NEW/YORK. Two-line handstamp in black, full clear strike on back of folded letter datelined "Philadelphia 9br 1710" (September 30, 1710) and addressed to John Brown in Liverpool, England, sender's directive "pr. pqt." (Per Packet), manuscript "post pd to NYK" (Post Paid to New York) postmark at bottom of address panel, matching "1N" one-shilling rate crossed out, re-rated "In all 1N3", backstamped after arrival with brownish-black "IA/8" London Bishop's mark, receipt docketing on flap confirms 1710 date, the letter contains interesting references to sailing days of Bristol-New York packet service, trade with Lisbon, and mentions the enclosed bill of exchange dated "Maryland September the 19th 1709" which is still present, expertly restored

THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED HANDSTAMPED MARKING USED IN AMERICA, WHICH WAS APPLIED TO LETTERS CARRIED BY WILLIAM WARREN'S BRISTOL AND NEW YORK PACKET SERVICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MARKING AND AN IMPORTANT POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT FROM THE EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD.

This letter from the John Brown correspondence is dated two years prior to the June 10, 1712, letter bearing the identical "NEW/YORK" handstamped marking that surfaced from the same correspondence in 1994. The entire Brown correspondence has been analyzed and no earlier example has been found.

This letter was carried on board the Royal Anne, one of William Warren's Bristol-New York packet vessels, captained by John Shorter. The Royal Anne left New York in December 1710 and arrived at Bristol in January 1711 on its first eastbound (return) voyage for the newly inaugurated Bristol-New York packet service. It is believed that the "NEW/YORK" handstamp was applied by John Hamilton, the New York agent for William Warren and postmaster for North America. Hamilton advertised the packet departure dates in The Boston News Letter and handled the mail that was carried by Warren's packets.

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