Lettre de Funchal (Portugal) a EUA, via Grande-Bretagne , 1868 - packet/ship?

Bonjour,

Once again looking for your help.

The following letter was sent from Funchal, Madeira to the USA on 25.7.1868. It has London transit mark from 1.8.1868.
I am looking to find the packet or ship that might have sent the letter from Funchal to the UK/London/Southampton.

I did some research and between 27.7 and 29.7 there were no packets/ships arriving in Lisbon from Madeira therefore I can conclude that the letter went direct to the UK. I already did some research on UK newspapers and couldn't find it.

Now, I believe the answer could be in the packets of West Coast of Africa that passed via Madeira and went straight to the UK without transiting in Lisbon. Unfortunately, I don't have literature about West African Mail packets. 

Anyone might know the answer to this? Perhaps the book from Colin Tabeart, British West African Mail Packets has the answer?

Thank you once again!

Hello,

P.T wrote :
Anyone might know the answer to this? Perhaps the book from Colin Tabeart, British West African Mail Packets has the answer?

Just right ! The steamer was Lagos, departure from Old Calabar : 28.06.1868

Best regards,
Laurent.

Hi Laurent, thank you very much!

I leave here an image from The Guardian, 3.8.1868 (Monday)


Wondering why it has a mark from London on the arrival day instead of a Liverpool mark ...

Hello,

Wondering why it has a mark from London on the arrival day instead of a Liverpool mark ...

2 possibilities ?
1/. the priority was surely to carry the mail (closed bags) as quickly as possible to London for sorting and forwarding it to the various destinations by the different harbors. Even for letters to USA... then going back sometimes to Liverpool for shipment !

(2/. a small steamer took and disembarked the mail in Wales or South-West England before the packet reached Liverpool, and forwarded it, by railroad, to London ? Cunard did it at Holy Head. But I've not read about that for the African Steam Ship Co)




L.

Bonjour,

Very interesting, did't consider those possibilities, thank you!

In this case the dates of the letter indicate the letter was carried by Cunard's "Russia" s.s. from Liverpool on 1.8.1868 to New York and then forwarded to Chicago. 
The "Russia" s.s. accepted mail until 20:30 (1) on 1.8.1868 without additional fees.  Not sure, at the time, how fast were the trains between Liverpool (or the place where the small steamer took the mails)  and London, to be able to go to London, process the mails and route it back to Liverpool, could it be done on the same day? Seems so ...

Regarding, Cunard did it at Holy Head, where I could read more about it?


(1) The Liverpool Mercury, Saturday, August, 1, 1868

PhilaTejo a écrit:

Bonjour,

Regarding, Cunard did it at Holy Head, where I could read more about it?

Hello,

Hubbard & Winter, North Atlantic Mail sailings (1840-1875) : 



Laurent.

Bonjour,

Thank you very much once again Laurent.