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
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| Scott Number | 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | September 10, 1850 |
| From City | Eastport |
| From State | ME |
| To City | Hamilton |
| To State | Canada |
| Addressee | Miss Thompson c/o N. Merritt |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 329407 |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 0 |
| Quantity 2 | 1 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
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 "Lewiston Me. Sep. 10" cds with well-struck "SHIP" and "2" handstamps also applied at Lewiston 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" cds, red Hamilton receiving backstamp (Sep. 15), ms. "Due" and "4-1/2" Canadian rate - 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 usage: "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.
Est. 20,000-30,000
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 799 lot 46 realized 30,000
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 1023 lot 2478 realized 16,500
Alexander listed as 9/10/50
PF 329407
2
1847
10
black
SINGLE, RED CANCEL, ON COVER TO HAMILTON CANADA, EASTPORT, ME PMK AT LEFT WITH QUEENSTOWN BORDER CROSSING PMK, RED S/L "SHIP 2".
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage
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 usage: "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.
Est. 20,000-30,000
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 799 lot 46 realized 30,000
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 1023 lot 2478 realized 16,500
Alexander listed as 9/10/50
PF 329407
2
1847
10
black
SINGLE, RED CANCEL, ON COVER TO HAMILTON CANADA, EASTPORT, ME PMK AT LEFT WITH QUEENSTOWN BORDER CROSSING PMK, RED S/L "SHIP 2".
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage
