81 EARLY EXEMPT SHIP LETTER; 1833 EL COGH to London (sheet separated by Robertson into two for display) endorsed "11⁄2oz" with fair oval "SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" h.s., boxed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" (Tab.In.1) and in between a fine red "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP LR" h.s. (Tab.Ex1)(vertical fold through centre). Originally rated "4/4" but amended to "4/-" as the India sea postage of 4d. was exempt, as this was a consignee letter. Scarce thus. PHOTO. £240
82 SPECTACULAR COVER ADDRESSED TO CRADOCK BEARING A SUPERB BLOCK OF FOUR OF 4d BLUE ADHESIVES WITH SUPERB MARGINS ALL ROUND: 1858 (January) E addressed to a John S. Distin Esquire, Cradock bearing a superb block of 4 of the 4d blue (SG.6a) and with oval style "CRADOCK/JA 2/1858" postmark to the left of the adhesives. Exhibition quality. PHOTO. £1200
CHINA
83 CANTON TO LONDON VIA ST HELENA & COWES; 1838 part EL Canton to London endorsed "via St. Helena" and rated "4/3" with on the reverse an endorsement "Received at St Helena 21 Janry 1838 pr Rosalind/& forwarded on the 22 Jan pr Brooklyn/by your obedient/J Solomon" above a fine step-down "SHIP LETTER/COWES" h.s. (Tab.S3). Scarce thus. PHOTO. £400
84 1836 EL FROM CANTON TO LONDON VIA PENZANCE; 1836 EL Canton to London endorsed "Duke of Sussex" an East Indiaman and rated "3/4" with on the reverse a boxed "INDIA LETTER/PENZANCE" (Tab.IN.1) overstruck by a red step down type "PENZANCE/SHIP LETTER" (Tab.S4) and alongside a further strike of the Ship Letter h.s. overstruck by a London receiver d.s. An engraving of Penzance is included. Scarce. PHOTO. £400
85 Ist OPIUM WAR - CANTON TO OLD RAIN SCOTLAND; 1841(16 Apr.) EL ex Canton to Old Rain, Scotland (sheet separated by Robertson into two for display) carried the Herald with fine boxed "GREENOCK/(date)/SHIP LETTER" d.s. (Tab.S14) and rated "1/4". The writer W Leslie is writing to his parents outlining what has happened in Canton "..every thing is quiet and peaceable ...the Chinese traders who left the City as the british forces advanced and are only returning by degrees ... We are now very busy shipping off our teas ....We have 4 of H.M. Ships lying near canton ... with Hyacinth frigate Commanded by my friend Cap Warren ... we often dine on board the men of war..." He closes by complaining that he doesn't seem to be getting any letters from home! PHOTO. £500
CHINA - FRENCH POST OFFICES
86 TIENTSIN - BOXER REBELLION : September 1903 registered cover to France endorsed Corps d'Occupation de Chine and franked with opt. values 2c on 5c (rubbed perfs at top) plus 4c on 10c (3) tied by TIEN-TSIN/POSTE FRANCAISE cds; sent by an officer with the 16e Colonial Regiment stationed at Chan Liang Cheung, with weak strike of the Poste/de/Chan-Liang-Cheung cachet on reverse; small closed tear at top of E otherwise attractive and scarce. PHOTO. £120
CHINA - GERMAN POST OFFICES
87 TIENTSIN: 1905 Registered cover to France (Russo-Chinese Bank seal) franked with three 'Germania' 20pf with 'China' opt. tied by three strikes of the single-ring Type 7A (III) cds with reg'n label alongside; weak strike of the YOKOHAMA A MARSEILLE French paquebot d.s.; light toning but a scarce cover. PHOTO. £100
FIJI
88 LOCAL MAIL - 1890s COVERS TO THE POSTMASTER + PRINTING OFFICE "FRANK" WRAPPERS; 3/7/20 July trio of envs. (minor faults) all addressed to "Leslie Walker Esq., Colonial Postmaster, Suva" (or similar) franked by 1d black, 1d black pair or 2d green all tied by fair "SUVA" c.d.s.'s; scarce and unusual local mail. Plus local 1896 pair of "O.H.M.S./FRANK/PRINT OFFICE/Fiji" printed wrappers to "Rev. J.F. Jones, SUVA" both cancelled by fine oval dotted sunburst marks. Useful group. (5 covers). [All ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £150
FRANCE
89 VERY EARLY SHIP LETTER ENDORSEMENT; 1698 EL Port St. Marie to London (sheet separated by Robertson into two for display) with fine Bishop d.s. and endorsed "pr le navire le Zenturion/que Dieu Conduise" (By the ship Centurion/who God Guide). An early attractive ship endorsement. PHOTO. £100
FRENCH COLONIES - NEW CALEDONIA
90 NEW CALEDONIA - VERY RARE PRESTAMP COVER TO G.B. VIA NEW SOUTH WALES; Extraordinary 22 Aug. 1842 EL (damp damaged with bad sellotape 'repairs' to some folds but almost complete and in need of modern archival restoration, but with important contents) headed from "Brig 'Star', Isle of Pines, South Pacific" and addressed to the Shetland Isles; having a fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/SYDNEY" d.s. (just affected by faults at top) nicely placed on the front with manuscript "3" (NSW Ship Letter rate prepaid) and "8" (incoming GB Ship Letter charge) to "Island of Papa, Shetland, North Britain" with backstamps inc. London (13 Mar.), Aberdeen and Lerwick . The letter gives a fascinating insight into travel and cannibalism in this part of the world in the early 1840s:- "My Dear Father, ...I did not expect to have an opportunity of writing you until my arrival in China, but...a conveyance has now offered for Sydney...On the 3rd of May we sailed from here...we visited the I[slan]d where the Martle's [a ship?] people were cut off [shipwrecked?] and found that those unfortunate fellows were killed and devoured by the savages. We remained there for 3 days, but the natives were so savage that no good could be done; they were about attacking us [sic] but...no blood was shed. From there we went to the Loyalty Islands, and after cruising among them for several weeks, we found that nothing [i.e. no trade] could be done as the natives were so wild...From there we steered again for the New Hebrides and arrived at Port Resolution on 21st June...