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All lots Aftersale lots Sold at auction

Canada

Lot 2017

130.00 CAD

Sold

1829 (January 15), Liverpool to St. John, New Brunswick, via New York, stampless forwarding agent letter, struck with red circular New York

1829 (January 15), Liverpool to St. John, New Brunswick, via New York, stampless forwarding agent letter, struck with red circular New York (30 Mar) transit, red PAID handstamp, and faint two-line ST. ANDREWS / NEW BRUNSWICK entry marking on face, bold black oval FORWARDED BY / THOS IRVING & CO. / NEW YORK agent's mark on reverse, manuscript "2/-" (shillings) double-weight British packet rate to New York, "9" (pence) currency inland charge from St. Andrews to St. John, filing folds, else very fine. Writing to the prominent firm John Ward & Sons, the sender discusses the ship Hannah's Jamaica voyage with a cargo of salt, noting the "cargo was likely to do well," before detailing his exhaustive and failed attempts to sell the vessel Emerald, having "offered her at public Auction & no bidders" despite advertisements in the "public rooms" and newspapers, concluding with the observation that the St. John Timber Market is finally "improving."

Lot 2018

180.00 CAD

Sold

1830 (February 17), transatlantic stampless folded letter from Montreal to Leith, redirected to Edinburgh, originally rated "2/2" and

1830 (February 17), transatlantic stampless folded letter from Montreal to Leith, redirected to Edinburgh, originally rated "2/2" and corrected to "4/2" representing the 8d ship letter fee plus triple the 1/2 inland rate for the journey from the Devon coast to Leith, struck with black framed Kingsbridge / Ship Letter handstamp, with Carlisle Additional ½ handstamp on front, reverse with circular transits (17 May and 18 May), blue Leith arrival (17 May), and black "1" local delivery handstamp applied on redirection to Edinburgh, fine. The letter is a three-page correspondence from near Montreal to the sender's brother John Mackie in Leith. She describes their land and cattle as prospering and her husband as "always at work" and "a different man," but writes secretly and without her husband's knowledge to ask Mackie for a loan of £150 to clear debts owed to a Mr. Bruce, fearing that "men of law" might seize their property and drive her husband back to "drinking."

Lot 2019

50.00 CAD

Sold

1834 (May 15), stampless folded entire from Rimouski to Quebec City, with clear red Rimouski / L.C. double-circle dispatch

1834 (May 15), stampless folded entire from Rimouski to Quebec City, with clear red Rimouski / L.C. double-circle dispatch cancel, straight-line Paid handstamp and manuscript "9" pence rate notationt, contents trimmed at one side, otherwise fine. The letter is from James Thompson to Louis Fisch. Thompson, an Englishman and former ship's carpenter wrecked near Rimouski in November 1828, describes years of struggle to secure fair wages from a local employer, Mr. Glen Miller, detailing work at saw mills and harbour points for two shillings per day, a series of broken promises and underpayments, and Miller's refusal to settle a long-standing debt on the grounds that he "kept no account at all" and relied on his memory.

Lot 2020

140.00 CAD

Sold

1836 (October 28), transatlantic stampless folded letter from Kingston, Upper Canada, to Edinburgh, Scotland, with red circular Kingston /

1836 (October 28), transatlantic stampless folded letter from Kingston, Upper Canada, to Edinburgh, Scotland, with red circular Kingston / Up Canada postmark (1 Nov) and red boxed Paid handstamp, manuscript "18¾" pre-paid U.S. inland postage and manuscript "via N. York" routing instruction, struck on arrival with framed Liverpool / Ship Letter handstamp and rated "1/7½" due, handstamped with framed ½ for Scottish wheel tax, reverse with red circular Edinburgh arrival (7 Dec), slight separation along folds on one page, otherwise fine-very fine. The letter is from Alex Buchanan to his uncle in Edinburgh. Buchanan admits that "to live by farming for some time is impossible" and regrets his "unfortunate error" in attempting it; Bishop Alexander Macdonell, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kingston, is taking a "great interest" in his affairs and attempting to procure him a position at the Commercial Bank. Facing arrest for debt, Buchanan asks for a £50 loan, pledging his "word and honor" and offering to sell his watch and gun, his "poor Father's" only remaining belongings, to settle his accounts.

Lot 2021

200.00 CAD

Sold

1837 (January 2), Glasgow to Dundas, Upper Canada, forwarded via Liverpool agents, stampless folded letter endorsed "p.

