1840 France to New Brunswick, folded letter mailed from Paris (red Bureau Central FEB.4.1840 c.d.s.) to St John NB, through Bureau Maritime Havre (c.d.s. on back) then New York (red c.d.s. on front MAR.23) and with St Andrews receiver on back (date unclear, but docketed rec'd on 5 April). Long letter inside, and accompanied by a description of the various rate applications and routings. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 350

1854 Montreal to Reims France, a stampless folded letter mailed from Montreal on MAY.15.1854 to Reims unpaid, with a red boxed accountancy marking "CANADA / &c ART.12." (Salles #3005). Arrived at Calais on MAY.30 then Reims on the next day. Rated 34 decimes to collect, of which 24 decimes due to GB. With long letter inside, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 350

1856 SFL to Germany through France, name of town where dispatched is unclear (green U.C datestamp APR.13.1856), through Hamilton (APR.15), then Calais (MAY.3), on train to Strasbourg (MAY.9), then with various German datestamps including Stuttgart and Marbach. Rare orange boxed accountancy marking on front "CANADA ART.19" (used for one year only and Montgomery records only 8 examples). Rated 45 (Kreuzer) to collect: 3k local, 3k Thurn & Taxis transit, 39k credit to France. Credit to GB under Article 19 - 12 decimes (34 Kreuzer). France retained 5k for transit. A very fine cover with no letter inside. (Image)

Est $ 500

1858 Montreal to Cognac, France, a stampless folded letter (with long letter inside) mailed Montreal on NOV.8.1858, through London (red NOV.22 c.d.s. on back), then Paris (NOV.23), train to Cognac on the same day and finally arrived on NOV.24. The front shows a boxed accountancy marking "GB / 2F 62c" (Salles #3048, Montgomery records this used for less than one year, with 8 copies known) and a rate handstamp. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

1862 17c Cartier on Cover to Bourges France, mailed from Montreal on JAN.10.1862 (duplex) and addressed to Bourges, France, through London (JAN.25) entered France at Calais (JAN.25), then by train to Bourges (JAN.26 receiver). Carried by the Allan Line Norwegian. This is interestingly one of the only nine covers franked with the correct 17c rate to France, as listed in Arfken and Leggett's Canada's Decimal Era, 1859-1868, even though this rate was in effect from July 1, 1859 to 1870. There is a small internal tear in the centre of the front side, still a rare franking and an appealing cover. Valued at $1,000 in Firby's The Canadian Posted Letter Guide. (Image)

Est. $ 500

1863 Montreal to Paris France, a stampless folded letter (with long letter inside) mailed Montreal on DEC.18.1963, through Québec (DEC.22), then London (red JAN.9 datestamp on back), then Paris on JAN.10. There is a boxed accountancy marking "GB / 2F __" (Sales #3047) and docketing in regard to routing "Per Canadian Steamer Damascus 19 Dec / Portland, Liverpool" and "Postage not paid". Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

1867 France to Canada, a stampless cover mailed from Paris (Rue St. Honoré APR.15.1867) with French oval accountancy marking "FR / 2F" (Salles #3082 with Montgomery having recorded only 5 other examples), through London (red c.d.s. on back APR.16) to Toronto (MAY.3 receiver on back). Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 150

1869 Newfoundland to France, a stampless folded letter (with letter in French inside describing life in Baie Blanche, the sinking of a ship there, comings and goings of ships, etc.) mailed from Twillingate (JUN.5.1869), through St Johns (JUN.28), then London (red c.d.s. JUL.26, a month later), with British accountancy marking "GB / 2F__" (Salles #3047), then Calais (JUL.26) and finally St Brieuc (JUL.27). Interestingly, the letter was written on MAY.26 and took two full months to get to its destination. Very fine and interesting. (Image)

Est $ 500

1873 pre-UPU Cover to Dunkerque France, mailed Peterboro on AUG.11.1873, through Montreal , then London (AUG.26 in red), entered France at Calais on AUG.27 and finally arrived Dunkerque (receiver but unreadable date). This cover is franked with a 1c, 3c and 6c Small Queens, prepaying 10c for a quarter oz. letter. There is also a manuscript "3" denoting a British transit claim from Canada. Carried by the Allan Line Samarian from Québec City to Liverpool. We have only ever seen one other such franking, in a 1996 Maresch sale, and this one is much nicer. A lovely three colour franking on a very fine cover. (Image)

Est $ 1,000

1873 pre-UPU Double Weight Cover to Nantes France, mailed Montreal on NOV.7.1873, through London (NOV.19), has a "Paris à Bordeaux" datestamp (NOV.20) and then a Nantes receiver (NOV.20). There is a manuscript "6" for the British transit claim. The cover is franked with a pair of 2c and two 6c Small Queens (all perforated 11½ x 12) paying the proper rate for letters over ¼oz and under ½oz. The backflap has a blue oval advertizing for "A. Lechevallier / Naturaliste / Montreal, P.Q." Carried by the Allan Line Samarian from Québec City to Liverpool. Small tears at right do not detract from this lovely and very fine cover. Provenance: Simpson (1996), Menich (2000). (Image)

Est $ 1,250

1877 pre-UPU Cover to Vésinet France, mailed from St Hyacynthe Que on FEB.23.1877, through London (MAR.7), with Calais entry c.d.s. probably dated MAR.8 and same day receiver of Vésinet on back. Franked with three 3c and a 1c Small Queens, all tied by fancy cork "R" cancels (which did not denote registration). The letter was carried by the Peruvian from Halifax (Feb.24) to Liverpool (MAR.7). Halifax had replaced Portland, Maine for Allan Line winter sailings beginning with the 1876-77 season. Unobtrusive tears on backflap, still a very fine cover. When the newly formed General Postal Union adopted 15 grams (½ ounce) as its basic letter weight in 1875, Canada responded by adopting the same weight structure in January 1876. The letter rate remained 10 cents, but now per half ounce, for mail carried by Canadian packet. (Image)

Est $ 750

1877 pre-UPU France to Canada Redirected, a folded letter mailed from Paris (Place de la Bourse JUL.5.1877) to Québec City (JAN.20 receiver on back) through London (JUL.6 PAID transit on front, plus an orange crayon "1d"). The letter was then forwarded to Rivière du Loup en Bas, by adding a 3c Small Queen, tied by a Québec duplex on JUL.20. The letter was finally received there on the same day. A lovely three-colour, dual country franking on a folded letter (no letter inside), with a vertical crease and tear at top, both not affecting the stamps or the pleasing visual aspect. Letters are scarce to rare from France to Canada in this period, and this one is no exception, especially with its added interest. (Image)

Est $ 1,500

1886 Shortpaid Double UPU Cover to Bordeaux France, mailed from Québec City on FEB.15.1886, endorsed "per Cunard Steamer" and franked with a single 5c Small Queen which was shortpaid by 5c, as the weight would have been too great. 5c is equal to 25 centimes, times double deficiency make 50 centimes, franked in France with a 10c and a 40c "Duval" type postage due stamps. This is a front only, and has a horizontal crease and a bit of staining, still these do not detract from the exotic nature of this cover. (Image)

Est $ 250

1887 UPU Cover to Argenteuil France, mailed from Pickering Ont on NOV.1.1887, through Ingersoll (NOV.1), Hamilton (NOV.2), London England (NOV.15), entered France at Calais (NOV.15) and finally Argenteuil (NOV.16). The cover is franked with a 3c plus a pair of 1c Small Queens, all tied by fancy cancels, paying the 5c UPU rate. A very fine cover. (Image)

Est $ 150

1898 UPU Quadruple Rate Cover Montreal to Paris France, mailed Montreal on OCT.16.1898 to Paris, endorsed "via New York", with receiver on back (illegible date). This large (19 x 13 cm) cover is franked with a pair of 10c Small Queens (small faults to each) paying for 4 times the 5c UPU rate. Very fine and scarce. The Firby guide values this franking at $1,200. (Image)

Est $ 400