[took on supplies & in 6 weeks gathered a cargo of] 15 tons of sandle wood to each ship...There has been some...missionaries on this island...Matuka, the King, has ordered them away on pain of being killed and eaten...they were obliged to take shelter on board of us...From Otahiti our destination is most likely the Sandwich Islands and China...P.S....I have been where 'Williams', the great Missionary was killed [on Tanna]..." Important early letter from this remote Pacific area. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £300
GAMBIA
91 RARE EARLY INGOING 1/- RATE COVER FROM SCOTLAND VIA PLYMOUTH; Remarkable 19 Dec. 1854 env. (minor toning and flap faults) from "BALLINBALLOCH" (v. fine green c.d.s. on reverse) addressed to "Mr. John Grant, late Messrs. Grant & Co., St. Mary's, Gambia, Africa", franked by G.B. 1/- green Embossed (cut square; 2 clear to wide margins, just shaved on the other sides) tied by fine Scottish "354" numeral, endorsed on the front as "Answered 27th June 1855". Very rare destination at this early date - there was no postal service with Gambia before the 1850s, and an amazing destination for a G.B. Embossed cover. Important Exhibition Item. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £500
GRENADA
92 EARLY EL FROM GRENADA TO LANCASTER; c.1780 E Grenada to Lancaster rated "5" and endorsed "pr King Grey" with watery but fine "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LRE" (Tab.S2) and on the reverse a fine "GRENADA/(Crown)" in circle. Early and attractive. PHOTO. £150
INDIA
93 PRE-WAGHORN OVERLAND MAIL COVER VIA EGYPT, DISINFECTED WITH SCARCE RED STEP-TYPE "SHEERNESS/SHIP LETTER"; 14 Oct. 1826 EL from "Bombay" to Edinburgh (31 May 1827) redirected to London with curved "POSTAGE/TO/EDINBURGH/NOT PAID") with very fine scarce red step-type framed Rob.S3 "SHEERNESS/SHIP LETTER" on the top flap, having slight stains and distinctive chisel-slits of disinfection (at Standgate Creek?), with very important contents. The writer states that "I take advantage of the opportunity afforded me by the transmission of [Government?] Despatches to the Consul in Egypt to send a few lines with a hope that they will reach you sooner than if sent by sea." This suggests a routing via the Red Sea to Suez and overland to Alexandria, but long before Waghorn started his campaign to introduce such a route officially. The writer also says that he will soon travel to England via Egypt, leaving "about 1st Decr. for Cosseer, to which place the voyage may occupy from a month to five or six weeks..." and so through Egypt and Italy. Clearly the writer was an experienced traveller with good contacts. Rare example of mail sent via Egypt in the 1820s. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £200
94 WAGHORN CACHET ON COVER TO G.B. - THE VERY RARE "Mr. T. Waghorn/Suez" OVAL TYPE; 3 June 1839 E from "Calcutta" to Scotland endorsed "p. Overland Mail" and charged "5/41⁄2" with a mostly very fine oval-framed rare "Care of/Mr. T. Waghorn.Suez" mark on the front endorsed (as usual) with ledger number and initials; there is also a mostly fine red boxed Calcutta "STEAM POSTAGE/INLAND Do./TOTAL" mark on the top flap (matching the fine boxed "INDIA" on the front) and a very fine black London boxed "BRITISH/FOREIGN" on the lower flap with London F.B. 21 Sept. 1839 arrival c.d.s. Very rare; this "Mr. T. Waghorn" oval cachet is far rarer than the more normal "Mr. Waghorn" type. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £1500
95 FASTEST (?) 1840s OVERLAND MAIL COVER & OTHERS FROM BOB BINNIE's 1962 'SCOTEX' EXHIBIT; 1 Dec. 1840 EL (minor flap faults) from "Bombay" to Greenock (same addressee as the previous lot with the Waghorn cachet) endorsed "p. Steamer via Red Sea", with a London transit c.d.s. of 8 Jan. 1841 showing that it was a mere 39 days in transit, which is thought to be a very fast transit time at this date; plus 1842 Calcutta E to the same Greenock address, similar 1842 E from Calcutta to Liverpool "Via Falmouth p Overland Mail", 1847 E with red boxed "Overland via Marseilles" cachet and scarce black boxed "SINGAPORE/Bearing" datestamp, and an 1837E to Futtegurgh with the Oude Prime Minister's autograph inside. All except the last item appear to have been in the late Bob Binnie's pioneer 1962 'Scotex' exhibit of the Overland Mail. (5 covers). [All ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £150
96 THOMAS WAGHORN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED BY THE MAN HIMSELF; Fine tiny 12 Feb. 1846 EL sent privately in London written in Waghorn's distinctive hurried handwriting, addressed to "C. Roach Smith Esq., 5 Lpool St." asking the addressee to meet Waghorn at " St. Station of the Blackwall Railway" on Saturday, clearly signed "Thos. Waghorn". Rare thus; personal letters from Thomas Waghorn are seldom seen. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £150
MAURITIUS