1837 (January 2), Glasgow to Dundas, Upper Canada, forwarded via Liverpool agents, stampless folded letter endorsed "p. Shakspeare" indicating carriage by the Black Ball Line packet ship, routed via forwarding agents Rathbone Brothers & Co., Liverpool, manuscript "1/4½" pre-paid single British packet rate, faint red "2/9" initial double-rate miscalculation corrected by large manuscript "1/9" due from recipient for American transit and Canadian inland carriage, green double split-ring QUEENSTON / U.C. (10 Mar 1837) arrival and red NEW-YORK / SHIP (8 Mar) transit on front, slight fold separations reinforced with glassine hinges sealing a tear along vertical crease at top, else of very fine appearance. Writing from Scotland, the correspondent describes a widespread influenza epidemic so severe that Sir Robert Peel's banquet was disrupted and "26 workmen" were absent from a single establishment. The recipient, Rev. Mark Young Stark, was a graduate of Glasgow University who became the first Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland in Canada and a driving force behind the establishment of Knox College.

Lot 2022

80.00 CAD

Sold

1837 (June 10), stampless folded entire from Bytown to Quebec, with red 26mm Bytown / U.C. double-circle, manuscript 1/2 rate

1837 (June 10), stampless folded entire from Bytown to Quebec, with red 26mm Bytown / U.C. double-circle, manuscript 1/2 rate notation, with extensive contents of local interest regarding lumbering, vertical filing fold, else very fine. The letter is from timber agent John Porter to his employer James Flintoft. Porter reports a raft detained at Simpsons after a dam gave way, causing the booms and slide to fail, details oak and pine inventory being delivered to Mr. Woods' Booms, and describes the market as "very flat," advising Flintoft to seek counsel from Mr. Gilmour. He notes an inventory of raft tackle left with Mr. Murphy, and that the Buchanan Slide is out of operation due to high water, and that his family has been "very bad with the Measles."

Lot 2023

50.00 CAD

Live

1843 (August 25), stampless money letter from Dunnville to Kingston, from Walter B. Sheehan, Collector at Port Dunnville, struck with crisp

1843 (August 25), stampless money letter from Dunnville to Kingston, from Walter B. Sheehan, Collector at Port Dunnville, struck with crisp red Dunnville / U.C. double split-ring (25 Aug), bold red straight-line Money-Letter handstamp, manuscript "1/10" rate at upper right and "Money" notation at upper left, reverse with red Kingston / U.C. arrival (27 Aug), typical filing folds, else very fine.

Lot 2024

70.00 CAD

Sold

1847 (August 30), Berthier to Montreal, stampless Money Letter, without contents, rated 4½d for a letter weighing under ½oz and delivered

1847 (August 30), Berthier to Montreal, stampless Money Letter, without contents, rated 4½d for a letter weighing under ½oz and delivered within 60 miles, postmarked with Berthier double split-ring despatch in blue, struck with MONEY-LETTER straight-line in matching ink, further MONEY-LETTER in red struck on arrival in Montreal, additional "Money Letter" endorsement in manuscript, reverse with next-day Montreal receiver, a lovely cover.

Lot 2025

80.00 CAD

Live

1850 (June 29), Quebec Citadel officer's prepaid trans-Atlantic folded letter to Bannockburn, Scotland, red manuscript "1/2" currency rate

1850 (June 29), Quebec Citadel officer's prepaid trans-Atlantic folded letter to Bannockburn, Scotland, red manuscript "1/2" currency rate and "1/4 stg" sterling equivalent on front, two faint red circular QUEBEC / L.C. datestamps including a faint crowned PAID AT QUEBEC L.C. mark, carried by Cunard Line Niagara departing Boston (10 Jul) and arriving Liverpool (21 Jul), crisp black STIRLING (22 Jul) arrival double-arc datestamp and partial red wax seal on reverse, file fold, else very fine. The contents, "Citadel Barracks, Quebec, June 29th, 1850," consist of a letter from Lieutenant and Adjutant H. Mackay of the 79th Regiment of Foot (Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders) to tartan manufacturers William Wilson and Son, requesting "a large handsome Shepherds Plaid of the best quality" with the next regimental supply, payment to be remitted through the Quarter Master or Regimental Agent, and noting that the Regiment "expect to be in Scotland next year"."

Lot 2026

600.00 CAD

Sold

1856 (August 1), Montreal to London, England, first day usage of the new Allan Line rate, bold red Montreal tombstone datestamp, with

1856 (August 1), Montreal to London, England, first day usage of the new Allan Line rate, bold red Montreal tombstone datestamp, with distinctive red PAID 6d Stg handstamp, officially introduced on this date to indicate the sixpence sterling prepayment for letters carried by Canadian Packets, crisp circular London (15 Aug) arrival mark, some light creasing, but a rare example from the inaugural date of this rate, which marked the implementation of simplified handstamps intended to streamline the mailing process, moving away from the cumbersome accounting of the earlier "Division of Postage" era.

