STEAMBOAT AND RELATED MARKINGS: 1830 Stampless unmarked STEAMBOAT letter on “T Edmonds 1828” laid paper from TORONTO to NIAGARA. No despatch markings, as usual, as mail items were taken directly to the vessel, likely the steamboat “Canada”. Internally dated, Government House, York, 20th March 1830, endorsed ms “O H M Service” and “Govt. Office” on front, ms “Paid” and “Single Sheet” in red on front. No steamboat transit markings or receivers. To Revd Robert McGill, Niagara, from Z Mudge. RE an enclosed copy of a letter and forwarding a complaint about the qualifications of a Mr Rolston to hold the Mastership of the Niagara District Grammar School. Should have been endorsed as double. Robert McGill was a Presbyterian minister and educationalist. Lieutenant Zachariah Mudge was private secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Sir John Colbourne, In 1831 he was mysteriously shot in bed and buried in Garrison Burial Ground, near Fort York. Minor tears. Ex Palmer. (Image)

Est. 120+

1837 Stampless ms STEAMBOAT letter from TORONTO to NIAGARA. Internally dated Monday Morning. No despatch markings, as usual, as mail items were taken directly to the vessel. NIAGARA UC double circle receiver in red on front, ms dated 18th July 1837 in same blue grey pen as “P S Boat” and 4½ on front, due to pay single rate under 60 miles across Lake Ontario. Likely carried by steamer Transit. To Mr Peter Grant, John Drummond Esq, Mercht, Niagara. From William K Frith, Toronto. Filing fold and stain. Ex- Graham. (Image)

Est. 180+

1838 Stampless unmarked STEAMBOAT partial letter from TORONTO to DRUMMONDVILLE. CITY of TORONTO UC JU 2 1838 large double circle despatch, which is uncommon, as mail items were usually taken directly to the vessel without passing through the post office, ms 4½ due to pay single rate under 60 miles across Lake Ontario. No Niagara transit or receiver. To Mr. Isaac H Culp, Drummondville UC. Annotated from “John Armitage”. File fold, tear at seal and fading. Ex Palmer. (Image)

Est. 150+

1840 Stampless STEAMBOAT partial letter from NIAGARA to TORONTO. No despatch markings, as usual, as mail items were taken directly to the vessel. Very fine strike of STEAMBOAT arc hs and CITY of TORONTO UC AU 8 1840 large double circle receiver in black on front, ms 4½ due to pay single rate under 60 miles across Lake Ontario. To The Hon’bl John H Dunn, H M Recr Genl, Toronto, endorsed “Thos McCormick Esq, Coll Pt of Niagara, 6th April 40”. Remittance £19-2 Cy. Rec’d & Ans’d 9th. Letter removed, file folds and torn at seal. SHOULD THIS HAVE BEEN A MONEY LETTER? (Image)

Est. 250+

1843 Stampless STEAMBOAT partial letter from unknown location [possibly Kingston] to TORONTO. No despatch markings, as usual, as mail items were taken directly to the vessel. STEAMBOAT arc hs and weak TORONTO UC MY 12 1843 double split circle receiver in black on front, ms 9 due. Possibly to pay single rate from Kingston 101-200 miles or double rate from Niagara, under 60 miles across Lake Ontario. To Mr John Leak Esq, Young[sic] Street, Toronto. Annotated “Replied 16 April 1844” [months late]. (Image)

Est. 150+

1845 Stampless letter written in MONTREAL to TORONTO. No despatch markings, as usual, as mail items were taken directly to the vessel. Internally dated Montreal Saturday Morning. Over-inked strike of STEAMBOAT arc hs TORONTO UC AU 19 1845 double split circle receiver in black on front. Weak ms 9 due to pay a single rate 101-200 miles [short paid]. To Nelson Esquire, c/o Baldwin & Nelson, Attornies, Toronto, Upper Canada. Endorsed “Jas Drew Esq, Glasgow”. The marked 9d cy rate is not enough for the 335 miles from Montreal to Toronto, which should be rated 1/1 ½ for 301-400 miles. As the writer indicates that he is heading for a meeting in Toronto in a few days’ time, it is possible that he carried this item part of the way, perhaps mailing it from Kingston, 165 miles from Toronto, rated 9d cy. Ex Nickle. (Image)

