1817 Cover from the Black Ball Line's 'Courier,' addressed to Messrs. Bogle, Haly & Co., London. Marked 'Liverpool SHIP LETTER' (during the first year of use) and rated 1/7d (single rate) consisting of 6d ship letter rate, 11d inland postage from Liverpool to London, and 2d captain's fee.

This letter is almost certainly from the "Courier's" maiden voyage and as it is dated early May, 1817.

The Black Ball line was the first of the great American packet lines, late in 1817 the line advertised in both English & American papers that they would commence operations January, 1818. However, Isaac Wright & Son, Francis Thompson had operated "Pacific", "Courier" and "Amity" on a succession basis but with no fixed schedule, since April 1817: the "James Monroe" was added in October, 1817 and two new proprietors also came in.