97 1810 EL FROM MAURITIUS TO LONDON; 1818 EL (sheet separated by Robertson into two for display) Port Louis to London written by Geo. Waugh to the MP John Gayler complaining of the Governor of the Colony Major General Gage John Hall "..whose delight is to crush the mercantile spirit of enterprise..."; endorsed "pr Admiral Cockburn" (East Indiaman) with part Port Louis d.s. below a fine crowned oval "INDIA/PACKET LETTER" d.s. (Tab. In.P2). Scarce. PHOTO. £400
98 1848-59 2d INTERMEDIATE IMPRESSION WITH NUMERAL CANCELLATION: Attractive 31⁄2 margin example of the 2d deep blue (small edge thin) cancelled by a complete, upright strike of the double-ring '2' obliterator used at Flacq; attractive. PHOTO. £200
99 SCARCE '3' 'TARGET' CANCELLATION ON 3d LOCAL COVER: 1863 E (toned filing crease, piece missing from flap) addressed to Port Louis and franked with 1d & 2d stamps, each cancelled with a clear strike of the two-ring 'target' cancellation '3' of Souillac with matching cds of Souillac on reverse. Despite faults, an attractive cover. PHOTO. £800
100 SIXPENNY FRANKED COVER TO U.K. WITH MOKA '6' CANCELLATION: Envelope (slightly crumpled, tear, small piece of flap missing) addressed to the U.K., franked with an attractive example of the 1863 6d yellow-green, cancelled (not tied) by a clear strike of the 2-ring obliterator '6' used at Moka with matching cds of Moka on reverse plus watery red strike of the 11⁄2d accountancy mark. Rare and attractive exhibition item. [RPSL cert. 1986] PHOTO. £1000
101 FINE STRIKES OF THE RARE '16' TARGET CANCELLATION: 1865 Part EL (address panel plus one flap) addressed to Port Louis, franked with 1d pair - one with wing margin - cancelled by two neat, clear strikes of the '16' numeral cancellation used at Eastern Suburb; a rare usage that displays well.PHOTO. £1000
NETHERLANDS
102 AMSTERDAM - EARLY "[POSTHORN]/A/3/S" OVAL POSTAGE DUE MARK ON COVER TO ROTTERDAM; Fine 4 Jan. 1692 EL from "Amst[erdam]." to "Rotterdam" having a mostly very fine strike of this attractive oval coat-of-arms mark - one of the earliest Postage Due marks in the world - on the front. Scarce and attractive. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £120
NEWFOUNDLAND
103 HANDLEY-PAGE ABORTIVE TRANSATLANTIC AIRMAIL ATTEMPT COVER: Cover carried on the 4th July 1919 flight (per the "Atlantic") ex Harbour Grace destined for the United Kingdom addressed to a Mr. R.J. Organ in Southend-on-Sea bearing $1 on 15c Transatlantic Air Post tied by usual wavy line cancellation and with St. John's (9 June) & Harbour Grace (14 June) datestamps well clear of adhesive. A few cover faults but a very scarce item. Note: The airplane, flown by Brackley & Kerr was forced down by engine trouble at Parrsboro. Having obtained the necessary spare parts it left on 9th October but had to land once more at Greenport, near New York. Nierinck 190704. PHOTO. £750
NEW ZEALAND
104 FIRST FLIGHT COVER FRANKED WITH "FIVE PENCE" ON 3d AIRMAIL - THE FIRST DAY THE ADHESIVE COULD BE USED FOR ITS INTENDED PURPOSE: 1932 (20 Jan) env from Westport to Dunedin franked with "FIVE PENCE" on 3d airmail adhesive carried on the 1st flight Wellington to West Coast S.I. with appropriate boxed cachet. It would appear that the postage stamp was issued on 18 Jan 1932 but the first opportunity to use it correctly was this flight. The Airmail vignette is a little damaged and the cover is wrinkled. PHOTO. £700
ST. HELENA
105 RARE PRESTAMP COVER TO SCOTLAND WITH RARE RED STEP-TYPE "DEAL/SHIP LETTER"; 1 Oct. - 13 Dec. 1832 E (internal dated heading with printed "St. Helena" cut out for display) to Edinburgh charged "1/101⁄2" with a mostly very fine red boxed step type "DEAL/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S8b; scarce colour and this size previously only recorded for 1828) on the top flap. Scarce early letter from this small island and an unusual Deal Ship Letter mark. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £150
ST. VINCENT
106 EARLY EL FROM ST. VINCENT TO LONDON VIA LEWES; 1830 EL (sheet separated by Robertson into two for display) St. Vincent to London endorsed "pr Spheroid", rated "1/4" with a v.fine "SEAFORD" udc (W&J SX1103) on the reverse where the letter was landed and a v.fine step-down "LEWES/SHIP LETTER" h.s. (Tab.S2) on the front. Very attractive. PHOTO. £150
TOBAGO
107 PRESTAMP COVER TO G.B. WITH SCARCE RED DOUBLE-BOXED "BRISTOL/SHIP-LETTER"; 23 Feb. - 8 Apr. 1821 EL headed from "B. Hope" (attributed by the late Bob Binnie to "Tobago" so presumably he knew the location; written by a missionary, Rev. Richard McMillan) charged "1/10" to Scotland with a mostly very fine twin-boxed step-type "BRISTOL/SHIP-LETTER" (filing fold) nicely placed on the front. Early letter from this small island. [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £120
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
108 RARE "AMERICAN MAIL/1/-" ALL-IN-ONE MARK OF DUBLIN ON TRANSATLANTIC COVER EX NEW YORK; 2/14 Feb. 1856 stampless EL (some dusting; small closed tear at foot just clear of mark) to Ireland from "New York" having a mostly fine large "21/N. YORK AM. PKT." c.d.s. on the front beside a very fine rare Dublin "AMERICAN MAIL/FE 14/1856/1/-" mark (the shorter type; Tabeart ). This mark was one of the few ever used in the 19th century that incorporated the date, wording and charge-mark all in one handstamp. Exhibition Item. [An example in Cavendish's Oct. 1998 'Sirene' auction realised £506.] [Ex Binnie.] PHOTO. £300
