Black "SHIP" marking with manuscript "14 1/2" on folded letter from Providence to New Orleans. Dec 27, 1827 docketing.

Possibly New EKU.

Black "SHIP 14 1/2" straightline handstamp on May 29, 1827 Boston folded letter to New Orleans with manuscript "P. Illinois"

This cover was carried from Boston to New Orleans by a non-contract ship. The mail was taken off the vessel at the
Balize, and turned into the post office, at the entrance to the Mississippi River. It was thereupon marked SHIP and
rated 14 1/2 cents [121/2 cents for the distance 80 -150 miles + 2 cents hip fee), and placed in a closed bag for the trip up the River.

The Mail Route fiction only applied to ships sailing from New Orleans to Boston, Philadelphia or Providence, not to
Vessels sailing from these ports to New Orleans.

Noted by Cal Hahn as earliest reported receipt for a valuable letter is this one which reads:

"Marshall Post Office Dec. 1, 1840
I do hereby Certify that Messrs. Gorham & Brown have this day deposited in this Office to Mail a letter addressed Higginson & Clapp of New York Containing Two hundred dollars in bills of different banks. Chas. D Smith P.M."

This note signed by the postmaster attested to the fact a patron deposited into the mails a letter containing two hundred dollars, several years before Registered Mail was adopted.

In the Postmaster General's Report of November 17, 1828, Mclean wrote that "It may be advantageous to the public and the department at some future time, for it to become the insurer of moneys transmitted in the mail, being authorized to charge a higher rate of postage in such cases to indemnify for the risk incurred. To guard against frauds, this responsibility must necessarily be limited to packets mailed at principal offices, under such regulations as shall afford the greatest possible security"

Black Mercer Dec 20, Pa and clear strike of matching "10" on folded cover to Philadelphia, with 1849 lettter enclosed. Small blue Philadelphia "R" (Type 2)

Black Apr 28 Muncy, Va cds with black straightline "PAID" and "5" in circle handstamps. Large blue partial "R" handstamp on 1848 folded letter to Philadelphia.

Red Sep 11 Bloomsburg, PA with matching "5" in circle handstamp. Large blue "R" on 1849 folded letter to Philadelphia.

Blue Nov 13, Baltimore, Md 1849-50 cds with blue "PAID" and dark blue small "R" (Type 2). Addressed to Philadelphia.

Blue Sep 16 Baltimore, Md cds with dark blue small "R" (Type 2) and red straightline "PAID", addressed to Philadelphia.

Red Ballston Spa, NY Apr 26 with matching small "5" handstamp on 1849 folded letter to Philadelphia. Two blue strikes of the Philadelphia "R"

Type I Large Blue "R" Philadelphia marking with large negative "5" handstamp. Blue Feb 22 Trenton, N.J. cds. On Folded letter to Philadelphia.

Black Jul 11 New-York 5 Cts. cds of 1851 (known perfect for 5 weeks only) and large, light blue Philadelphia "R" (Type 3)on letter to Philadelphia.

Red Boston Sep 21, Mass cds with matching straightline "paid" and manuscript "20" in pencil. It is also marked with a black "20" similar to the one on cross-border mail. It has a small blue Philadelphia "R" and a manuscript "45", likely the recording number.

Red Boston Sep 21, Mass cds with matching straightline "paid" and manuscript "20" in pencil. It is also marked with a red "20."

Red Boston MAY 23, Mass cds with matching straightline "paid" and manuscript "20" in pencil. It is also marked with a red "20."

Type I Large Blue "R" Philadelphia marking with manuscript "20" on folded letter to Philadelphia. Oct 1 Pittsburgh, PA cds. 30 Sept 1846 docketing.

Red Feb 20 Reading, Pa cds with red "5" and Large blue Philadelphia "R" on folded cover to Philadelphia.