Arago: Steamship

Unpaid letter posted at British post office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 14, 1854, addressed to Modena, the capitol of the Italian States' Duchy of the same name. Letter carried by Royal Mail Steam Packet Company steamer "Great Western" from Rio (August 15) to Southampton (September 12), and arrived at London the same day. At London the letter was marked with the red boxed handstamp, COLONIES &c ART.13, to show it was an unpaid letter from overseas and treated under letter bill accounting Article 13, whereby France owed the UK 3-shilling 4-pence for each 30 grams of bulk letter weight. Letter arrived at Paris (September 13), was sent overland to Turin (September 15) and Modena (September 17). The handstamp VIA DI/PT.BEAUVOISIN was applied at Turin to show letter entered the Kingdom of Sardinia at the exchange point with France of Pt. Beauvoisin. A Turin clerk marked the letter for postage due of 1-lira 72-centesimi to which Modena added 25 centesimi for a total postage due of 1-lira 97-centesimi.