Worldwide Stamps and Postal History

S.S "Oregon". 1886 (Mar.) Cunard S.S Co. envelope sent from Liverpool to New York, handstamped violet "Per OREGON / via Queenstown", the stamp washed off, endorsed "This envelope contained a letter taken from one of the pouches found floating at sea Ex S.S. Oregon wrecked & sunk off Fire Island, Sunday March 14, 1886", backstamped with violet circular "RECEIVED / IN BAD CONDITION / BRANCH / A", N.Y and New York Paid All datestamps (Mar. 19). The Cunard steamer "Oregon" left Liverpool on March 6th for New York via Queenstown, arriving at Sandy Hook, New York Bay, early on March 14th, but was then rammed by the schooner "Charles H. Morse". The "Charles Morse" sank with the loss of all hands whilst the "Oregon" flooded and settled in water off Fire Island, all 866 passengers and crew being rescued by small boats and taken to the Liner "Fulda", which took them to New York. The "Oregon" carried 598 bags of mail some of which were recovered before she sank, other bags were washed out to sea and recovered from the water or washed ashore whilst divers recovered further mail from the wreck between March and July. This cover is unusual in having the manuscript endorsement rather than a printed label, possibly because the Cunard cachet of the "Oregon" meant a further explanatory label was deemed unnecessary. Photo on Page 51.
Suggested price: £ 100-120