Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.
West Indies Routes
Arecibo, Puerto Rico, May 10, 1861, carried outside the mails to San Juan by Amell Julia & CA forwarder. "PAID AT SAN JUAN PORTO RICO" crowned circle, May 11, 1861, paid 1 shilling British sea postage per Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Clyde to St. Thomas, May 14, 1861, transit then Cunard Merlin via Bermuda to Halifax, then via Cunard America to Boston. Boston, May 30, 1861 transit marking. Rated 5¢ due as unpaid letter arriving via Cunard line. Sismondo Cert.
Arecibo, Puerto Rico, November 10, 1861, Amell Julia & Ca. forwarder marking, San Juan November 11, 1861, transit and "PAID AT SAN JUAN PORTO RICO" crown circle, rated 1/- sterling packet postage per Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Derwent to St. Thomas. St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, November 13, 1861 transit, then likely via Havana to New York steamship route. New York "STEAMSHIP 10" marking, rated 10¢ due incoming steamship rate for distance less than 2,500 miles.
San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 26, 1865, paid 1 shilling British sea postage per RMSP packet to St. Thomas, March 28, 1865, then Cunard Alpha via Bermuda to Halifax, then via St. John to Boston by steamboat. Boston, April 21, 1865 transit marking. Rated 10¢ due treaty rate from Halifax to New York. Illustrated in Danish West Indies Mails 1754-1917, Volume I: Postal History p. 52.
Saint Lucia, August 7, 1868, endorsed "pr United States Mail Steamer" sent under cover per RMSP Mersey, departing Saint Lucia August 9, arriving St. Thomas, August 12, 1868. At St. Thomas a forwarding agent applied the 10¢ green 1868 E Grill prepaying the 10¢ steamship rate per United States and Brazil Mail Steamship Company Mississippi, departing St. Thomas August 14, and arriving New York August 20. Postmarked on arrival, New York, New York, August 21, 1868.
Puerto Rico, May 13, 1872, Porto Rico May 13, 72 PAID british PO marking, franked with 4 pence vermilion plate 12, canceled by “C61", St. Thomas May 14, 1872 transit, per US & Brazil Mail Steamship Co. North America depart St. Thomas May 14, arrive New York May 20, N.Y. Steamship 10 due marking, Sismondo Cert.