Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — French and British Royal Packets
(1784) "PAQ. L'ORIENT". Lightly inked but readable strike of straightline handstamp with "Port-Paye De L'Orient" fancy framed prepayment handstamp on greenish folded letter datelined "L'Orient 20 Novr 1784" to Philadelphia, carried by the French Royal Ship Agency's Courier de l'Amerique on its third voyage, departing from L'Orient on December 1, 1784, and arriving in New York on January 18, 1785 (49 days), manuscript "20" sols prepaid rate marking on back, receipt docketing dated January 20, 1785, Very Fine, a rare westbound French Royal Packet cover with the fancy "Port Paye De "L'Orient" marking,ex Weinberg-Martin
(1785) "PAQ. L'ORIENT". Clearly struck straightline handstamp, faint strikes of "B" (Bordeaux) and "P.P. Bordeaux" (Port Paye) circular handstamps on folded letter datelined "Bordeaux 29 Janvier 1785" and addressed to Philadelphia, sender's endorsement "franco L'orient", manuscript "12 Double" and "24" on back, carried on the fourth voyage of the French Royal Ship Agency's Courier de l'Europe, departing from L'Orient on March 23 and arriving in New York on April 29, 1785 (37 days), manuscript "6" (dwt) due, re-rated "2/8" due in local currency (6dwt=18p x 1.67 inflation factor=30p plus 2p carrier fee, or 2sh8p), April 30 receipt docketing, Very Fine, rare combination of markings on this westbound French Royal Packet cover, ex Weinberg-Martin and Dr. Robertson
(1785) "PAQ. L'ORIENT". Clear strikes of straightline and "P.P.P.P." handstamps on folded letter from Leghorn, Italy, datelined "Livorne 22 Juillet 1785" and addressed to Philadelphia, probably routed through Dunkerque, as it has a faint strike of straightline and notation in dateline, sender's directive "P. L'orient", carried on the fourth voyage of the French Royal Ship Agency's Courier de New York, departing from L'Orient on September 30, and arriving in New York on November 13, 1785 (45 days), manuscript "38" sols prepaid rate marking on back, manuscript "2" (dwt) due
VERY FINE. A RARE FRENCH ROYAL MAIL PACKET COVER ORIGINATING IN ITALY AND SENT TO PHILADELPHIA.
Ex Weinberg-Martin.
(1785) "PAQ. L'ORIENT". Clearly struck straightline handstamp on folded letter datelined "Rotterdam le 4 Aoust 1785" and addressed to Philadelphia, endorsed "affranchise pour L'Orient" and "Franco Nieuw York", meaning full payment was made in the Netherlands, carried on the fourth voyage of the French Royal Ship Agency's Courier de New York, departing from L'Orient on September 30, and arriving in New York on November 13, 1785 (45 days), manuscript "2" (dwt) due, November 15 receipt docketing
VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF A FRENCH FOREIGN MAIL PACKET THAT ORIGINATES IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, IN THIS CASE THE NETHERLANDS, AND MARKED AS PREPAID.
Ex Weinberg-Martin.
(Feb. 2, 1786) London, England to Philadelphia via New York. Folded cover docketed "London 2d Feby 1786" at left to Dr. Thomas Parke in Philadelphia, sender's directive "Via New York Feby Pacquet", clear strike of "Post Paid" in circle handstamp at center, "2/FE" Bishop's mark on top flap, red manuscript "1oz" and "p 4/-" prepaid rate for four-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Speedy from Falmouth Feb. 14, 1786 and arriving New York Apr. 18, New York manuscript "8" dwt for inland postage (4 x 2dwt for 60-100 miles), Philadelphia manuscript "3/6" for 3s 6d due in local currency (8dwt = 24d sterling, or 24d x 1.67 = 40d local + 2d delivery = 3s6d), docketed "Recd 21 April 86", some wear, Very Fine quadruple-rate use, ex Barwis