Gravesend (GB) Ship Letters

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Type numbers are those used by Robertson and continued by Colin Tabeart.

S1

The first SHIP LETTER of Gravesend was recorded by Tilley as 1768 but the earliest for which no picture is available is in the Williamsburg Norton
archive in the USA (https://rocklibnorton.omeka.net/items/show/402 link updated 15 Oct 2020) in early 1771. It is otherwise recorded 1774 to 1799

From Lisbon on the Susanna under Captain Johnstone, January 1774, the earliest in private hands.

From Table Bay on the Orpheus, received 26 November 1795.

S1a

The second Gravesend SHIP LETTER was recorded first by Davey in 2003 on an 1800 entire from the USA. A second example surfaced shortly after, from March 1801.

From Bowling Green in the USA, by the Claripa, Capt. Field. Received in London 26 Dec 1800

S2

Gravesend SHIP LETTER type S2 was oval, in a format common to many ports. The dates recorded are 1802 to 1806.

Sent from Amsterdam, received in London in November 1804. Rated 8d

Received in London in January 1805. On reverse is a manuscript note "Rotterdam 10 Jany 1805 / Forwd by your & & / Pr Jhne Boerser" ?

There follows a gap, until 1812 when, it appears, no Gravesend Ship Letters are recorded.

S3

Gravesend SHIP LETTER type S3 was also oval, but with no inner frame. The Kent Post 9, 51 (1981) recorded an example in 1812 and the example shown below is dated 1814. Lot 1098 in the sale of the F. Chadwick collection of ship letters (Robson Lowe, London, 15 April 1975) was a repaired 1814 example from Cuba where it realised £130.

Manuscript origin of Charlestown. It passed through London on 27 September 1814 on its way to Glasgow. Total rate 3s4½d.

S4

Gravesend SHIP LETTER type S4 was the first step-type with Gravesend above ship letter. 42mm x 13mm with 3mm letters, it is recorded 1815 to 1820.

The London receiving mark is illegible but this entire is dated inside, 2 November 1815. Rated 2s4d, double rate.

S5

The other Gravesend SHIP LETTER with Gravesend above ship letter was bigger, 49mm x 13mm, with 4mm letters. It is recorded 1821 to 1825.

Probably originating in Bilbao, this outer to Huth in London was received 4 March 1825. Double rate, 2s4d.

S6

The SHIP LETTER Gravesend type S6 showed ship letter above Gravesend. It is 48mm x 14mm with 3.5mm letters. It is recorded in both black and red at different periods. 1822 to 1832 in black and 1836 to 1839 in red.

Entire from Amsterdam "per Dampfschiff" or "by steamer". Received 15 October 1827. Rated 3s6d, triple rate to Huths in London. The left flap is folded out to show the S6 which is on reverse.

S7

Type S7 also showed ship letter above Gravesend. It is 48mm x 12mm with 4mm letters. It is recorded in black, red and blue.
Black 1818-1833
Black 1842-1849 (reissued?)
Red 1844
Blue 1847-1849

S7 in black, 1 June 1832. Apparently marked "Per James Lyon Turner, Master", it originated in San Thomas, Rated 1s2d.

S7 in black from the reissue period, 18 September 1848. Marked Pr European, there is no clear indication of origin

An S7 example in blue dated in London 28 September 1848. Inscribed "per Hugh Walker" and rated 8d, a filing note suggests a Canton origin.

S7 in black added in the Ship Letter Office in London. It was erased with the "Crutched Cross" marking and the correct Margate Ship Letter added. It is likely that the entire landed in Margate but was placed in a bag unstamped. It travelled to London via Gravesend. Charged 2s8d.

S8

A further step-type SHIP LETTER Gravesend type S8 was larger, measuring 52mm x 15mm with 5mm letters. It is recorded in both black and red at different periods. 1832 in black and 1835 to 1840 in red.

As shown below for S8a another entire landed from the British Queen, marked London on 26 Dec 1839 in the 4d post period. However S8 is used here. These two entires together show both S8 and S8a were used together on the same day.

