10¢ Black (2), large margins to clear, tied by two or three strikes of red grid cancel, matching "STEAM•BOAT" straightline and "X" Roman numeral 10¢ rate handstamp (rate crossed out) applied at Eastport, Maine, where it entered the post office, on grayish blue folded letter datelined "Boston, U. States, Thursday, 10th May, 1849" to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, sender's routing instructions "Via New Brunswick" at lower left, clear strike of "ST. JOHN•N•B/SHIP LETTER" two-line handstamp, backstamped St. John (May 12), Pictou (May 14) and Prince Edward Island (May 17), manuscript "1/4" 1sh4p (currency) ship-letter rate due marking applied at St. John, New Brunswick

Very Fine; stamp slightly toned, a few bleached spots in cover--inconsequential flaws, considering this is one of only three 1847 covers to Prince Edward Island, the earliest of the three, and the only one that was carried by steamer route rather than by land. Only one other 1847 cover has this combination of markings (it is addressed to Pictou, Nova Scotia).

The letter writer describes his journey, noting that he arrived in Portland by steamer the day before and then traveled by railroad to Boston. He anticipates going to New York City--"I have some idea if I can get ready in time to go to New York & there take the steamer for Halifax."--which explains the presence of the U.S. "STEAM•BOAT" handstamp. Rather than put the letter into the Boston post office, the writer entrusted it to the captain of a steam vessel--probably Hiram Favor, captain of the Admiral--who carried it to Eastport, Maine. The 10¢ rate handstamp was crossed out and the 10¢ stamp was cancelled. It left Eastport, Maine, on the steamer Maid of Erin on its regularly scheduled trip to St. John, New Brunswick, arriving on Saturday, May 12. At St. John the cover entered the British mail system as a ship letter, receiving the "ST. JOHN•N•B/SHIP LETTER" handstamp. From St. John it was conveyed to Pictou, Nova Scotia, and on to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Other than the destination, this cover is very similar to the 5¢ 1847 cover to Pictou, Nova Scotia, with the same "STEAM•BOAT" and "ST. JOHN•N•B/SHIP LETTER" handstamps, illustrated in an article by David D'Alessandris ("1847 Covers to the Maritime Provinces: An Update," Chronicle 238, fig. 2, USPCS census no. 4404). Both covers were received at Eastport as steamboat letters and at St. John as ship letters.

Ex Dale-Lichtenstein and John R. Boker, Jr.

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