Est. 300+

1849 Stampless unmarked CROSS-BORDER STEAMBOAT letter from TORONTO to OSWEGO, internally dated Toronto 4th Sept 1849. NO POSTAL MARKINGS, apart from rated ms 2 in black. Manuscript letter “B” [Boat?] and 1850 annotation on back. Later annotated P. Laurie and Rossdal filed 11 Jany 1850. From R Mitchells & Co, Toronto to Captain Laurie, Schr. “Louise”, Oswego, NY, ordering him to proceed to Kingston, then Toronto. Likely carried privately across Lake Ontario by a non-contract steamer, with Captain’s ship letter gratuity of 2 pence cy or cents? Possibly bootlegged by ship to Oswego and entered mails as a local drop letter at 2c rate. Unusual. Ex Parsons, Macdonald, Graham. (Image)

Est. 150+

1850 Stampless letter from TORONTO to QUEBEC. Internally dated Toronto 14th June 1850. Fine strike STEAMBOAT LETTER TORONTO CITY 6 - JU 14 1850 hs in red on front and weak QUEBEC L C JU 18 1850 double split circle receiver on back in red. Rated ms 1/6 due to pay single rate up to ½ oz 501-600 miles. To Messers W Hunt & Co, Quebec. From Thomas Brunshell, Toronto, re purchase of wine. File fold and small tear at seal. Ex-Sanderson. (Image)

Est. 150+

1850 Stampless STRAIGHT - LINE STEAMBOAT entire letter from TORONTO to MONTREAL. No despatch markings, as usual, as mail items were taken direct to the vessel. Internally dated Toronto 19th September 1850. Late Fine strike of straight-line “contract” straight-line STEAM BOAT hs in dark red and KINGSTON UC SP 20 1850 double split circle transit in same dark red. MONTREAL L C SP 21 1850 double split circle receiver in red. Rated ms 4/6 due to pay, quadruple 1/1 ½ rate 301-400 miles. Endorsed “Rec 21st Sept, Ans do”. To J H ?Mailland, Britannic Life Office, Montreal, from Francis Heward [endorsed] or J A Almond, Britannic Life Office, Toronto. Business letter referring to character and ref to enclosures – hence quadruple weight rate. “My dear Sir, Having received Major and (?)strangs papers late last evening, I hasten to enclose them in order that they may reach you in time for the next steamer”. File folds and tears. (Image)

Est. 300+

1851 Stampless partial letter from TORONTO to MONTREAL. Internally dated Toronto 26th July 1851. Clear strike STEAMBOAT LETTER TORONTO CITY 5 - JY 26 1851 hs in red on front. KINGSTON UC JY 27 1851 double split circle transit in red and MONTREAL LC JY 28 1851 double split circle receiver in red on back. Rated “3” ms uniform single rate. To Jean Langevin Esquire, Crown Lands Office, Montreal. Endorsed on flap from Neil Macintosh, Toronto, and ref to legal transactions incl village lots in Huntingdon. File folds and cut at seal. Strengthened where some annotations removed. (Image)

Est. 150+

1851 Stampless FREE letter from TORONTO to BROCKVILLE. Internally dated Toronto 26th August 1851. Clear strike STEAMBOAT LETTER TORONTO CITY 6 AU 29 185[blank] hs in red on front. Weak KINGSTON UC AU 29? 1851 double split circle transit in red and partial BROCKVILLE AU ? receiver in red on back. No rate marking, but endorsed “Mr B R, M P” LL, indicating free postage privilege. To Messers R Coleman & Co, Brockville. From Mr B Richards, Toronto, ref to “Your Bill passed this house last night..” File folds and small tears. Ex V G Greene. (Image)

Est. 150+

1853 Stampless long blue envelope from TORONTO to BROCKVILLE. STEAMBOAT LETTER TORONTO CITY 4 - JU 21 1853 hs in red on front. KINGSTON UC JU 22 1853 double split circle transit in reddish black and BROCKVILLE JU 22 1853 double split circle receiver in red on back. Rated “3d” ms in black. To James Joseph Esq, Clerk Leeds & Grenville, Brockville, CW. Endorsed: “Chief Superintendent of Education Circular No 2, Examined, Mr Warden, 22 June 1853. Grubby edges. (Image)

Est. 150+

1855 Stampless letter internally dated Toronto 16 July 1855. Large TORONTO CW JUL 16 full circle in black on front. STEAMBOAT LETTER TORONTO CITY 5 - JY 17 1855 transit in black on back, LONDON UC JY 17 1855 double split circle transit in black on back. SANDWICH UC unreadable receiver in red on back. Rated large “3” hs on front. To Geo Bullock Esq, Treasurer, Sandwich, endorsed “BUC”. Endorsed “Recd. 18 July/55”. From Thomas G Ridout (son of Surveyor-General Thomas Ridout), Cashier, Bank of Upper Canada, Toronto. Letter enclosed bank draft for £355.1.11 for School Grant for County of Essex. Probably off-loaded at Hamilton. File fold. (Image)

Est. 150+