Developed & Supported by Mark Scheuer. Based on the work of Thomas J. Alexander. Dedicated to the memory of Creighton Hart and Susan McDonald. Feedback, additions, and corrections most welcome. Please send to: mscheue1@rochester.rr.com
√ Click here for the census user’s guide as a PDF
Skip to main content
| Scott Number | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date | June 8, 1851 |
| From City | Montreal |
| From State | Canada |
| To City | New York |
| To State | NY |
| Addressee | D. S. Kennedy |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 262270 |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 1 |
| Quantity 2 | 0 |
| Bisect | |
| Others | Canada 1 |
Notes
5c Brown (1), ample margins to barely in at left, fine late impression, tied by Canadian 7-ring target, used in combination with Canada 3p Red (1), full even margins, tied by matching target, and both tied by a red curved New York Paid handstamp, on June 7, 1851 Kennedy correspondence folded letter from Montreal to New York City, red Montreal L.C. Jun 8, 1861 postmark at left, matching Canada exchange handstamp in framed arc, ms. p.paid above stamps, light fine fold through 3p. Cover and stamps are incredibly fresh. Extremely fine. The only US/Canada mixed franking with both stamps cancelled in Canada, this highly celebrated cover, with its extraordinary combination of first issues (and ranking among the most important covers in philately) is without question one of the five greatest 1847 usages.
Ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Hillmer, Grunin, Garnett, Giamporcaro, Craven.
Illustrated in Alexander census, p 28, Boggs p79 fig 36, Chronicle 98 p 96 fig 3 and the pamphlet A Special Exhibition of Greatest Covers from the Collections of Alfred F. Lichtenstein and Louise Boyd Dale, published by the Philatelic Foundation in 1995.
Sold by Matthew Bennett International (sale 243 lot 47) on 23 March 2002 for US$ 525,000
Alexander listed as 6/8/51
ED: The Postal agreement between the United States and Canada took effect on April 6, 1851. Prior to that date, mail from either side was paid to the lines (border). From April 6, cross border mail was rated from origin to destination. Partial payments were not supposed to be recognized (see item #5 of the postal regulations below), though we know from the short paid 5c cover in this sale (see lot 33) and another similar cover, that only the balance of 3d (5c) was to be collected from the addressee. While these 5c covers did create the need of mixing currencies, this mixed franking cover actually displays, by franking, the combination of currencies. A review of the postal regulations may help understand this cover. The postal rates were set out in sections 3, 4 and 5 of the agreement between the United states and Canada. These sections state, in part: "(3) The postage to be charged in the United States, on a letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, to or from Canada, shall be five cents for any distance within the United States, not exceeding 3,000 miles..." "(4) The postage charged in Canada on a letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight to or from the United States, shall be five cents for any distance in Canada..." "(5) Upon all letters posted in the United States to be delivered in Canada, or posted in Canada to be delivered in the United States, these rates shall be combined into one rate, of which payment in advance shall be optional in either country. Less than the whole combined rate cannot be prepaid..." It is of note that the agreement does not state that the combined rate is either 6 pence or 10 cents and may easily have been construed as necessary a combination of 5 cents United States plus 5 cents (3 pence) Canadian, which is precisely what this bears as franking.
PF 262270
1 1847 5¢ red brown
1 1851 5p red
SINGLES ON FL. TO NY., CANADIAN TARGET CANCELS, RED S/L "PAID" CANCEL, RED 1851 MONTREAL PMK AT LEFT, RED ARCED "CANADA".
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage
PF 35156 #1, Canada #1 genuine
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 743 lot 121 realized 280,000
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1211 (William H Gross) lot 146 realized 300,000 (image)
Ex Dale-Lichtenstein, Hillmer, Grunin, Garnett, Giamporcaro, Craven.
Illustrated in Alexander census, p 28, Boggs p79 fig 36, Chronicle 98 p 96 fig 3 and the pamphlet A Special Exhibition of Greatest Covers from the Collections of Alfred F. Lichtenstein and Louise Boyd Dale, published by the Philatelic Foundation in 1995.
Sold by Matthew Bennett International (sale 243 lot 47) on 23 March 2002 for US$ 525,000
Alexander listed as 6/8/51
ED: The Postal agreement between the United States and Canada took effect on April 6, 1851. Prior to that date, mail from either side was paid to the lines (border). From April 6, cross border mail was rated from origin to destination. Partial payments were not supposed to be recognized (see item #5 of the postal regulations below), though we know from the short paid 5c cover in this sale (see lot 33) and another similar cover, that only the balance of 3d (5c) was to be collected from the addressee. While these 5c covers did create the need of mixing currencies, this mixed franking cover actually displays, by franking, the combination of currencies. A review of the postal regulations may help understand this cover. The postal rates were set out in sections 3, 4 and 5 of the agreement between the United states and Canada. These sections state, in part: "(3) The postage to be charged in the United States, on a letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight, to or from Canada, shall be five cents for any distance within the United States, not exceeding 3,000 miles..." "(4) The postage charged in Canada on a letter not exceeding half an ounce in weight to or from the United States, shall be five cents for any distance in Canada..." "(5) Upon all letters posted in the United States to be delivered in Canada, or posted in Canada to be delivered in the United States, these rates shall be combined into one rate, of which payment in advance shall be optional in either country. Less than the whole combined rate cannot be prepaid..." It is of note that the agreement does not state that the combined rate is either 6 pence or 10 cents and may easily have been construed as necessary a combination of 5 cents United States plus 5 cents (3 pence) Canadian, which is precisely what this bears as franking.
PF 262270
1 1847 5¢ red brown
1 1851 5p red
SINGLES ON FL. TO NY., CANADIAN TARGET CANCELS, RED S/L "PAID" CANCEL, RED 1851 MONTREAL PMK AT LEFT, RED ARCED "CANADA".
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage
PF 35156 #1, Canada #1 genuine
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 743 lot 121 realized 280,000
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1211 (William H Gross) lot 146 realized 300,000 (image)
