Lot 362
Canada, 1852, Beaver, 3d red (Unitrade 4), full to huge margins including part of adjacent stamp at left, tied by grid and large blue "6" rating handstamp on cover to St. John, New Brunswick, matching "Hamilton U.C., MY 15 1856", "U.States" straightline and "10" circled due rating, various backstamps including Quebec (5.18), "Mon. & Isld. Pd. Grand Tr'k R. Way, A Down, May 19 1856", Island Pond Vt. (5.20), St. Andrews (5.23) and St. John (5.24); spindle hole and small hole in address panel, Fine and interesting use, prepaid for the 3d inter-provincial rate, uprated to 6d for the U.S. rate. Scott 4.
Estimate $4,000 - 5,000
Provenance: Wilkinson
From July 6, 1851, the rate to the Maritime Provinces was 3d with most correspondence being carried on an overland route or by boat out of Quebec City. When the railroad started carrying mail to Portland, Me. in August 1853, the U.S. Postmaster General agreed to the conveyance of Maritime Mails from Canada free through closed mails.
It is not known why this cover is treated as unpaid mail and charged the full U.S. rate when it was routed the proper way through Quebec City and why it was sent to Island Pond, Vt., a Canada-US exchange office for processing.
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| Realized $2,600 |
