The William H. Gross Collection: 1847 and 1851-56 Issues continued...

FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY SIX COVERS ARE KNOWN WITH THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE AND "PAID AT QUEBEC" CROWNED-CIRCLE HANDSTAMP. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE QUALITY.

The two 5c stamps were applied in Canada but were cancelled on arrival in New York. The "Paid at Quebec" crowned-circle handstamp was used at British colonial post offices as acknowledgement of cash payment for postage. Quebec was the only Canadian city to use this marking, because the main branch of the colonial post office was located there.

The Alexander census records only six covers with the "Paid at Quebec" marking used with the 5c 1847 Issue (none is known with the 10c). Five bear two stamps and are from the Kennedy correspondence. A sixth is known with a single 5c used to Boston. Similar covers from the Kennedy correspondence are illustrated in Boggs The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada (pp. 72-73).

Ex Ackerman (red label on back), Hart and "Sevenoaks" (Image)

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VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY SIX COVERS KNOWN WITH THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE AND "PAID AT QUEBEC" CROWNED-CIRCLE HANDSTAMP.

The two 5c stamps were applied in Canada but were cancelled on arrival in New York. The "Paid at Quebec" crowned-circle handstamp was used at British colonial post offices as acknowledgement of cash payment for postage. Quebec was the only Canadian city to use this marking, because the main branch of the colonial post office was located there.

The Alexander census records only six covers with the "Paid at Quebec" marking used with the 5c 1847 Issue (none is known with the 10c). Five bear two stamps and are from the Kennedy correspondence. A sixth is known with a single 5c used to Boston. Similar covers from the Kennedy correspondence are illustrated in Boggs The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada (pp. 72-73). This cover is accompanied by a stampless cover from the Kennedy correspondence with identical markings.

Signed Ashbrook. Ex Gibson, Rust and Boker. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN IMMACULATE COVER WITH THE UNITED STATES 1847 ISSUE USED FROM CANADA AND CANCELLED AT THE LEWISTON CROSS-BORDER EXCHANGE OFFICE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS VERY RARE USE.

Ex Sampson, Garrett and Boker. With 1980 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE USED FROM CANADA. ONE OF THE FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE USE WITH THE STAMP TIED BY A UNITED STATES POST OFFICE MARKING. THIS REMARKABLE COVER COMES FROM THE FAMOUS MORGAN CORRESPONDENCE. IT WAS ONE OF THE GEMS OF THE CASPARY AND RUST COLLECTIONS, AND TODAY RANKS AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WILLIAM H. GROSS COLLECTION.

The addressee firm's principal, Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883), began his business career as a grocer in Hartford, Connecticut, and later moved to New York City, where he became a successful wholesaler, broker and banker. He was active in politics, serving as an alderman and member of the New York State Senate from 1850 to 1853. Morgan became influential in the Republican Party and was elected governor of New York from 1859 through 1862. He served simultaneously as governor and head of the military department during the Civil War. In February 1863, Morgan was elected to the U.S. Senate and served one term until 1869.

The receipt docketing indicates this was sent from Gillespie, Moffatt and Company, one of the largest import-export houses in Canada. By the mid-1840's, the firm handled more ocean trade than any other firm in Montreal.

This letter was marked by Gillespie, Moffatt and Company with the Montreal post office box number 186. The post office charged the account and affixed the 10c stamp to show that United States postage had been prepaid. In this case the stamp was left uncancelled, and upon arrival at New York City's post office, it was cancelled with the standard "Paid" arc handstamp.

Ex Caspary, Rust and Boker. With 1988 P.F. certificate (Image)

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