109 RARE "3/N. YORK BREM. PKT." C.D.S. ON STAMPLESS COVER TO SAXONY; Attractive 25 Nov. 1864 EL from New Orleans (fine 2-ring duplex on front) to "Limbach...Saxe" with fine "9/NEW YORK" (struck in error) and rare "3/N. YORK BREM. PKT." (Winter No.52) c.d.s.'s slightly overstruck on the front along with matching blue "AMERICA/UBER BREMEN" and large "61⁄2" Accountancy Mark. Rare thus and attractive. [With 1996 James van der Linden certificate.] PHOTO. £150
110 UNUSUAL COVERS - ADVERTISING, TO COLOMBIA, REGISTERED, ETC.; 1887 red printed Cigars advert 2c brown Postal Stationery env. used to Germany ex S.F. with 2c+1c tied by v. fine SF duplexes, unusual 1894 env. to "Cartagena, rep. de Columbia, South America" with 1c+2c(2) tied by fine "SIOUX FALLS/S.DAK" duplexes, 1909/25 trio regd. to Germany inc. two 2c red uprated P. Stat.envs. with commem. frankings and long 1913 "Penalty" en. regd. to N. Dakota with 10c cancelled by "0" marks marked "Receipt demanded" and "UNCLAIMED" etc. Good variety. (6 covers). PHOTO. £120
THE FRENCH PERIOD, 1684-1759
111 THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER FROM CANADA IN PRIVATE HANDS - QUEBEC TO PARIS; 20 Sept. [previously described as Feb., but in our opinion "7bre" indicates September] 1684 EL (vertical filing crease affects one word of address, but otherwise very fine) clearly headed from "Nouvelle France, a Quebec", signed Le C. Macary, and addressed to "Monsieur Monsieur de Villeneuve" with "Vauclose" added in a second hand. From the same correspondence as the famous 1685 Lot 1 cover in the Steinhart auction, but earlier; the 1685 cover similarly has only the addressee's name in the writer's hand, with the rest of the address ("Vauclose, chez Mademoiselle Guerin, Marchande Lingere, Rue de la Harpe, a Paris") in the same second hand as this letter. In our opinion this second part of the address of each letter was added by the Forwarding Agent M. Heron at La Rochelle, who is twice named in this letter. There are no postal marks; this letter was presumably sent under cover from La Rochelle to Vauclose (in or near Paris?) under cover or by private means. The letter gives the addressee news of the death of his son and mentions the recent receipt of a Bill of Exchange sent from France via M. Heron. The most important part of the letter gives the writer's address; "Mon addresse est; Au Messieurs, Monsieur Heron a La Rochelle, pour me fere [= faire] tenir en Canada", which proves that this letter was indeed sent to France. Highly Important Exhibition Item; the Earliest Recorded Letter from Canada in private hands and the Earliest Recorded Transatlantic Letter from Canada. The 'Steinhart' 1685 cover - dated a year later - sold in 2005 for 47,500 Swiss Francs (+ Premium). [Ex Sam C. Nickle.] PHOTO. £5000
112 SECOND (?) EARLIEST RECORDED INTERNAL CANADIAN COVER IN PRIVATE HANDS; 30 April 1692 EL (some dusting and with horizontal crease affecting address panel, but still attractive) from "Villemarie" (signed by a lawyer of "L'Isle de Montreval") addressed to "M. Nicolas Perrot, Commander at [Fort?] St. Augustin[?]"; St. Augustin is a small place near Quebec. The letter is a legal document (an "obligation") ref. some land [at "St. Michel"?] signed by several people, but clearly dated the last day of April 1692, though apparently subsequently proved on 15 Sept. 1695. We have only recorded one earlier internal Canadian cover (dated 1687); very few covers of any kind dated prior to 1700 are known. Important Canadian Exhibition Item. PHOTO. £1000
113 RARE VERY EARLY INTERNAL LETTER FROM QUEBEC(?) TO "MONTREAL"; 5 Mar. 1694[?] EL (internal date affected by sealing wax & small tears, written in a difficult hand; light vertical fold through address) neatly addressed to "M. Adhemar, No[tai]re Royal, d'Office[?] de Tabellion [= scrivener] de la Jourioste[?] Royalle de Montreal, a Montreal", written by another Notary, [Peter] Cabazier, who is thought to have been based in Quebec. The addressee was Antione Adhemer (de St. Martin), 1639-1714. Most attractive and very rare early French Period cover. PHOTO. £500
114 EXTREMELY EARLY INGOING COVER TO NEW FRANCE POSTED FROM FRANCE VIA A PARIS AGENT; Remarkably fine and attractive circa 1710 E (minor wear; one side-flap removed) from France endorsed "port paye" at top left and having a manuscript squiggle (?postal rate?) in a different ink at top right, possibly from St. James de Beavron in Normandy (compare the similar c.1710-17 cover to the same addressee with similar wording and markings in the Steinhart sale [which sold in 2005 for 32,500 Swiss Francs + Premium]. Clearly addressed [translation]; "M. Le Boiseulse at the [ecclesiastical] seminary of St. Sulpice of Paris, to forward if he pleases, to M. Raimbault, King's Attorney at Montreal or [i.e. also known as] Ville Marie, at Paris." Exceptionally rare early Transatlantic cover, apparently routed via a Church Forwarding Agent system, that needs further research. Pierre Raimbault was born in Montreal in 1671 and died there in 1740, but he was King's Attorney only between 1706 and 1727, which gives the maximum possible date-span for this cover, but the use of the name Ville Marie as well as Montreal suggests a very early date. PHOTO. £3000
