Sale 63: The Donald Richardson Collection of U.S. Postal Rates 1851-1863

Lot 1048    

1857 (Sep. 7) Detroit Mich. to Demorestville, Canada West, 3¢ red (U9) entire bearing 1¢ blue, type III (23), skinny copy due to irregular separation at left, and 3¢ dull red (26) vertical pair, both tied by "Detroit Mich. Sep 7" cds, red "Paid" handstamp and "United States 6d" oval handstamp, backstamps include Windsor (9.7.57), Brighton (9.9) and red Demorestville (9.10) arrival; reduced slightly at left, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $170

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Lot 1049    

1858 (c., Jan. 30) New York N.Y. to Toronto, Canada West, reduced legal-size blue envelope bearing two 10¢ green, type II (32) singles and 10¢ green, type III (33), single and strip of three, all tied by multiple strikes of "New-York Jan 30" cds, Toronto (2.1) arrival backstamp; couple stamp flaws, a Very Fine use at six-times the 10¢ cross-border rate.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $350

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Lot 1050    

1859, 1860 New York N.Y. to Canada, two circular rate usages, 1859 bearing 1¢ blue, top row plate 7 with deep rich color, tied by "New York May 20 1859" cds on Matanzas, Cuba printed circular to Montreal, Canadian "½" pence due rating handstamp; 1860 unsealed orange buff cover bearing 1¢ blue (24) tied by "New York Nov 10" cds to Fendon Dalls Canada with Canadian "1" cent due rating (Canada had switched from sterling to decimal currency on July 1st 1859); former with Ashbrook notes, Very Fine exhibit pair.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $425

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Lot 1051    

1860 (Jan. 24) New Ipswich N.H. to Windsor Vt. forwarded to Canada, booklet for Appleton Academy mailed with 1¢ blue (24) tied by sharp bold "New Ipswich N.H. Jan 24 1860" cds, forwarded upon arrival with 1¢ blue (24), pastel shade, tied by "Windsor Vt. Jan" cds to Knowlton, Canada, endorsed "Via Montreal", Canadian large "1" pence due, Very Fine, The only example of printed matter forwarding to Canada we have seen.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $500

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Lot 1052    

1860 (Mar. 26) San Francisco Cal. to Fonthill, Canada West, 3¢ red on buff entire (U10) bearing 3¢ dull red (26) strip of three and single, all tied by two strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Mar 26, 1860" cds to Fonthill, Canada West, endorsed "Via Overland Mail", red "United States / Paid 6d" two-line exchange handstamp, red St. Catherines (4.21) and Fonthill (4.23) arrival backstamps; central file fold creases middle 3¢; partial flap, F.-V.F., a scarce use at the 15¢ West Coast cross-border rate, ex-DeVolpi (light red handstamp).
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $600

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Lot 1053    

1863 (Jan. 25) Dayton, Nevada Territory to Ayr, Canada West, manuscript "Dayton N.V.T., Jan 25th 1863" postmark with matching manuscript cancelling 3¢ rose (65) pair and 10¢ green (68) on red white and blue Sailor and Flap patriotic cover, endorsed "via Overland Mail"; Windsor (2.16) and Paris (2.17) backstamps, F.-V.F., an attractive cross-border patriotic use from Nevada Territory.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $1,450

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Lot 1054    

1858 (Dec.) Victoria, Vancouver Island to San Francisco Cal., buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Victoria, V.I., Paid" handstamp signifying the British Columbian postage was prepaid, entered U.S. mails where cancelled by "San Francisco Cal, Dec 8, 1858" cds; reduced slightly at left and some stains, Fine and early use from British Columbia.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY EARLY USE FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TO THE UNITED STATES SHORTLY AFTER ESTABLISHMENT.

Illustrated and discussed in Chronicle 56 on pages 92-93. The November 1858 Vancouver Island Postal Notice set the Vancouver Island colonial postage rate of 2½ pence and was applied without regard to weight on all mail leaving Victoria for foreign destinations, and was recognized on letters either by means of a handstamped frank as in this cover or a Vancouver Island postage stamp. It is interesting that cancelling the U.S. postage was against regulations but apparently tolerated at this very early stage of postal relations since British Columbia was established on November 19, 1858.

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Lot 1055    

1863 (Apr. 2) British Columbia to Maple, Canada West via San Francisco Cal., orange buff cover with "General Post Office, British Columbia, APL 2, 1863" double-circle datestamp and red crayon "1/" rating, black oval "PAID", bearing 5¢ brown (76) and 10¢ green (68) cancelled by cogwheel fancy cancels, matching "San Francisco Cal. Apr 8, 1863" cds, reverse with G.W.R. East (5.4) arrival cds and "Received May 5th 1863" docketing; minor edge mends, Very Fine, ex-V.G. Greene (backstamp); with 1975 R.P.S. and 1983 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A SCARCE USE FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TO CANADA WEST VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

Realized: $800

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Lot 1056    

1859 (c.) Robbinston Me. to St. Andrews, New Brunswick, folded cover bearing two 1¢ blue (24) singles, one with straddle line, cancelled by matching circular grid cancels, Very Fine and scarce 2¢ circular rate use, ex-Grunin, Robertson; with 1988 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Although this has in the past been described as a 2¢ line rate cover, the lack of a cds or New Brunswick receiver on the reverse would indicate that this originally contained a circular with the inner leaf removed. As such, it was prepaid as 2¢ circular rate use for up to 3 ounces to New Brunswick or perhaps intended for the 2¢ printed matter rate via the Cunard line.

Realized: $375

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Lot 1057    

1853 (c.) to Halifax, Nova Scotia, blue folded wrapper bearing 1851 1¢ blue (9) horizontal pair (small corner crease), tied by two strikes of blue circular grid cancels; printed circular offset on face, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $160

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