1897 "PAID ALL" Rate Handstamp on Cover, dated SEP.24.1897 on St John's drop letter. This handstamp was used as a temporary measure due to a shortage of low value stamps lost in the wreck of the steamer Capulet, recorded used from SEP.24 to DEC.5, thus making this the earliest known, or even a first day cover. Creases, still fine. (Image)

Est $ 100

1889 Colour Card Depicting a Map of Newfoundland Highlighting the Cod Fishing Industry, titles "Cleaning Fish / Banks of Newfoundland" and printed in 1889 by the Arbuckle Bros. Coffee Co. in New York City. The population is given as 197,332 at the time. The back of the card explains in detail how it is better to grind your own coffee at home, and lists all of the countries represented in this series of cards, which were apparently included in bags of their coffee. A lovely item which once adorned the title page of the owner's exhibit "Selected Cents Covers, 1865-1909". (Image)

Est $ 100

Group of 11 Various Covers with Better Early Frankings, 1866 to 1887, with 1866 inland cover with #25 (cat. $900 on cover), 1870 inland mourning cover with two #24 (rare but very faulty cover), 1867 cover to PEI with #30 ($750 on cover), 1875 inland cover with two #32A, 1878 inland cover with #39, 1881 mourning cover to England with #40, 1885 mourning inland cover with #49, 1885 double weight cover to England with a pair of #53, 1888 advertising inland cover with #49, 1888 General Post Office cover to the United States with #54 and an 1887 double weight cover to England with two #54 (with "235" grid cancels). A very interesting group, not only for its frankings, but for the variety of postmarks and rates, etc. The majority are very fine, but some range from faulty to very faulty (those faults easily visible on our online scans). (Image)

Est $ 1,000

5c Brown Harp Seal Cork Cancelled on Mourning Cover, paying the 5c inland rate from Carbonear (March. 20. 1868) to St. John’s (March 25 receiver). Very fine. (Image)

Unitrade $ 900

5c Black Harp Seal Just Tied by Cork Cancel to Early cc. Cover, paying the 5c inland rate from Carbonear (Nov. 10. 1869) to St. Harbor Grace (no receiver) on Anglo-American Telegraph Company cc. envelope (embossed circle on back). Stamp with some toning spots, cover with heavy tears (front and back), still a scarce usage. (Image)

Unitrade $ 750

12c Pale Red Brown Group of 4 Transatlantic Covers, all 4 paying the 12c GB rate, with St. John’s (MAY.24.1869) to Poole (England) (JUN.16 receiver), with red British Packet transit cds (JUN.15); Folded letter from St. John’s (MAY.12.1870) to Poole (England) (no receiver), endorsed Via Halifax with red Liverpool British Packet transit cds (JUN.1) (some docketing); St. John’s (AUG.1.1872) to Poole endorsed per S.S. Sweden (Allan Line), with Liverpool “tombstone” ship transit postmark (some docketing); and JUN.1.1872 yellow cover from Twillingate to Pool (JUN.28 bs) through St. John’s (JUN.3 bs) (some docketing). A few faults, overall fine-very fine. (Image)

Unitrade $ 800

15c Combination Registered Cover to France, franked by 3c brown and 12c pale red brown tied by circular grid cancels from St. John’s (FEB.15.1892) to double weight registered (10c rate + 5c registration) cover to France (March 3 Paris Distribution receiver cds on back) through London. Open on three sides for display, still fine-very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

13c Orange Ship Tied by Cork Cancel to Lady Cover, from S. John’s (Sep.4.1866 in red) to New Carlisle (Baie des Chaleurs, Québec) endorsed (manuscript) Via Restigouche New Brunswick. Through Chatham (SEP.13) and Dalhousie (SEP.14) bs. Stamp sulphuretted with LL corner fault. (Image)

Unitrade $ 750

13c Orange Ship Outport Rate Cover, from Harbor Grace (JUL.24.1867) to Cow-Bay (Cape Breton). Backstamped: St. John’s, North Sidney, Sydney and Cow-Bay (JUL.27). Cover slightly reduced at left and small edge tears, still scarce. (Image)

Unitrade $ 750

Group of Five 1895-1897 Registered Covers to Canada, three have 8c rate frankings and one appears to be over-franked (15c), with destinations including Montréal, Halifax, Toronto and Kingston and New Glasgow NS, (part of backflap missing) with a good variety of postmarks, overall very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

1903 Registered Cover to Canada, mailed from St John's MAR.11.1903 (late use of oval registration datestamp) to Berlin, Ontario (MAR.18 receiver) through Montréal MAR.17, franked with a 24c Queen Victoria and a surcharged 1c on 3c Queen Victoria for a total of 25c. Bit of staining at right, still overall fine or better. (Image)

Est $ 100

Group of Eight Registered Covers to Germany, 1897 to 1913, all mailed from St John's to various places in Germany, with a variety of franking combinations making 10c, 11c (x2), 13c, 14½c, 18c, 39c and 54c. One cover is quite toned and one has a vertical crease, rest are overall very fine. (Image)

