The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History continued...

10¢ Black (2), large margins all around, beautiful deep shade and proof-like early impression, tied by bold strike of red square grid cancel, matching "New-York 10cts. 17 Jul." (1847) integral-rate circular datestamp on bluish folded cover to Agent of Bank of Montreal at Belleville, Canada West, red "Montreal L.C. JY 20 1847" circular datestamp, manuscript "1/5-1/2" Canadian rate, backstamped Kingston and Belleville (both July 21), vertical file fold well away from stamp

Extremely Fine. This July 17, 1847, cover is the earliest recorded use of the United States first general issue to or from Canada.

The earliest recorded use of the 1847 Issue is the 10¢ cover from New York City to Indianapolis, postmarked July 2, 1847. The earliest use of the 1847 Issue to a foreign destination is the 10¢ cover from Philadelphia to London, postmarked July 14, 1847 (offered as lot 148). Next in line is this July 17 cover to Canada, which is the earliest use of the 1847 Issue on a cover to any location in British North America.

The 10¢ 1847 stamp paid the single-rate postage to the U.S.-Canada border. From there to Belleville, the rate was calculated at 1 shilling 5-1/2 pence, approximately 18 pence, which corresponds to the 9p rate for distance (about 250 miles), doubled for weight over a half ounce.

Ex Jonathan W. Rose and Joseph Hackmey. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), large margins to full, dark shade, tied by blue grid cancel, matching "Buffalo N.Y. 5 Dec. 6" (1849) 5¢ integral-rate circular datestamp on folded cover to St. Catharines, Canada West, neat "4-1/2" pence due marking, bold "Queenston U.C. Dec. 6, 1849" circular datestamp, faint receiving backstamp, Very Fine and attractive use to Canada, St. Catharines is approximately 40 miles from Buffalo, ex Boker (Image)

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10¢ Black (2), Position 67L, large margins to full, intense shade, tied by two strikes of blue "Philada. Pa. 10cts Apr. 4" (1848) integral-rate circular datestamp, third clear strike on light gray folded cover to an insane asylum in Toronto, Canada, red "Queenston U.C. Apr. 8, 1848" circular datestamp, manuscript "4-1/2" pence due marking just ties stamp at upper right, faint receiving backstamp, Very Fine and attractive use to Canada, ex Boker (Image)

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5¢ Orange Brown (1b), horizontal pair, radiant color, large and even margins, tied by five strikes of red grid cancel, matching "Cleveland O. Dec. 5" (1850) circular datestamp on light gray folded cover to St. Catharines, Canada West, sender's routing instruction "via Lewiston" at lower left, light strike of "Queenston U.C. Dec. ?, 1850" circular datestamp, manuscript "9" pence due, Extremely Fine, a beautiful cover to Canada with a choice pair of the Orange Brown shade, Cleveland was less than 300 miles from the exchange point so this was charged 10¢ postage for weight and not distance, ex Hart, Dr. Robertson and Hackmey, signed Ashbrook and with his note on back (Image)

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10¢ Black (2), large margins all around showing trace of frameline of adjacent stamp at bottom, sharp proof-like impression, tied by red square grid cancel, matching "New-York Dec. 22" (1849) circular datestamp on bluish folded letter to London, Canada, manuscript "9" pence due, "Queenston U.C. Dec. 25, 1849" circular datestamp, red London receiving backstamp (December 27), Extremely Fine Gem stamp and cover, ex Hackmey, with 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

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10¢ Black (2), Positions 86/96L, vertical pair, huge margins to just touched at top right of bottom stamp, including wide bottom sheet margin, vertical file fold affects stamps, tied by perfect strike of blue "Troy N.Y. Sep. 2" (1850) circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "New York 30 Augt. 1850" to Montreal, Canada, matching clear strike of "TROY & NEW YORK/STEAM BOAT" framed handstamp, manuscript "9" pence due marking

Very Fine despite the file fold through the pair.

This is one of four recorded 1847 Issue covers to Canada with the "TROY & NEW YORK/STEAM BOAT" framed handstamp--adding to its rarity and appeal is the fantastic 10¢ sheet-margin vertical pair used to pay the double over-300 miles rate (the others all bear one 10¢ stamp).

The "Troy & New York Steamboat" marking was used on letters carried by non-contract steamboats on the Hudson River between New York City and Troy. The mail entered the U.S. postal system at the receiving office, and the town datestamp indicates where the letter was received. The Troy receiving datestamp was used to cancel the stamps on three of the four recorded "Troy & New York Steam Boat" covers to Canada, which are all addressed to David Torrance in Montreal. Torrance was a member of a prominent family of importers, shippers and steamboat owners. A fourth cover is addressed to Quebec, and the stamp is tied by the blue grid cancel. The distance from Troy to the border was under 300 miles, and so would have only required a 5¢ stamp. However, this cover originated in New York City and was over the half-ounce limit, so two 10¢ stamps were affixed to pay the over-300 miles double rate.

Ex J. Waldo Sampson, Charles F. Meroni, Fisher E. Simmons, Jr., Dr. Leonard Kapiloff and John R. Boker, Jr. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), horizontal pair, three large margins, clear to just in at left, minor wrinkling, brilliant color, tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "New-York Jan. 20" (1850) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Kingston, Canada West, manuscript "3" pence due for ferriage rate applied in Canada (Cape Vincent, N.Y., to Kingston), red Kingston backstamp (January 23), lightly toned horizontal file fold, few age spots barely affect right stamp, Very Fine, the 3p ferriage rate applied to mail crossing between Cape Vincent and Kingston, which required two ferries and a land crossing--the ferriage rate applied until the new U.S.-Canadian postal treaty took effect on April 6, 1851--very few are known with the 1847 Issue, ex Boker (Image)

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10¢ Black (2), huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, detailed impression, tied by red circular grid cancel, matching "New-York Jan. 11" (1850) circular datestamp with day inverted on blue folded cover to Kingston, Canada, manuscript "3" pence due for ferriage rate applied in Canada (Cape Vincent, N.Y., to Kingston), red Kingston circular datestamp on back (January 15), an Extremely Fine Gem stamp and pristine cover, rare use of the 10¢ 1847 on a cover to Canada with the ferriage rate, this rate applied to mail crossing between Cape Vincent and Kingston, which required two ferries and a land crossing--the ferriage rate applied until the new U.S.-Canadian postal treaty took effect on April 6, 1851--pencil note on back by William O. Bilden, ex Boker (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), vertical strip of three, large to huge margins all around with part of adjoining stamp at upper right, brilliant color and sharp First Printing impression, top pair uncancelled, tied by red "Montreal, Canada Paid AU 7, 1848" tombstone-style datestamp with matching "PAID" handstamp on blue folded letter to Burlington, Vermont, sender's endorsement "Money" with contents datelined at Montreal the same day and reading in part "I enclose $500 in your own money with the exception of $1.00. I should have waited and sent it by Express but thought that in all probability you might want to use it immediately, & the express does not go till Friday", manuscript "1/6" just below stamps and larger red manuscript "1/6" rate at right

Extremely Fine strip and a beautiful cover--a remarkable use of the 1847 Issue from Canada, with a rare vertical strip of three paying the triple 5¢ rate for distances under 300 miles and weight between 1 and 1.5 ounces. This famous cover is one of the most spectacular examples of the 1847 Issue used from Canada.

The distance from the border exchange office to Burlington was under 300 miles, so this was charged three times the normal rate due to weight. The Canadian postage was 1 shilling 6 pence, or 18 pence, which is four times the 4-1/2 pence rate for distances under 60 miles. Prior to March 15, 1849, United States rates progressed in half-ounce increments, while Canada's rates, following the British system, increased in full one-ounce increments after the first ounce.

Ex Frank R. Sweet (exhibited at The Collectors Club of New York 1940 Centenary exhibition), Philip G. Rust, Dr. Leonard Kapiloff, Guido Craveri, Dr. John L. Robertson and Joseph Hackmey. Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook. With 1992 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), two singles originally forming a horizontal pair, large even margins, left stamp light creases, tied by red "10" in circle handstamps, third strike at right on small folded letter from Bytown, Canada, to New York City, well-struck "Bytown U.C. Mar. 2, 1849" circular datestamp, manuscript "9" pence and red "PAID" handstamp indicates Canadian postage was paid in cash, red "Montreal L.C. MR 4, 1849" backstamp, Very Fine, a very unusual use from Canada to the United States, Bytown is between 100-200 miles from the border, so 9 pence was charged for the Canadian portion of the postage, ex Rust and Boker, illustrated in Boggs, The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada (p. 71) (Image)

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10¢ Black (2), large margins to full, detailed impression, tied by pen strokes on blue folded letter from St. Catharines, Canada, to New York City, from the Kennedy correspondence, reddish brown "St. Catherines U.C. Dec. 7, 1849" circular datestamp with matching "PAID" handstamp, latter deleted in pen, red manuscript "4-1/2" pence due marking also ties stamp, sender also added a "paid 40" charge box number in corner, Queenston backstamp (December 8), file folds not affecting stamp or markings, Very Fine, a rare and desirable use of the 1847 Issue from Canada, ex Rust and Stollnitz (Image)

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