Worldwide Stamps and Postal History

S.S "Metropolis". 1878 Philadelphia Dead Letter Office envelope with "United States Postal Service" embossed in the upper right corner, the reverse with the printed explanation "The inclosed letter was recovered from the wreck of the / steamer Metropolis, lost on Currituck Beach, / North Carolina, January 31, 1878." addressed to Demerara, British Guiana, backstamped at George Town (Mar 6), much of the address unfortunately cut out of the front of the cover, the reverse with the printed explanation fine. The wooden hulled steamer "Metropolis" set sail for Brazil on January 28th carrying employees of P. & T. Collins who were going to build a railway, and materials for the proposed railway. On January 30th rails shifted in the hold opening the ships seams and letting in water, and a huge wave then washed away the smoke stack and saloon, seven of the eight lifeboats, and drowned the ships fires. The ship set sail for Currituck Beach but grounded on the outer bar 100 yards off shore and turned broadside to the waves. The one remaining lifeboat reached shore but all attempts to get a line to the ship failed and those aboard jumped or were washed into the sea, 90 people drowning. Ten of the eleven mailbags were washed ashore but eight were plundered, leaving two intact mailbags with the Postmaster at Norfolk. No covers are known from the wreck, but six of these special printed ambulance envelopes have been recorded. Photo on Page 44.
Suggested price: £ 600-700