S8a

The final step-type SHIP LETTER Gravesend type S8a measured 51mm x 14mm with 4.5mm letters. It is recorded in red and black, 1832 to 1840.

This entire from New York was carried by the British Queen and received in London on 26 December 1839. This is the only transatlantic steamer to arrive during the 4d post period.

S9

The script type S9 Gravesend Ship Letter (of a type shared only with Pwllheli), measures 46mm x 15mm. It is recorded in both black and blue. 1833 to 1844 in black and in 1847 in blue. It is arguably the most common Gravesend ship letter.

An example of S9 in black from Bahia by the ship Margaret. Received in London 11 May 1835. From the Rothschild correspondence.

S9 in blue (rare) from Cienfugas in Cuba to London. Received 13 December 1847. It is marked "consignee" and so should have been exempt from the ship letter charge. It was however charged the standard incoming ship letter charge of 8d. ex Robertson.

Four further unframed Ship Letters were issued to Gravesend over the next fifty years. All are very scarce with, except for S13, probably only single digit numbers recorded. For these, dates are given, where known rather than ranges.

S10

This is the only type with LETTERS in the plural. Despatched to Gravesend in December 1852, there are records of 17.11.1853 in black and 1.7.1856 in blue.

Entire from Portugal to London, per "Vesta". In addition to S10 in blue, 1 July 1856, there are two strikes of the London ship letter and a dated receiving mark.

S11

The small S11 was despatched 18 October 1859. It is recorded 8.11.1859, 19.3.1860, 3.5.1865 and 31.7.1868.

A letter from Bartlett Cromwell (later a US Rear-Admiral) on the USS Macedonian, "at sea", to his wife in Philadelphia. Part of the letter reads "July 10th - There is a vessel passing near us going to England. I will send you what I have written because I may not get a chance to send one from Fayal". It shows the S11, also a Gravesend cds for 31 July 1868, a circular London Ship Letter and, on the front, PHILA / AU / 11 / UNPAID.

Another example, written 3 July 1868 from the same correspondence as the one shown (130 miles from Fayal) also bears a London Ship Letter mark (Phillips, London, 4 April 1996, lot 250)

S12

S12 was despatched 19 October 1868. It can be identified as the L of letter is under the V of Gravesend. It is recorded 10 September 1869 and 25 September 1879.

Internally dated 30 Aug 1869 from St.Pierre & Miquelon, pr “Chilham”. It was landed at Gravesend where it received the S12 mark and a Gravesend cds of 10 Sept. There are transit marks of London, Paris-Caen tpo then a receiving cds of Granville. The boxed GB / 1F60c was used on mail from the Americas carried by British packet under article 34. 10c due from the recipient.

An example on reverse of a cover dated 25 September 1879. It is believed to be from the SS Kangaroo which arrived in Gravesend that day from Zanzibar. For details see Kent Post 43 #4, 4, 2017.

Front.

S13

The last type, S13 is recorded 1894-1931.

Struck twice on a postcard to Denmark, landed 17 November 1912. The two Barbados stamps are cancelled "THE EAST ASIATIC COMP LTD".

An apparently philatelic use on 4 November 1924. No other markings.

None

No exempt marking was issued to Gravesend. Mail was so marked in the ship letter office in London.

Entire from New York (21 June 1838) to London (4 August 1838), per the British barque William Gales, William Solley master (Lloyd's list #7618). Marked "Consignees Letter" it was free of sea postage, liable to inland rate (double 6d = 1s). Struck Crown / Exempt Ship Lr in red.

Outer from Jamaica (30 July 1842) to London (26 September 1842), pr brig African??. Marked "Consignee" it was free of sea postage, charged 3d. Struck Crown / Exempt Ship Lr in black.

A “Paquebot marking” (37x6mm) has been reported for Gravesend, similar to many issued to British ports. Only one cover has been reported in 1900, but no picture is available and a piece which is shown here.

Piece of cover apparently from the Hospital Ship "Princess of Wales", dated 1 Jan 1900.

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