Est $ 400

1897 8c Registered Cover to Montréal, mailed from St John's FEB.20.1897 (oval registration datestamp) to Montréal, with squared circle precursor receiver on back. The cover has a colourful franking of at least 7 different stamps (9 stamps in all, totaling 8c being the proper rate), neat and very fine. (Image)

Est $ 150

3c Vermillion Queen Victoria Inland Usage, tied by neat cork cancel to front of cover from St. John’s (JAN.6.1873, red Paid cds) to Bay Roberts. A scarce usage of this short-life stamp as it has been quickly replaced by the 3c Blue after less than 2 years' use. Front only. (Image)

Unitrade $ 575

3c Blue Queen Victoria x2 on Transatlantic Mourning Cover, stamps tied by cork (rectangular cork in center of c.d.s.) and faint red Paid single broken circle from St. John’s (JUL.13.1875) to Clapham paying the 6c letter rate to England. Small part of back flap missing. (Image)

Est $ 200

3c Blue Queen Victoria Pair on Transatlantic Mourning Cover, with stamps tied by 10-bar oval killer from Fogo (neat MAR.26.1874 double ring) to England (JUN.12 York cds bs) through Liverpool (red Paid Packet cds on front dated JUN.11). A few faults including small part of backflap missing, stamps toned, still very fine appearing. (Image)

Est $ 150

3c Blue Queen Victoria on Cover to St. Pierre-et-Miquelon, with stamp tied by cork cancel from Harbour Grace (AUG.31.1874 double ring) through St. John’s (faint SEP.1 bs cds) and faint St. Pierre receiver cds on front (docketing on back denoted received SEP.7). A very unusual 3c inland rate to a foreign (although "friendly" next door neighbour) destination. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

6c Dull Rose Queen Victoria Group of 3 Covers, all paying the 6c British rate, first is tied by cork to cover from St. John’s (OCT.23.1874) carried by the Caspian (Allan Line) via Liverpool (Paid Liverpool Packet Transit cds) to Poole (OCT.30 receiver); second tied by cork form St. John’s (MAY.?. 1873) to York (bs MAY.30), England via Liverpool British Packet cds on front (MAY.30) and third tied by cork form St. John’s (JUL.16.1873 faint red full circle cds) and docketing Greenspond July 10 origin) to Poole (JUL.25 bs) via Liverpool. Docketing on 2 covers, still a very fine group. (Image)

Est $ 200

6c Dull Rose Queen Victoria Pair on Transatlantic Cover, paying the double 6c weight British rate with a horizontal pair of #35 tied by c.d.s. / corks from St. John’s (NOV.22.1873) to Romsey, England, through Liverpool (Paid Ship Packet cds). Manuscript docketed on back: “News of Velocity on 13th all well”. Very fine and scarce. (Image)

Est $ 200

6c Dull Rose Queen Victoria Triple Weight Cover to Montréal, with all 3 stamps tied by cork cancels, alongside scarce (used 6 months) MAY.27.1873 St. John’s full circle cds in red and backstamped Montréal Q cds (JUN.4) on legal size cover (some docketing, edge faults and creases). (Image)

Est $ 100

6c Inland Registration Rate Group of Three Covers, first franked with a single 6c carmine lake Queen Victoria Harbour Grace to St John's (opening faults at top), second franked with a pair of 3c slate Queen Victoria mailed St Georges to St John's with RPO on back (bit of toning on stamps, slightly reduced at left) and third franked with three different issues, mailed to St John's, with a manuscript "R" and RPO on back (bit reduced at left). A fine group. (Image)

Est $ 150

6c Inland Registration Rate Group of Three Covers, first is franked with a 6c carmine lake Queen Victoria mailed from Tilt Cove to St Johns (TPO on back), second franked with a pair of 3c slate Queen Victoria from origin unknown to St John's (TPO on back) and third is franked with #s 65 and 79 mailed from Hall's Bay TPO to St John's. A fine or better group. (Image)

Est $ 150

Seven 1898 10c Registered Covers to the United States, mailed from Bay Island (with New York transit) and the rest from St John's (with Boston transits), to various places in the US, and all franked with a variety of in-period stamps. One has faults on the back, still a very fine group. (Image)

Est $ 350

3c Prince of Wales Rouletted Inland Rate Cover, paid by a strip of 3 of #37 tied by coastal boat cork cancel from St. John’s (MAY.14.1879) to Trepassey (no receiver). Serious faults (stamps and cover) still an unusual franking. (Image)

Est $ 100

5c Combination Canadian Rate Cover to Montréal, paid by 1c violet brown pair and 3c blue tied by quartered cork cancels from "St. John’s Central" (APR.7.1887 broken circle) to Montréal (APR.26 receiver bs). Stamps affected by small toning spots and a few back faults including a tear, still a good franking on an otherwise very fine cover. (Image)

Est $ 200