerk marked the letter as a paid ship letter and wrote '8' in red ink for the payment. The letter was sent to Bristol for the June 4, 1840, sailing (14th voyage) of the pioneer steamship "Great Western," which arrived at New York on June 18, 1840. The next day, June19, the letter was processed as an incoming ship letter and marked for 20.75¢ postage due to be paid in Providence (manuscript to the left of the London Maltese Cross datestamp). This amount consisted of 2-cent ship fee plus 18-cent inland fee to Providence.