1829 SFL “BROCKVILLE” straightline bs in red to York, rated “2N9”, ms “Money Letter”, contents regarding two license applications for taverns in Brockville. File fold and small loss at top center of cover. The rate is triple rate (11d for 201-300 miles) or 2N9 Cy. (Image)

1833 SFL “York UP Can” (Nov 20) to Vittoria, Long Point, faint “FREE” hs in red and ms “M” for money letter and ms “Money”. The ms “M” is an early example of money letter. The letter encloses John Mann’s cheque for 10 pounds duty. (Image)

1843 SFL Toronto to Montreal, put aboard steamboat with straightline “STEAMBOAT” and matching red “Kingston MY 4 1843”, ms rated “2/4” due (double 1/2 rate from 301-400 miles. No Montreal receiver, but docketing rec’d and answered. The letter from W Wilson, cashier Bank of Montreal, Toronto describes various banking transactions and drafts.The steamboat marking was only applied on eastbound mail. (Image)

1844 SFL Niagara July 10 1844 dateline with "STEAM BOAT" arc handstamp, ms rated "4 1/2" and Toronto JY 12 1844 datestamp, carried via steamboat across the lake, rated 4 1/2d collect (under 60 miles). There is no dispatch cancel in Niagara as the cover was taken directly to the ship and posted aboard. The letter from William Kingsmill discusses levies placed on two properties occupied by Follett. (Image)

1856 SC “LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY CANADA” blue oval hs (#LA 1d, early Toronto use) on cover from Toronto, CW (SP 10 56) to Barrie, “PAID 3” hs in red, initialed at lower left “MW”, and ms “Wickstead” docketing at left. A superb strike of this official cancel. Railton’s Directory for the City of London, CW 1856-1857, page xix indicates Wickstead was the clerk for the Legislative Assembly. (Image)

1857 “LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY CANADA” (APL 28 1857) in blue on stampless cover to Quebec bs. Free franked at lower left “M. W. Baby, MPP”. A lovely strike of such a large hammer, which is often weak. Michel Guillaume (William) Baby was MPP for Rimouski from 1857 to 1861. (Image)

1858 SC red “Legislative Assembly Canada” crown and shield (#LA4) (MAR 1 1858) to Toronto, free franked at lower left “Wm McD D MP” being William McDonell Dawson, the MP for Trois Rivieres and served from 1858-1861. The cover is worn but addressed to A. McNabb, attorney & solicitor, King Street, Toronto. McNabb fought in the War of 1812 as a teenager, opposed Mackenzie and the Upper Canada rebellion, attacked his supply ship the SS Caroline at Navy Island, NY. He served as joint premier of Canada from 1854 to 1856. He built Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, one of the tour stops of the PHSC Symposium. (Image)

1858 SC “LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CANADA” with blue crown (#LC1) (MAY 26 1858) to Newboro, CW, matching blue crown Free hs and reverse with Brockville (MY 27) and Newboro (MY 28) bs. The cover is free franked “P Van Koughnet” (Philip Michael Matthew Scott VanKoughnet, president of the Legislative Council). Ex Greene. (Image)

1868 “REGISTERED AT THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ONTARIO” red hs (#HAO2) on cover from Norval (DE 14 68) to Toronto, registered, “PAID 3” and registry fee paid in cash, reverse with red weak House of Assembly crown cds (#HAO1). (Image)

1852 SFL Toronto (Ap 3 1852) to Detroit, rated “Canada 10 Cts” collect, ms “Via Windsor”, London bs transit (Ap 4) and red Windsor (AP 5). The business letter from Arthur Robertson to Alexander Davidson reads in part “and that not having been acknowledge, some foul play in the shape of robbing the mail may have been practised”. While the Postmaster General’s letter book for the time does mention the occasional extraction of money from envelopes and lost letters, most situations are resolved. There is no letter from Robertson to the PMG recorded in his letter book reporting any loss (LAC RG 3 B.2.I, Vol. 366. T-3850). Perhaps he did eventually write? (Image)

