Lot 352
Canada, 1851, Queen Victoria, 12d black, laid paper (Unitrade 3), intense color and large margins all around, perfectly tied by crisply struck target cancel on 1852 folded letter sheet to New York, showing "Montreal L.C./JY 21 1852" double arc origin datestamp, "Canada" exchange office handstamp in arc, and straight-line "Paid" handstamp, all in red; part of top back panel missing and sealed tear on front extending from bottom of cover into the second line of the address in no way affects this Extremely Fine and exquisite usage on cover of what is one the of the great classic rarities of the British Empire and of world philately as a whole. Scott 3.
Estimate $200,000 - 250,000
THE FINEST OF THE SEVEN RECORDED COVERS IN PRIVATE HANDS.
Expertization: 1995 B.P.A. Certificate.
Provenance: Worthington, Dale-Lichtenstein, Nickle, Foxbridge, "K.L.", Robertson, Gross
The 12 Pence stamp was issued to prepay single letters to Newfoundland, Bermuda and the British West Indies. However, it also conveniently paid the double rate to the U.S.A. Many believe the value was stated in "Pence" rather than "one shilling" to avoid confusion on the part of the United States postmasters
There are seven recorded existing covers. However, only three, or perhaps four, can be stated, with full confidence, to be genuine. The seven are as follows:
1852 MR 16 Montreal to Kennedy, NY NY, 2003 Brandon Certificate
1852 JY 19 Hamilton to Kennedy, NY NY, Ex Foxbridge, Weil Bros., Illustrated in Boggs
1852 JY 21 Montreal to Paton, NY NY, Ex Worthington, Dale-Lichtenstein, Foxbridge, Dr. Chan Illustrated in Boggs, Jarrett, now offered here
1853 DE 8 Hamilton to Kennedy, NY NY, Ex Seybold, Wellburn
1856 SP 1 Hamilton to Gosport, England, tied by two targets, overpays 10d rate, Greene certificate, a very late use
185(?) DE 19 Toronto to McMaster, NY NY, 12d with right sheet margin, RPSL certificate, Ex Pipkin, Illustrated Boggs (p.138)
185(?) Toronto Feb 1? to Rawdon Wright Hatch, Edson, NY NY, Ex Dale.
Illustrated in Boggs, p. 137; Arfken, Leggett, Firby & Steinhart, p. 54;
"A Special Exhibition of Greatest Covers from the Collections of Alfred F. Lichtenstein and Louise Boyd Dale", exhibition catalog, The Philatelic Foundations' Fiftieth Anniversary, November 6, 1995.
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