Postal Stationary - Stamped Envelopes
Stamped Envelope - America's Cup Races
Issued on September 15, 1980 in Newport, Rhode Island
Scott #U598 - Fleetwood Cachet with 1870 Winner - Magic

The cachet by Fleetwood depicts Magic, the winner of the cup in 1870. This was the first defense of the cup since America had originally won it in 1851.

In 1870 there were twelve yachts entered in the race. Two of them, Dauntless and America were manned by United States Naval Cadets from Annapolis and were heavily favored to win the cup. The British challenger was named Cambria and there were 8 other challengers in the race. The starting gun was fired at 11:26 AM on August 8, 1870 and the race was on.  Right from the start, Magic left no doubt as to which boat was the superior sailor, soon leaving the other boats far behind. Magic crossed the finish line 39 minutes ahead of her closest competitor and Cambria finished tenth.

Magic was an 84 foot keel schooner owned by Franklin Osgood. She was designed in 1857 by T. Byrely and Son of Philadelphia. She had been completely rebuilt and refurbished just a year before the cup race by David Carll Of New York. 

Magic had a long and useful career serving as a dispatch runner during the Spanish American War and as a sponge fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico. She was sunk during a hurricane off of Key West, Florida in 1926.

See Aristocrat Cachet for: History of the America's Cup)
See Also: Postcard New York Yacht Club Station No. 6 Newport, RI