Lot 2027

50.00 CAD

Live

1859 (July 7), Goderich to Clinton, Crown Attorney's Office official cover with Royal Arms printed corner card, Goderich / U.C. (7 Jul)

1859 (July 7), Goderich to Clinton, Crown Attorney's Office official cover with Royal Arms printed corner card, Goderich / U.C. (7 Jul) double split-ring and straight-line PAID handstamp, manuscript "5c" single-rate inland postage and "Paid Box 20" notation on front, Clinton / C.W. (8 Jul) arrival backstamp and embossed floral seal on flap on reverse, very fine.

Lot 2028

60.00 CAD

Sold

1863 (November 9), Montreal to Sherbrooke, 10c Consort on folded letter, tied by Montreal circular barred circle duplex, MONTREAL / C.E. (9

1863 (November 9), Montreal to Sherbrooke, 10c Consort on folded letter, tied by Montreal circular barred circle duplex, MONTREAL / C.E. (9 Nov) dispatch postmark on face, SHERBROOKE / C.E. (10 Nov) arrival on reverse, very fine.

Lot 2029

110.00 CAD

Sold

1864 (March 21), Montreal to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, trans-border mourning cover, franked with 10c Consort, tied by Montreal

1864 (March 21), Montreal to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, trans-border mourning cover, franked with 10c Consort, tied by Montreal circular barred circle duplex, MONTREAL / C.E. (21 Mar) dispatch postmark on face, TROY / N.Y. (23 Mar) transit on reverse, black mourning border with embossed lily-of-the-valley floral seal intact on reverse flap, the odd tone spot, fine-very fine.

Lot 2030

40.00 CAD

Sold

1889 (September 10), uprated postal stationery cover from Victoria to Germany, 1c postal stationery cover (EN3), uprated with two 2c Small

1889 (September 10), uprated postal stationery cover from Victoria to Germany, 1c postal stationery cover (EN3), uprated with two 2c Small Queens, tied by Victoria duplex (SP 10), to Leipzig, Germany, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a few small toning spots, attractive.

Lot 2031

100.00 CAD

Live

1892 (August 25), Dundas to Madras, India, 5c Small Queen cover, tied by dual strikes of crisp Dundas c.d.s., to the Baptist

1892 (August 25), Dundas to Madras, India, 5c Small Queen cover, tied by dual strikes of crisp Dundas c.d.s., to the Baptist Mission Station in Cocanada, Madras Presidency, endorsed "via Brindisi" in manuscript, reverse with Hamilton (25 Aug), Sea Post Office (20 Sep) and Cocanada transit/arrival backstamps, a desirable destination, better quality than often encountered.

Lot 2032

50.00 CAD

Sold

1896 (May 10), London Western Fair, illustrated advertising cover, franked with 3c vermilion Small Queen, tied by London orb cancel, with

1896 (May 10), London Western Fair, illustrated advertising cover, franked with 3c vermilion Small Queen, tied by London orb cancel, with next-day Amherstburg c.d.s. arrival backstamp, lovely illustration promoting the London Western Fair, with "Widow Weeds" portrait of Queen Victoria, corner card of A.M. Smith & Co, Wholesale Groceries, fine.

Lot 2033

90.00 CAD

Sold

1897 (August 6), cover from New York to Montreal, forwarded to Richmond, Quebec, franked with United States 2c Washington tied by Brooklyn

1897 (August 6), cover from New York to Montreal, forwarded to Richmond, Quebec, franked with United States 2c Washington tied by Brooklyn machine cancel, 1c Jubilee (sulphurized) affixed and tied by Montreal flag cancel (9 Aug) for forwarding, Richmond c.d.s. arrival backstamp (10 Aug), an unusual mixed-country franking paying the 3c domestic forwarding rate.

Lot 2034

60.00 CAD

Sold

1898 (November 14), 2c Victoria postal stationery cover uprated with 6c Numeral, stamp of rich deep colour, tied by bold oval

1898 (November 14), 2c Victoria postal stationery cover uprated with 6c Numeral, stamp of rich deep colour, tied by bold oval "R" registration handstamp and Toronto c.d.s., to Buffalo, New York, with violet framed next-day arrival backstamp, some light edge toning, fine-very fine.