straightline postmark with Franklin mark (July 3) on folded letter to New York City bootlegged from French Guiana, rated "3.8" (3dwt 8gr) for a distance of 200-300 miles, local currency in New York expressed as "1/8" (1sh 8d), light foxing, otherwise fine
This folded letter was bootlegged from French Guiana to Boston, where the ship’s captain did not turn the letter in to the Boston postmaster as he was required to do, but instead deposited the folded letter in the general delivery box. Therefore, it was not marked “Ship” (or its equivalent) and the captain did not receive the ship captain’s fee (16gr). The Boston post office treated the letter as any other letter mailed at Boston, placing it in a closed bag and sending it to New York.