115 EARLY INTERNAL LETTER FROM QUEBEC(?) TO "VILLEMARIE" (MONTREAL); c.1710 E (folds and tear unnecessarily reinforced with 'magic' tape) presumably from Quebec addressed to "M. Raimbault, Royal Notary, at his house in Villemarie", so similarly dated to c.1710 (must be 1706-27) as the previous lot. [There are some notes inside the cover that are thought to be in the hand of Pierre Remy, founder of the parish of La Chine.] PHOTO. £300
116 RARE EARLY INTERNAL LETTER - FROM "CHAMBLY" TO "MONTREAL"; 3 Aug. 1711 EL (some unnecessary 'magic' sellotape around outer edges; also with a later 'posthumous' red wax seal - presumably added by a collector keen to 'prettify' the cover - that should be removed) clearly headed and dated from "Chambli" (full typed translation), addressed to "M. de la Laivte [= Laferte], Royal Notary at Montreal" asking for a legal document to be prepared, and asking that it be kept secret, because "my Captain would be annoyed with me". Presumably from a soldier at Fort Chambly (16 miles SE of Montreal), so possibly sent by military messenger. [Michel Lapailleur de Laferte is recorded as being Montreal's Jail keeper, Judge of Seneschal's Court, and acting Lieutenant General for civil & criminal affairs.] PHOTO. £400
117 EARLY LOCAL(?) COVER SENT TO MONTREAL; c.1720 E (addressee died in 1726) addressed to "Madame Jacque Vigé, veuve [living] a Montreal"; presumably a local letter; the addressee's husband died in 1715 so this letter may well have been dated prior to that, given the convention that widows do not normally use their husband's initials. Rare and attractive French Period cover. PHOTO. £200
118 RARE EARLY INTERNAL COVER FROM "MONTROYAL" [=MONTREAL] TO "POINT AU TREMBLE"; Fine 30 Nov. 1728 EL clearly dated and headed from "Montroyal" and addressed to "M. Scené, Notary Royal to the Pointe au Tremble, Pointe au Tremble", carried by private means prior to the first Post Roads being opened in 1734. Signed by one "de Repentigny" who mentions sending some grain by the boat of "Jean Archambault", which may be the way that this letter was sent. Rare and attractive French Period cover. PHOTO. £300
119 LOCAL (?) BOW-FOLDED COVER WRITTEN BY A LADY; c.1735 EL most unusually folded into a curved bow-tie shape and addressed across the bow; "A Monsieur Boucher"; written by a "Marie Chouar" ref. retaining some funds from a recent payment. Thought to have been sent within Montreal; further research would help. PHOTO. £150
120 FRENCH POST-ROUTES PERIOD - LETTER SENT ORDERING WHEAT TO BE SENT BY BOAT; 2 May 1736 EL (flap faults) from Quebec? addressed to "M. Cotest a Lhille (=L'Isle] Jesus, proche le Montrealle" without postal marks but possibly sent as a favour by a courier travelling the newly opened (1734) post road route between Quebec and Montreal. The letter asks for a consignment of wheat to be sent "in the boat of M. Fouville, captained by Sieves(?) Papilion". Rare letter from the brief period (1734-59) when the first French postal couriers system was operating in Canada. Attractive and rare. PHOTO. £200
121 PAIR OF FRENCH PERIOD COVERS ADDRESSED TO QUEBEC & TO MONTREAL; Pair of c.1750 E's (each with flap faults) both undated and with no place of origin marked (probably from Montreal & Quebec respectively, addressed to "M. Pairaux, merchant in Quebec at La Baseville" (Jacques Parrault, 1718-75, is recorded as a Quebec merchant), and to "M. Danré, Clerk of the Court [Greffier], at Montreal" (Louis-Claude Danré de Blanzy was born in 1710). The former is also endorsed on the reverse as being from "Pierre LaBathy de Coutreueau". Scarce and useful pair. (2 covers). PHOTO. £200
THE EARLY BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD
122 PRE-AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE COVER & DOCUMENTS; Fine 20 Jan. 1768 EL from "St. Paul's Bay" addressed "To Jacob Row Esqr., D[eputy]. Provost Marshal at Quebec" without postal marks; privately carried because there was no P.O. in this small town at this early date. The letter asks for help in obtaining payment of a £31-17s-1d debt, signed by "Jacob Beller". Rare early cover of the British Colonial Period. Plus contemporary(?) copy of a 22 Aug. 1761 document in the name of "James Murray" (Governor of Quebec) granting a section of one bank of the River St. Lawrence to "Messrs. Brooke, Watson, Lymburner & Co." for fish curing and other fishy (!) business, and small 13 Oct. 1773 document (in French) headed "Quebec" ref. payment of £3,000 to M. Francois Levesque. Scarce trio. (3 items). PHOTO. £150
123 RARE EARLY TROY SILVER WEIGHT "2..16" MANUSCRIPT POSTAL RATE OF QUEBEC ON COVER; 17 Aug. 1769 EL (reinforced folds; vertical crease affects address but clear of postal marks) from John Gray in "Quebec" to "William Grant, Montreal" having a clear manuscript "2..16" postal rate marking (2 pennyweight & 16 grains weight of Troy silver, i.e. the equivalent of 8d sterling or 9d currency for the single 101-200 miles 'Franklin' rate. The letter concerns the fur trade and notes that; "The canoes have at last arrived". Pre-1770 Canadian postal rate covers are rare. [Ex Grant Glassco; this letter was actually written between two of his great-grandfathers!!] PHOTO. £200
124 RARE EARLY "M" FOR MONTREAL MARK WITH "5=8" TROY SILVER WEIGHT POSTAL RATE; c.1770 E (some 'magic' sellotape on weak folds but attractive) to "George Allsopp Esquire, D.C.C. at Quebec" having a fine red manuscript P.O. "M[ontreal] 5=8" rate (double rate; 5dwt + 8g Troy silver) at top right and a small red manuscript "1/10" currency rate at top left. This dual Troy silver + Currency rating was only normal from 1771 to March 1775. Rare early example of the first kind of Montreal P.O. name marking. Exhibition Item. PHOTO. £300
