Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The Harvey Mirsky Collection of the United States 1847 Issue continued...

Canadian and B.N.A. Mails, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

2478

10c Black (2). Three large to huge margins, clear at bottom, tiny sealed tear in wide margin at right, tied by red cancel (multiple strikes of an indistinct marking), matching "Eastport Me. Sep. 10" circular datestamp with well-struck "SHIP" and "2" handstamps also applied at Eastport on small white envelope mailed outside the United States borders, almost certainly at New Brunswick B.N.A., and addressed to Hamilton, Canada West, clear strike of "Queenston U.C Sep. 15, 1850" transit datestamp, red Hamilton receiving backstamp (Sep. 15), manuscript "Due" and "4-1/2" Canadian pence due -- the large loop of the "4" also tying stamp

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE ON A SHIP LETTER RECEIVED AT A UNITED STATES PORT AND SENT TO BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE 1847 COVERS IN EXISTENCE.

This extraordinary cover was discussed in detail by the late Creighton C. Hart in his article "1847 Covers to Canada: Part II" (Chronicle, Nov. 1973). Hart described this as "One of the most unusual covers to Canada" and explained the use: "This letter came into Eastport on a coastal ship and the captain received 2c from the Eastport post office for his service. Unfortunately the original letter is missing, but Eastport is just a port stop away from St. John, New Brunswick. Carriage of mail by coastal vessels from ports in Maritimes was a common practice. The stamp was on the envelope before it reached the States and may represent a use of the '47 stamps from New Brunswick. If the letter had originated at Eastport there would not be the 'due and 'SHIP 2' markings." Adding a final comment, Hart wrote "It's treasures such as this that make philatelic hunting sometimes very rewarding."

The Alexander census records 5c and 10c 1847 stamps on two other separate covers originating in St. John, New Brunswick. Both are addressed within the United States and were not treated as ship letters. The cover offered here is remarkable not only as a use of the 1847 Issue from outside United States borders -- almost certainly St. John -- but also as an inbound ship letter received in transit to Canada. We know of no other comparable 1847 Issue cover.

Ex Sevenoaks. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. 20,000-30,000

SOLD for $16,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2479

5c Red Brown (1). Two singles, large margins to just in at bottom of right stamp, tied by red grid cancels, matching "Boston 10cts. 3 Dec." integral-rate circular datestamp and "Paid" handstamp on blue 1847 folded cover to St. John, New Brunswick, manuscript "7" Canadian pence due marking for postage from the border to destination, St. Andrew and receiving backstamps, unusual and attractive manuscript markings at left, vertical file fold does not affect stamps

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE TO NEW BRUNSWICK.

The Alexander census lists six 5c covers and five 10c covers to New Brunswick, the cover offered here is unlisted in the census and becomes the seventh (and earliest) known use. The earliest reported use to Canada is September 25. (Image)

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E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2480

10c Black (2). Position 29R1, large margins to clear, tied by manuscript "X" cancel and red "U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N. York May 8" route agent's circular datestamp on blue 1850 folded letter to St. John, New Brunswick, endorsed "pr. Mail via Robbinstown", transit and receiving backstamps

VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON A COVER TO NEW BRUNSWICK. ONLY FIVE COVERS BEARING THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE ARE KNOWN USED TO NEW BRUNSWICK, AND THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO WITH THE U.S. EXPRESS MAIL ROUTE AGENT'S DATESTAMP.

Ex Rust and LeBow. (Image)

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E. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2481

10c Black (2). Position 86R1, full to huge margins showing part of adjacent stamps at top and bottom, tied by partly struck blue datestamp, second strike of same "Philada. Pa. 10 Jun. 20" integral-rate circular datestamp at right on 1850 folded cover to Wallace, Nova Scotia, sender's directives "paid to Lines" and "Mail via Robbinstown Maine", backstamps including St. Andrews (Jun. 24), St. John (Jun. 25) and Amherst (Jun. 27), manuscript "11-1/2" Canadian pence due, some slight overall soiling

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT 1847 ISSUE COVER TO NOVA SCOTIA.

Ex Rose and illustrated in his Classic United States Imperforate Stamps (Image)

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E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $3,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

2482

10c Black (2). Full to large margins including part of adjoining stamp at left, tied by blue grid cancel, matching "Baltimore Md. Oct. 13" circular datestamp on blue 1847 folded cover to Halifax, Nova Scotia, sender's routing "pr steamer Hibernia via Boston", manuscript "1/" one-shilling British packet charge, receiving backstamp, vertical file fold well away from stamp

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING 1847 ISSUE COVER CARRIED BY CUNARD PACKET TO NOVA SCOTIA.

The 10c 1847 stamp paid the U.S. over-300 miles rate from Baltimore to Boston, and the letter was then carried by the Cunarder Hibernia. The British packet rate of one shilling was collected from the addressee (no inland postage was assessed). The one-shilling charge was levied until September 20, 1849, at which point it was reduced to 4 pence (4-1/2 pence in local currency). (Image)

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E. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $6,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

2483

5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins including part of adjoining stamp at left, clear at bottom, tied by strikes of blue "Philada. Pa. 10 May 7" integral-rate circular datestamp, additional strike at right on blue 1850 folded cover to Halifax, Nova Scotia, sender's ship-name directive "per Steamer Cambria", manuscript "4-1/2" Canadian pence due, receiving backstamp, vertical file fold affects right stamp, cover tear at top, otherwise Very Fine, the pair of 5c stamps pays the over-300 miles rate between Philadelphia and Boston, the charge from Boston to Halifax by British packet was reduced to 4 pence (4-1/2p in local currency) on Sep. 20, 1849, with 1987 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction