Great Britain 1851 Inman Line CITY OF MANCHESTER Maiden Voyage Stampless Transatlantic FL

Stampless folded letter, with commercial contents, struck with "6" in blue octagon, to Philadelphia, endorsed "per City of Manchester", interior dated July 17, carried on the maiden voyage of the Inman Line "City of Manchester", docketing arrived in Philadelphia on 15 August, fresh and scarce, ex Booth. The Inman Line began carrying cargo and passengers to Philadelphia. A shift to New York and the Civil War resulted in the US Post Office relying on the company for mail service. Most was carried via American steamship. In 1867, they obtained a British mail contract, though new competition resulted in its gradual decline, and it was eventually taken over by the American Line.