125 RARE "M" FOR MONTREAL MARK WITH "5..16" TROY SILVER POSTAL RATE CHANGED TO "5..8"; 31 Oct. 1774 EL (in French; red wax seal) to Quebec" having a claret-red manuscript P.O. "M.5..8" mark (slightly fading at top but clear) at top right on the front (originally "M.5..16" but then changed; rare thus) for the double rate; also having a claret-red manuscript "1/10" (Currency rate) at top left. This dual Troy silver + Currency rating was only normal from 1771 to March 1775. Scarce early town marking and rate error. PHOTO. £240
126 RARE EARLY "Q" FOR QUEBEC MARK WITH "8" TROY SILVER WEIGHT POSTAL RATE; 18 Sept. 1771 EL (in French; some reinforcing of folds) from Quebec to Montreal having a light but clear manuscript P.O. "Q[uebec] 8" rate (triple rate; 8dwt Troy silver) at top right. Rare example of this first type of Quebec town-name marking and a rare triple rating.PHOTO. £300
127 RARE EARLY PREPAID LETTER WITH UNUSUAL P.O. MANUSCRIPT "Montrl. Paid 2.16" TROY SILVER RATING; 2 May 1772 EL (reinforced folds but with long interesting contents in French) from "Montrealle" to a merchant in "Québect" [sic] with bold red P.O. manuscript "Montrl. Paid 2.16" endorsement above the address. The letter gives details of two shipments of brandy, wine, powder, shot and rifles from Montreal to Detroit and "Lenore(?)"; the names of all the "voyageurs" involved and their guides are given, totalling 5 in one canoe to Detroit and 16 in two canoes to Lenore. One of the earliest recorded Canadian Prepaid covers. PHOTO. £300
128 THREE RIVERS P.O. - RARE EARLY COVER WITH "2 DWT" TROY SILVER POSTAL RATE; 8 June 1772 EL (reinforced folds) addressed to the Seminary at "Quebec" with no place of origin moted, but having a clear "8d 2dwt" postal rate which means that the letter must have been posted at Three Rivers (there were only the 4 P.O.'s in Canada at this date, and Berthier & Montreal were too far away for this seldom seen 61-100 miles rate to Quebec). Rare early Three Rivers P.O. cover. [Ex Guy de Riviere.] PHOTO. £300
129 THE EARLIEST RECORDED QUEBEC 'FRANKLIN MARK' [OR 'BISHOP MARK'] ON COVER TO U.S.A.; Fine 25 June 1772 EL from "Quebec" addressed to a merchant at "Newport, Rhode Island" charged "8..16" in claret-red manuscript (Troy silver 8dwt + 16g), having a lovely strike of the rare First-Type 2-ring "QUEBEC/JU 25/V" Franklin/Bishop Mark datestamp (only recorded 1772-3) on the lower flap. The letter offers trade from the Newport/New York/Philadelphia areas in wheat, timber, rum. sugar, coffee, wines, etc.; listing current prices. Exhibition Quality; the earliest recorded example of this first 'Canadian Bishop Mark'.PHOTO. £1500
130 EARLY LETTER FROM "PRAIRIE DU CHIEN" TO "SAURELLE, CANADA" [ACTUALLY IN WISCONSIN TERRITORY]; 2 May 1774 EL ('magic' sellotape on folds) from "La Prairie du Chien" (family contents in French) addressed to "M. Paule Cournoy living in the parish(?) of Saurelle, en Canada" although Saurelle was actually in the Territory of Wisconsin at this date. Unusual routing at so early a date. PHOTO. £120
131 EARLY LETTER EX FORT LYDINS/EDWARD TO "FORT A LA POINTE" (CHEVELURE), BOTH IN NEW YORK STATE; c.1775 (undated; previous owner's dating) EL (in French; internal faults) from Fort Lydins (i.e. Fort Edward, New York) addressed to "For[t] a la Pointe au Chevleur" - both in New York State apparently - without postal marks. Early item from this corner of the world. PHOTO. £100
132 AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE PERIOD - EARLIEST RECORDED MANUSCRIPT "Q[uebec] Paid 8d" MARK; 19 Aug. 1776 EL (split &/or reinforced folds) from Quebec to Montreal (for a local Justice of the Peace to forward to another man "A Longueul") having a fine rare manuscript "Q paid 8d" on the front (top right), which is believed to be the earliest recorded Quebec manuscript Paid marking. Montreal had been occupied by the American revolutionary Army from 13 Nov. 1775 to June 1776, and the British Colonial postal service in Canada did not return to normal until later that year. Covers sent by post in Canada in 1775 are rarely seen. Rare thus and attractive. PHOTO. £300
133 AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE PERIOD - PAIR OF SPLIT CURRENCY RATED COVERS; V. fine 17 Nov. 1777 EL (ref. the sale of an "Ash Works"; flap faults) from "Quebec" to Montreal charged "9" (currency) at top right and "8" (sterling) both in brown ink at top left; plus similar 11 May 1778 EL (some reinforced folds) from "Quebec" to Montreal (ref. a legal dispute with mention of the arrival of the "Fleet") with similar "9" and "8" charges but both in black. Good pair. (2 covers). PHOTO. £240
134 AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE PERIOD - SINGLE & TRIPLE SPLIT CURRENCY RATE COVERS; 13 Aug. & 14 Sept. 1778 pair of ELs (v. fine ; former with v. long letter, latter with flap faults) both in French & headed from "Quebec" addressed to Montreal; charged "8" (sterling) + "9" (currency) or ""2/-" (sterling) + "2N3" (currency) in black manuscript at top left + right. Good pair.; the triple rate is seldom seen. (2 covers). PHOTO. £200