1829 SFL York, UC in black (1 OCT 1829) to Dorset, England, via Thomas Deane, NY forwarding agent, ms “Paid 9 & 1/3” being 7d to border, faint red “Niagara U Canada Paid to New York” hs, 2d Ferriage and 25¢ equivalent to New York, to forwarding agent, then “Ship Geo Canning via Liverpool”, boxed “Ship Letter Liverpool” bs, rated 1/8 Stg due (8d ship, 1/- inland). Letter from James Garrett Brown who immigrated to Canada. (Image)

1837 SFL City of Toronto UC (MR 20 1837) to London, England, rated “PAID 7 & 25” hs in red, 7d to border, 25¢ to New York, black boxed “Portsmouth Ship Letter” bs, ms “1N4” collect (8d Stg ship, 8d Stg inland postage). The letter is a report from the Canada Company, signed by William Allan (former postmaster of York, etc) in his role as Commissioner. (Image)

1856 SC Montreal (SP 26) tombstone in red, plus “PAID 6d Stg” hs to London, England, carried via Allan line “Canadian” to Liverpool (OC 9). The 6d Stg / 7 1/2d Cy rate was effective from May 1854. (Image)

1857 SFC from Dewsbury, GB (AP 7) to Toronto, CW rated “10d” collect, reverse with Dewsbury, Mirfield, Liverpool, and blue Canadian “L A C” (Legislative Assembly Canada) (AP 28) bs. The letter is address to William Lyon Mackenzie Esq, MPP who was the famous leader of the Upper Canada Rebellion, and later mayor of Toronto, and MPP. A remarkable and historic cover to a very famous Canadian. Ex Stulberg. (Image)

Minuse and Pratt #E-C 6d dark green plate essay on white wove paper, Viking’s head design, VF. (Image)

#1 3d Beaver, four large, clear margins and very gently used with a tiny pen cancel at bottom right margin. A spectacular example with a design clear of the typical target cancel. XF+. CV $1,600+ (Image)

#1 3d Beaver, used, sealed tear at lower left, light target cancel, as F. CV $800. (Image)

#1 3d Beaver, laid paper, large to tight margins, sealed tear at lower right corner. The stamp has re-entries through “ADA” and “POST”. Greene Foundation certificate accompanies (2016) that mentions sealed tear but not re-entry varieties. F appearance. CV as VG $400 (Image)

#4d 3d Beaver, vertical pair, short transfer variety on bottom outer frameline of top stamp and top of bottom stamp, large to just clear margins, target cancels, F. CV $300 (Image)

#5 6d slate grey, four large even margins, light target cancel and rich colour, VF. CV $1,600. (Image)

1867 “Toronto Trade Circular and Prices Current” dated Nov 4, 1867, from Clark Brothers (Church and Front St, Toronto), with #14 1¢ Rose (perf faults at right) tied by grid hs, reverse with double ring “Montreal Post Office CE” (PM NO 7 67) transit hs to Petitcot Station, NB paying 1¢ interprovincial circular rate, noted as being carried via Canadian packet “Belgian” departing Quebec Nov 9 for Liverpool and dropping mail off by lighter at Sydney, NS on Nov 11 or 12. Reverse with P.O. Petiticodiac bs (Nov 14 67). Bit of aging and paper loss in spots. Scarce. (Image)

1865 Toronto (SP 16 65) diamond grid hs ties #17 10¢ Consort (perfs trimmed at bottom), to Lowell, Massachusetts, paying 10¢ cross border rate. (Image)

1861 orange “American Express Company Toronto, C.W.” frank on Grand Orange Lodge proceedings pamphlet (Feb 20, 1861, held in Barrie) from Toronto to Weston, CW, endorsed “York Mills, Orange Lodge, of which I was Master, No. 207”. Express frank with parallel creases from pamphlet fold. Pamphlet printed by British Herald in Toronto (88 Yonge St). Front cover with some cover loss as it is the typical brittle paper, otherwise excellent condition. I have never handled this label before. Express service covers are particularly scarce in Canada and represent another means of sending mail. A fabulous Toronto, and express item. (Image)

#14 1¢ Rose, 47 used copies, many with dated cancels, some faults but better than most. CV as F $1880 (Image)

#15 5¢ Beaver, VF, regummed. CV $800. (Image)