Page 69 - Charles Shreve - William H Gross United States 1847 Issue

B. Auxiliary Postal Services "Bootleg" Mail - British Isles
4. Forwarded Mail Same Day, Same Forwarder, Different Addresses

Both covers were carried outside the mail to Boston, NlA. Dated June 7, 1851, at Liverpool, England, they both originate
from the same source. They were likely carried to Boston by a passenger on the Cunard packet Niagara leaving Liverpool
on June 7 and arriving at New York, NY on June 20.

to Springfield, NlA.

!':UJ ~oH
.L,7VH:n· :ii.\ '.~,,:-;~'lf\l': 1:1
'J ~>.: r · l ·'· :-1 1 1 v u · 1\ A-
to New York, NY.
A a o :.un1 v llr' U
The letters were handed to a
commission merchant, \V m. Bailey
Lang, who acted as a forwarder.
Mr. Lang placed his cachet on the
reverse of the cover, affL"Xed the 5~
1847 on both covers, and placed
the letters in the Boston post
office, thus saving the British
client 19~ of the 1/- (24~) British
packet postage.

Such letters as this are commonly
called "Bootleg" covers. The U. S.
Post office was aware of the
practice and it was legal.