135 THREE RIVERS - AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE PERIOD COVER WITH SPLIT CURRENCY RATE; 11 Apr. 1780 EL (some reinforced folds; asking for a reply by "return of post") from "River Deloupe" (Riviere du Loup) to Montreal charged "7" (currency) at top right and "6" (sterling) at top left. This rate (for 61-100 miles) suggests that the letter was taken to Three Rivers and posted there; an unusual item from this difficult period. PHOTO. £150
136 AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE PERIOD - PAIR OF "MONTREAL" STRAIGHT-LINE COVERS; 22 Sept. 1780 E (pencil date; addressed to the famous Lower Canada executive councillor & Seven Years War veteran, "M. Fr[ancois] Baby") to Quebec having a very fine Type IV "MONTREAL" handstruck mark on the front, having red manuscript "9" (currency) at top right and black manuscript "8" (sterling) at top left:- late usage of the split currency rating. Plus fine 2 July 1781 EL to Quebec having a mostly fine Type IV "MONTREAL" mark on the front along with the currency-only red manuscript (un paid) "9" charge at top right. The dual currency charging system ended around this time in mid-1781. Good pair. (2 covers). PHOTO. £200
THE LATER BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD
137 RARE SPECIAL 1d COURIER FEE CHARGED ON PREPAID COVER SENT VIA MONTREAL; 8 Feb. 1782 E (believed to be from Quebec; correct 9d postal rate for 101-200 miles) addressed to "St. Johns [d'Iberville; near Montreal]" with manuscript "Paid 9" at top right of address and also endorsed (by the sender) "Please to forward it by the St. John Courrire [sic]", and so having a neat manuscript "to pay 1d" also at top right. Very rare example of the special 1d Courier Rate. [Ex de Riviere.] PHOTO. £200
138 RARE BOXED "PAID" MARK MATCHING "QUEBEC" STRAIGHT-LINE & 'BISHOP' MARK; Attractive c.1782 E to Montreal with a manuscript "9" rate at top right having a mostly very fine double-framed boxed "PAID" mark (unrecorded?) matching the mostly v. fine stright-line "QUEBEC" nearby and the very fine Quebec "16/FE" Colonial Bishop Mark on the lower flap. This boxed "PAID" mark was not recorded by RL, but see next lot and 1798 cover below. Prepaid mail is seldom seen at this early date. Attractive Exhibition Item. PHOTO. £300
139 QUEBEC - SEPARATELY STRUCK 2-RING MARK & 'BISHOP' MARK WITH RARE BOXED "PAID"; 27 May 1783 EL (in French) from "Quebec" addressed to "Brockville" (?; could be interpreted as "St. Annes") with no postal rate but having a very fine rare double-boxed "PAID" mark (not recorded by RL; see previous lot & 1798 cover below) on the front, having a very fine 2-ring 1st-Type "QUEBEC/V" mark (crease) on the top flap matching the mostly very fine "27/MA" Quebec Bishop Mark on the lower flap. Rare combination of scarce marks and an unusual cover with no postal rate noted.PHOTO. £500
140 BERTHIER - RARE EARLY STRAIGHT-LINE MARK ON COVER TO QUEBEC; 13 Feb. 1782 EL (slight faults & filing notes on front) to Quebec charged "9" (Currency) at top right with a very fine "BERTHIER" straight-line mark (filing crease & just affected by filing note) nicely placed on the front. The Berthier P.O. opened in 1771; this 1st-Type mark seems to have had a long life (recorded 1780-1817), but early covers are rare. PHOTO. £160
141 "QUEBEC" STRAIGHT-LINE MARK WITH MATCHING 'BISHOP' MARK; 4 Sept. 1783 EL (some split or reinforced folds; ref. a cargo of barrels of pork. lard & beef + candles) to Montreal charged "9" (red) with mostly v. fine early "QUEBEC" mark (crease) on the front and matching v. fine "4/SE" 'Bishop' Mark nicely placed on the side-flap. Scarce early example PHOTO. £200
142 RARE EARLY MANUSCRIPT "K4" MARKING OF KAMOURASKA(?) ON COVER TO QUEBEC; 29 Mar. 1785 EL from "Ca Mouraska" [sic] to "Quebec" having red manuscript "K.4" at top right and matching m/s "1/4" at top left. This dual currency rating is not normally seen after 1781 and there was no P.O. at Kamouraska until 1816, so this is a very unusual item. Offered "as is"; not subject to return. [Ex Glassco.] PHOTO. £300
143 AFTERMATH OF THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE - EARLY CROSS-BORDER COVER WITH "QUEBEC/V" 2-RING 'BISHOP' MARK; Fine 28 July 1785 EL (interesting contents ref "Congress have at length decided on the mode of adjusting and settling the Canadian claims...") from New York to Montreal with a fair "New York July 29" on the front with initial black manuscript "2.16" charge (US 2dwts & 16 grains silver rating to Albany) which has been crossed through and replaced in red manuscript by "To pay 2N" (full rate from NY to Montreal via Quebec in Currency). There is also a very fine 2-ring "QUEBEC/V" mark on the lower flap with matching v. fine "19/IA" Bishop Mark (centre inverted) on the lower flap. Most attractive and rare. [Ex Alan Steinhart.] PHOTO. £500
144 RARE EARLY "Montreal/MARCH,26" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO QUEBEC; 26 Mar. 1787 EL (filing crease through address but clear of marks; minor flap & internal faults) from "Montreal" to a "Surgeon" in Quebec rated "9" in red at top right, having a remarkably very fine strike of the rare Type VI dated "Montreal/MARCH,26" mark nicely placed on the lower flap. Contents ref. medical advice and looking forward to the opening of the river to enable the patient in Quebec soon to move down to Montreal. It is thought that only eight examples of this Type VI mark are known. PHOTO. £240
145 RARE "Montreal/DECr.22" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO QUEBEC; 22 Dec. 1788 EL (reinforced flap) charged "9" to Quebec having a mostly very fine Type VI "Montreal/DECr.22" mark (only 8 examples recorded?) on the lower flap. [Ex de Riviere.] PHOTO. £200
146 YAMACHICHE - EARLY LETTER HANDED TO P.O. COURIER EN ROUTE TO MONTREAL; 27 Mar. 1787 EL (split folds; in French) written "de Machiche" and addressed to Montreal; no postal markings (Yamachiche P.O. did not open until 1831) except for an unusual manuscript "7" charge for the 61-100 miles rate, suggesting that the letter was handed to the P.O. Courier en route from Quebec down to Montreal. Rare thus; the 7d rate is seldom seen at this early date, and an early letter from this small village. PHOTO. £100
147 BERTHIER - EARLY STRIGHT-LINE MARK ON COVER FROM RUSO DE RAMBAULT CHARGED 41⁄2d CURRENCY; Unusual 27 Oct. 1788 EL (unnecessary 'magic' sellotape on some folds; sad letter about financial distress and a family of ten) written from "Ruso de Rambault" and addressed to Montreal, endorsed "Per favour of Christopher Fornyea(?)" and posted by him at Berthier so charged "41⁄2" with a mostly very fine "BERTHIER" stright-line mark across the join on the reverse. Unusual place of origin and postal rate. PHOTO. £200
148 EARLY "MONTREAL/MARCH,:5*" DATESTAMP ON DOUBLE-RATE COVER TO QUEBEC; 5 Mar. 1790 E to Quebec charged "1N6" in red (double rate) with very fine Type VII "MONTREAL/MARCH,:*" mark (1789-91 only) nicely placed on the lower flap. [Ex de Riviere.] PHOTO. £200
149 NIAGARA/MONTREAL TO QUEBEC - RARE EARLY FRONTIER LETTER; 18 Oct. 1790 E (reinforced folds & faults at top edge of address-panel) to Quebec with filing note that it was from "Captain Lawe from Niagara") endorsed "O.H.M.S." but charged "9" in red, having a very fine Type VII "MONTREAL/NOV-r 8" datestamp struck in transit on the lower flap. Rare early example of a letter sent by private means from the border at Niagara to Montreal for posting on to Quebec. [Ex de Volpi.] PHOTO. £160
THE EARLY CONSTITUTIONAL PERIOD
150 LATEST RECORDED(?) "QUEBEC/V" 2-RING 'BISHOP MARK' ON COVER TO BERTHIER; 12 Mar. [1793] E (unnecessary 'magic' sellotape on flap) from Quebec to Berthier (having a copy of another letter signed by "J. Cuthbert" inside, dated 23 Sept. 1793, suggesting that this letter was originally sent to him in 1793) charged "9" (Currency) in red at top right, with a mostly very fine 2-ring "QUEBEC/V" 'Bishop Mark' nicely placed on the lower flap with separate "12/MR" in centre. A very late usage for this mark which was first recorded as early as 1772 (see above). PHOTO. £400
151 "MONTREAL/AUGUST.12" COVER + 1799 LETTER SIGNED BY THE 2nd GOVERNOR OF UPPER CANADA; 12 Aug. 1793 E to Quebec charged "9" (Currency) with a very fine Type VIII "MONTREAL/AUGUST.12" datestamp just across the join on the reverse. Plus 17 Jan. 1799 letter (no address wrapper) headed from "York" signed by "Peter Russell" the second Governor of Upper Canada (1796-99). Good pair. [Latter item ex G. Wellburn.] PHOTO. £240
152 EARLY FREE MAIL - "H.M.S." MILITARY COVER TO THE SURVEYOR GENERAL; 21 Aug. 1794 E (origin unknown; 2 weeks in transit) to"Major Holland, Surveyor General, Quebec" endorsed "H.M.S." at the top and signed at lower left by "[Major] E.R. Littlehales". Very early for a Canadian Free frank item. PHOTO. £150
153 UNRECORDED(?) HANDSTRUCK "PAID" MARK MATCHING EARLY "THREE RIVERS" MARK; Fine 26 Sept. 1795 EL (signed instruction for a purchase of a property in Three Rivers; in French - minor flap faults) to "Riviere Chambly" having a mostly very fine Type IV "THREE RIVERS" on the front beside a matching v. fine Unrecorded (?) "PAID" mark beside the manuscript "41⁄2" rate. Unusual and rare early Three Rivers cover; these early Paid marks are seldom seen especially from the smaller P.O.s. PHOTO. £300
154 RARE 2nd-TYPE TWIN-SEMICIRCLE "QUEBEC/CANADA" 'BISHOP MARK' ON COVER TO THREE RIVERS; Fine 28 May 1795 EL to "Trois Rivieres" charged "1N2" (Currency; double rate) in red manuscript with a mostly very fine strike of the rare "QUEBEC/CANADA" 'Bishop Mark' (filing crease) on the top flap with a separate "28/MA" in the centre. This design of Quebec mark was in use from 1793 to 1798 only. PHOTO. £400
155 RARE 2nd-TYPE TWIN-SEMICIRCLE "QUEBEC/CANADA" 'BISHOP MARK' ON COVER TO MONTREAL; 15 Aug. c.1795 E to Montreal charged "9" (Currency) with a very fine strike of this rare mark on the top flap (very slightly over join) with a very fine "15/AV" in the centre. PHOTO. £400
156 THE UNIQUE(?) "KINSTON 9Feb.y" 1st-TYPE MARK ON "WINTER EXPRESS" COVER TO NIAGARA; The famous 9 Feb. 1796 EL (reinforced folds; some with 'magic' sellotape; listing the acreages of the "Townships in the Midland District") to the Acting Surveyor General at "Niagara" endorsed "His Majesty's Service" and "Pr. the Winter Express" (latter rare) but charged "1N" in red, having a very fine (though affected by filing crease) "KINSTON 9Feb.y" Error across the join on the reverse. The sole example of this unusual mark recorded to date. Plus an attractive printed 1798 map of the "FALLS OF NIAGARA". (2 items). PHOTO. £1000
157 EARLIEST RECORDED THREE RIVERS "WAY" MARK ON FREE COVER TO DEPUTY P.M.G.; 1 Dec. 1795 EL (ref. the writer's Survey of the "Township of Durham") from "Machiche" to Quebec (addressed to "Honorable Hugh Finley [sic] Esqr.", the