Lot 37
Canada, Conversion from Sterling to Decimal Currency, blue legal size cover from Harriston, U.C. to Guelph, U.C., postmarked light Harriston broken circle with manuscript date "July/2/59" and black straight line "REGISTERED", red manuscript "Paid 6" rate and black manuscript "More to pay 10", backstamped Elora with illegible date; reduced a bit at right and vertical file fold, Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
This cover illustrates the confusion that began just a day earlier, July 1, 1859, when the post office changed from sterling currency to decimal. The domestic rate went from 3d per half-ounce to 5¢ while the registration fee, formerly 1d, became 2¢. The postmaster at Harriston mistakenly rated this cover, which weighed more than a half-ounce, at 6d, the old double rate, instead of 10¢. The postmaster at Guelph apparently assumed that the "6" was cents and, allowing no credit, even for 6¢ marked the letter for 10¢ to be collected from the addressee. However, he neglected to charge the newly instituted unpaid penalty rate of 2¢ per half ounce. Allowing no credit for postage paid, the correct unpaid rate should have been 14¢.
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| Realized $525 |
