1839 Montreal to GB, British Queen, Freight Money, 4d Uniform rate era.

1839 SFC docketing “Montreal Nov 22, 1839” to London, GB, ms “per British Queen” and “441” indicating postage charged to box 441. The cover is rated 1/- Stg and the reverse has a red “Ship Letter / Gravesend” and “B 26 DE 26 / 1839”.

The British Queen was owned by the British and American Steam Navigation Company and was the largest and almost as fast as the Great Western.

The cover is rated “1” Stg collect being the 8d inwards ship letter rate plus 4d UNIFORM RATE which was in effect from Dec. 5, 1839 until Jan. 10, 1840. The mail from the “British Queen” was the only mail to arrive from North America during the 4d Unifrom rate period. The 25c Freight money charge was charged to account “no.441” and not shown on the cover.