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 | 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | August 26, 1850 |
| From City | Quebec |
| From State | Canada |
| To City | New York |
| To State | NY |
| Addressee | D. S. Kennedy |
| Cert Author | |
| Cert # | |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 0 |
| Quantity 2 | 1 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
According to U.S. PL&Rs, the August 26, 1850 Kennedy correspondence cover, Boggs figure 30, (p75) with the crowned circle PAID/AT/QUEBEC L.C. and the manuscript 11½d cy. should be an unpaid letter (20¢ due) insofar as U.S.postage is concerned if the encircled 20 canceller is in black as Boggs reports. (However, Mrs. McDonald notes that in the Collectors Club Philatelist of January 1965 this cover was illustrated by Vincent Greene and was there described as having a red encircled 20 rate. The use of a red 20 as a canceller, she reports can also be found on a 5-cent 1847 sold in the spring of 1975 in the Star sale.)
If the marking is a black 20 as Boggs reports, this would be a double rated ˜due' letter in the U.S. and the single rate Canadian and double rate U.S. would not agree. The use of a black canceller in the pre-April 6, 1851 period at New York City would present serious problems for an expert, for it was a color almost entirely unused at New York then. Other than the stamp, there is no U.S. postage rate shown and it is true that the Canadian PAID in the crowned circle is not crossed out and there is no indication that it was ˜charge box' prepaid. However, the Boggs' photograph indicates the possibility that a penstroke was removed from under the ˜P' and ˜A' of PAID. Further, without physical examination, I would be unwilling to maintain that a U.S. rate might not have also been removed.
In analyzing this cover, Mrs. McDonald notes that the best thing going for it is the fact that other than the cancelled stamp, no other U.S. rate is indicated. In examining the crown circle for a pen removal, she adds,
I don't see indications of a pen cancel; I think the faint line is part of the crown circle.
As can be seen, expert opinions can differ particularly when it is necessary to analyze an item by photograph alone”a very difficult procedure. In the differences of opinion, Mrs. McDonald places heaviest weight upon the apparent absence of a U.S. rate, whereas I would note the presence of the manuscript ˜paid to the lines'. In the new Census by Alexander, this cover is noted as being certified by Creighton Hart and Susan McDonald.
C. Hahn
Alexander listed as 8/26/50
We can see from the color image that the stamp is cancelled in red, indicating that Susan McDonnald was correct and Boggs was wrong.
Letter datelined Aug 25, 1850, cancelled Quebec AUG 26, 1850 with Montreal Aug 27, 1850 transit mark on reverse,
This cover currently resides in the Charles A. Hirzel collection in the Museum für Kommunikation in Berne, Switzerland.
If the marking is a black 20 as Boggs reports, this would be a double rated ˜due' letter in the U.S. and the single rate Canadian and double rate U.S. would not agree. The use of a black canceller in the pre-April 6, 1851 period at New York City would present serious problems for an expert, for it was a color almost entirely unused at New York then. Other than the stamp, there is no U.S. postage rate shown and it is true that the Canadian PAID in the crowned circle is not crossed out and there is no indication that it was ˜charge box' prepaid. However, the Boggs' photograph indicates the possibility that a penstroke was removed from under the ˜P' and ˜A' of PAID. Further, without physical examination, I would be unwilling to maintain that a U.S. rate might not have also been removed.
In analyzing this cover, Mrs. McDonald notes that the best thing going for it is the fact that other than the cancelled stamp, no other U.S. rate is indicated. In examining the crown circle for a pen removal, she adds,
I don't see indications of a pen cancel; I think the faint line is part of the crown circle.
As can be seen, expert opinions can differ particularly when it is necessary to analyze an item by photograph alone”a very difficult procedure. In the differences of opinion, Mrs. McDonald places heaviest weight upon the apparent absence of a U.S. rate, whereas I would note the presence of the manuscript ˜paid to the lines'. In the new Census by Alexander, this cover is noted as being certified by Creighton Hart and Susan McDonald.
C. Hahn
Alexander listed as 8/26/50
We can see from the color image that the stamp is cancelled in red, indicating that Susan McDonnald was correct and Boggs was wrong.
Letter datelined Aug 25, 1850, cancelled Quebec AUG 26, 1850 with Montreal Aug 27, 1850 transit mark on reverse,
This cover currently resides in the Charles A. Hirzel collection in the Museum für Kommunikation in Berne, Switzerland.
