Adriatic

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shipstamps
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Adriatic

Post by shipstamps » Mon Sep 01, 2008 5:53 pm


The Adriatic, of the Collins Line, New York, is the only steamship to have the same illustration on the stamps of two different nations, the same printing die being used for the 12 cents stamp of U.S.A., 1869 and 20 centaros postage due stamp of Peru, 1874. A curious feature about this is that when the artist drew the design and the engravings were made, they were never intended for postage stamps, but bank notes.
The vessel depicted on the stamps was the "Queen Mary" of her day, the largest, fastest, most luxurious liner afloat, with every modern device for comfort that human ingenuity could achieve. She was the first vessel to be illuminates by gas and the first ship to carry a searchlight at sea.
Built by Steers of New York in 1857, and engined by Stilton, Allen Company, of that city, the Adriatic had a gross tonnage of 5,888. Her dimensions were: length 351 ft. beam 50 ft., depth 30 ft. Her speed was 13 knots. She was built for the Collins Line of New York to wrest the supremacy of the Atlantic from the Canard liner Persia, and succeeded in gaining the Blue Riband on her maiden voyage from New York to Liverpool, November-December 1857.
Next year the mail subsidy of $385,000 per annum paid to the Collins Line on a 10-year contract by the U.S. Government, expired and was not renewed. The company went bankrupt and the Adriatic was laid up, but was later put into service between New York and Aspinwall. In 1800 she was sold to the Galway Line. This company collapsed shortly afterwards and she was again laid up.
In 1871 she was bought by Edward Bates, (later Sir Edward), of Liverpool. After making one voyage to San Francisco for her new owner, from September 30, 1871 to September 29, 1872 she was converted into a sailing ship. The Africa Company, of Liverpool, purchased the vessel in 1883 and two years later she was beached and made into a hulk at Bonny, West Africa. She literally fell to pieces in 1895.
While travelling from Galway to Liverpool in ballast in 1864 she had a serious explosion in the engine room which killed one man and left the vessel helpless off the Irish coast. She was later picked up and towed into port.
The selection by the National Bank Note Company of the Adriatic for the design of the 12 cents stamp in 1869 was a tribute to the American Collins Line rather than to the steamship Adriatic herself, as she never carried United States mail to Europe under the Collins Line mail contract. SG119

hindle

Re: Adriatic

Post by hindle » Sat May 08, 2010 5:05 pm

This is not the only stamp with the same illustration used by different countries.

The 1892 3c stamp for Columbus was used by Newfoundland in 1897 for the 10c value for Cabot.

Sorry, I don't have any SG numbers to hand.

Richard A. Hindle

Mrcarlo
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Re: Adriatic

Post by Mrcarlo » Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:05 pm

Stamp of Peru, year 1874.
Adriatic.jpg

On the Newfounland stamp (10 c. - 1897) is featured a sailing ship, may be a Columbus ship.

Arturo
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Re: Adriatic

Post by Arturo » Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:13 pm

Adriatic

Peru 1874, S.G.?, Scott: J2.
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Adriatic.jpg

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