Collection of Ottawa Valley Historical Correspondence, with seventeen long letters, written by Robert Smith to Henry Morgan, describing in detail the life in the Ottawa Valley. These are dated from April 1893 to November 1894, plus another from 1896. All but nine still have their 3c Small Queen covers attached, mailed from the towns of Balsam Mill (mostly all, including the earliest reported date for this postmark), and Douglas, and many of the letters are datelined Admaston (covers have faults). The letters are all fairly lengthy with detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects, and are fascinating to read. A historically important lot, and we have scanned one letter as an example. (Image)

Est $ 150

Collection of Eighteen 5c Beaver Covers, 1861 to 1867, most are addressed to Henry J. Morgan, and all but two still contain their original letter inside, usually providing biographical information to him for his Who's Who publication. We note postmark interest, including many Berri duplex cancels, a G.W. R. railway post office cancel, a few broken circles from Canada West, etc. We also note some cover interest, such as an embossed American flag (Stand by the Flag message), a Canadian Express Co. (with horse illustration) corner card (faulty cover), etc. Lots of interesting reading and condition varies from faulty to very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1865 Cross Border Cover, mailed St Catharines CW (duplex dated JAN.20.1865) and addressed to Litchfield, Connecticut, through Suspension Bridge (JAN.20 transit on back, plus an intaglio letter "A"). This yellow cover is franked with a pair of 5c Beavers and has a red business corner card from D.W. Beadle's Nurseries. Opening tears on back and very light aging, still very fine. (Image)

Est $ 100

1893 Uprated and Re-Directed Letter Card, a 3c red letter card uprated by two 1c Small Queens, mailed Truro NS (squared circles dated SP 7/93) and addressed to London (rec'd there SEP.19), then re-directed to Wiesbaden Germany and received there on SEP.21, bit of tape on back, still very fine (Image)

Est $ 100

Group of Four Small Queen Rate Covers, Montreal to Moncton franked 1c, tied by scarce oval parcel cancel and illustrated on back Anchor Brand Hams & Bacon (very fine). 1880 registered drop letter to and from Fournier Ont, franked 1c for drop letter rate and registration fee paid in cash (wrinkles). 1875 registered Toronto to Ottawa, franked pair of 1c orange and 3c, all perf 11½x12 (very fine). 1882 cover Montreal to Paris France, franked pair of 1c plus 3c (very fine). (Image)

Est $ 150

Group of Seven Small Queen Covers, 1871 to 1896, starting with a lovely 3c rose shade on a cover with a Legislative / Quebec crown postmark in 1871, to Morgan in Ottawa containing a biography written by Charles Ignace Gill. A strip of three 1c cancelled by fancy corks on an 1875 cover from House of Assembly Ontario crown cancel (weak) to Morgan in Ottawa with letter still inside. Large part of an 1880 cover is franked with a 1c, 3c and 5c paying the triple weight rate. An 1883 OHMS 3c cover from Halifax on Dept of Marine and Fisheries stationery with letter inside, an 1896 Russell House drop letter (with stains, franked 2x 1c) with Ottawa squared circle (Type I), with Russell House letterhead letter inside, as well as many other letters, notes and clippings talking about William Mackenzie, as well as three other covers, including two 1c rates. Some faults, otherwise a mostly fine lot. (Image)

Est $ 100

1874 Uprated Post Card to the USA, mailed Saint John NB (lovely broken circle free strike dated OCT.15.1874 and addressed to Boston. This UX1 post card was uprated with a 1c yellow orange Small Queen (perf 11½x12), tied by cork cancels. The card has been extensively re-entered in areas marked by pencil arrows, a previous owner wrote in pencil "double transfer" on back. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 75

1885 Illustrated Cover, mailed from London (duplex dated APR.1.1885) to Goderich, with lovely illustration for Richard Oke in Brough's Bridge, London, importer and breeder of rooster varieties and depicting two very proud looking roosters. Cover has corner creases and other small faults, still scarce and fine. (Image)

Est $ 100

1877 Turned Small Queen Cover, mailed from Lambton CE to St Joseph de Beauce (franked single 6c yellow brown perf 11½x12 and endorsed "très pressé"), then turned and more weight added and re-mailed from St Joseph de Beauce to St Vital de Lambton, this time franked with a strip of four 3c (gorgeous deep orange red shade) tied by nice fancy cork cancels. Opened on three sides, with tears and other faults, still an interesting piece. (Image)

Cvr $ 100

Group of Four 8c Registered Small Queen Covers, first 1896 from Antrim Ont to Montreal with Pakenham transit, RR transit and Montreal precursor receiver, three others mailed from NB in 1896 to New York, with various backstamps. Few small faults else overall fine group. (Image)

Est $ 100

Group of Three 8c Registered Small Queen Covers, first 1894 from Dalhousie Junction NB to Montreal with St John and RPO transits plus Montreal precursor receiver. Second 1897 from Snake River Ont. to Montreal with a few RPO transits and Montreal precursor receiver. Third 1897 Ottawa (boxed registered handstamps) to Hamilton. Few small faults else overall fine group. (Image)

Est $ 100

1901 Cover with Contents from Sir Sandford Fleming. The cover was mailed from Ottawa on DEC.23.1901 to Henry Morgan on Bank Street (very fine). The content is a folded 4 page letter on "Winterholme / Ottawa" embossed stationery (Fleming's estate in Ottawa). In this historically important letter, Fleming explains, among other things, how he helped save Queen Victoria's painting in the Legislative Assembly fire of 1849. Fleming says that the painting was removed from the frame and that once out of the building it was carried by others. He mentions here the names of Curran and McGillivray who are known to have helped save the painting. This disputes the story that philatelists have been telling that Sandford Fleming took the painting home, rolled it up and used it to design the 12d. and then returned the painting to the government of Canada. The letter is missing at least one page, that including his signature, which Morgan probably added to his collection of famous signatures. The cover is docketted with the name of Sir Sandford Fleming, which is what Morgan often did. He also wrote on it that an acknowledgement was sent the next day on December 24th. (Image)

Est $ 250