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Mark Schwartz will discuss the unusual agreement to get mail faster to places south of Boston.

When Cunard ships began sailing in 1840, the volume of letters to Boston increased dramatically. Current postal regulations at the time required that each letter receive a “SHIP” stamp and a rate at the Boston Post Office. As a result of the huge volume (perhaps 20,000+ letters), New York merchants were receiving their letters late and urged the postmaster general to find a way to speed things up.

Efforts to address the situation directly with the head of the British post office were unsuccessful. Eventually, the Liverpool postmaster agreed to separate letters going south of Boston into a separate bag. That bag, instead of going to the Boston Post Office for processing, was sent directly to the train bound for New York.

This is the story of how that “Special Arrangement” was reached and how to identify letters directly affected.

About Mark

• Boards: American Philatelic Society; U.S. Philatelic Classics Society; Philatelic Foundation; American Assoc. of Philatelic Exhibitors; Institute of Analytical Philately; CANEJ; Boston 2026; CANEJ
• Member: Carrier & Locals Society; U.S. Classics Society; New York Collectors Club; Chicago Collectors Club; Greater Phil. Stamp & Collectors Club; Royal Philatelic Society of London.
• Exhibiting: Won 37 Grand awards for multi- and single frame exhibits;
  • Boston Postal History through 1851 – Champion of Champions 2015
  • Ship Letters sent Along the Trade Routes of Salem, Mass. 1787-1837 – SF CofC 2013
  • U.S. Retaliatory Rate of June – December 1848 – SF CofC 2014
  • Boston’s Use of the 1847 Issue – SF CofC 2020
  • The 5¢ Virginia Dare Stamp of 1937
  • The First U.S. International Postal Card and Its Forerunners
  • The Postal History of Salem, Massachusetts – Domestic Mail to 1883, Foreign to UPU
  • The New York Postmaster Provisional
  • Seven additional SF exhibits
• Accredited Philatelic Judge
• Articles and Presentations: I have written articles for the Chronicle of the U.S. Classic Philatelic Issues, the Collectors Club Philatelist, the London Philatelist, the Congress Book, the India Post, and other publications and have given numerous philatelic presentations at local, regional and national meetings.

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