| 2026 |
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 5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large even
margins, distinctive dark shade and fine sharp impression on deeply blued paper, tied by two perfect strikes of Canadian 7-ring target cancel, part strike of red "Montreal L.C. MY 2 1851" circular datestamp and matching "CANADA" in framed arc
handstamp on light greenish folded cover from Canada to E. D. Morgan & Company in New York City, receipt docketing indicates sender was Gillespie, Moffatt and Company in Montreal, pristine conditionEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST
COVER SHOWING USE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE TO PAY ALL OF THE CANADIAN POSTAGE DURING THE TREATY PERIOD, WHICH COMMENCED ON APRIL 6, 1851. ANY COVER WITH THE 1847 ISSUE USED FROM CANADA IS RARE, BUT COVERS MAILED DURING THE TREATY PERIOD WITH THE
STAMPS CANCELLED BY THE CANADIAN TARGET ARE THE RAREST AND MOST DESIRABLE OF ALL. THIS MAGNIFICENT COVER WAS FEATURED IN THE 1956 CASPARY AND 1957 DICK SALES, AND, SINCE THE EUROPEAN CONNOISSEUR ACQUIRED IT 58 YEARS AGO FOR HIS COLLECTION, IT HAS
BEEN UNAVAILABLE TO THE PHILATELIC MARKET. The United States-Canada postal treaty went into effect on April 6, 1851, and established the prepaid rate of 6d in Canada and 10c in the United States. The use of United States 1847 stamps in Canada,
which was practiced prior to the April 1851 treaty, continued for a period of months, even after the 1847 Issue was demonetized on July 1, 1851. Very few covers are recorded during the treaty period with 1847 stamps cancelled in Canada. Creighton C.
Hart used this cover to illustrate his opinion that "the masterpieces of this period have the stamps cancelled in Canada evidencing that a Canadian post office accepted U.S. stamps to pay Canadian postage." The 1847 census lists eight genuine
covers showing usage of 1847 stamps from Canada during the treaty period. There are four covers with the 10c 1847 and one with a pair of the 5c 1847 (the cover offered here) -- and, of course, there is the famous 5c 1847 and Canada 3p Beaver mixed
franking with one of each, a composite of U.S. and Canadian postage. On those six covers the stamps are cancelled by the Canadian target. In addition to those six, there is a seventh cover, the spectacular mixed franking with a Beaver stamp and strip
of five 5c 1847, but the strip was not cancelled in Canada on that cover. The eighth and latest cover has a single 5c cancelled by the Canadian target. These eight covers appear to be all of the recorded treaty period uses from Canada with 1847
stamps. There is no other cover like the one offered here, with a pair of the 5c 1847 paying the full rate and tied by Canadian target cancels. 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. Illustrated in Thomas J. Alexander's The United States 1847 Issue: A Cover Census (page 27) and in Creighton C. Hart's article "1847 Cross-Border Covers" (Chronicle 98, May 1978, page 97). Ex Alfred H. Caspary (H. R.
Harmer sale, January 16-18, 1956, lot 119, $2,800 to Harry Keffer, then to Jack Dick) and Jack Dick (Siegel Sale 204, October 31, 1957, lot 139, $5,400 to the European Connoisseur). With 2015 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at
SiegelAuctions.com |
E. $ 20,000-30,000
SOLD for $55,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
