Lot
419 
1876 (Jan. 5) Whycocomagh, Cape Breton to Edinburgh, Scotland, cover bearing Canada 1868 Large Queen, 5¢ olive green (26) tied by blue oval grid cancel, matching blue "Whycocomagh, C.B., JA 5 1876" cds, Halifax (1.10) transit backstamp, carried by Inman-Allan Line Hibernian from Halifax to Queenstown, red "Paid, Liverpool, Br. Packet, 24 JA 76" transit, Edinburgh (1.24) arrival backstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
The 5¢ preferred rate was effective October 1, 1875. Canada was blocked from GPU membership by action of France and Spain, and did not join the UPU until July 1st, 1878. In response, the United Kingdom extended a lower 5¢ rate not valid to other distant parts of the British Empire.
Realized: $300