Lot 809, Wentworth 1828 stampless folded Money Letter with earliest known Hamilton postmark

Another interesting item from today’s Postal History offerings.

Lot 809, Wentworth 1828 stampless folded Money Letter with earliest known Hamilton postmarkLot 809 Wentworth 1828 Money Letter with the Earliest Known Hamilton Postmark, a stampless folded letter mailed at Hamilton on OCT.31.1828 (manuscript precursor, written by postmaster A.R. Smith), rated 1/6 which is 4 times the 4½ rate for 1oz and distance of 48 miles, with one sheet (cover) and three enclosures (currency bills). The letter is datelined “Burlington Canal”, one of the many surrounding towns of Hamilton at the time. This is not only the earliest of the “postmarks” from this postmaster, but is the earliest of all known Hamilton postmarks. Very fine, ex-Cloutier and still on his exhibit page. Estimate $750.

Lot 741, Canada 1847 Illustrated Advertising Cover with three penny red Beaver, Hamilton to Norwichville

Lot 741, Canada 1847 Illustrated Advertising Cover with three penny red Beaver, Hamilton to NorwichvilleReverse of Lot 741, Canada 1847 Illustrated Advertising Cover with three penny red Beaver, Hamilton to NorwichvilleLot 741 Canada #4 3d Red Beaver Imperforate on 1857 Illustrated Advertising Cover, mailed from Hamilton on JUN.5.1857 (“changeling” datestamp at left) to Norwichville C.W., with Norwichville and Paris backstamps, both dated JUN.6. The cover has a lavishly illustrated embossed corner card advertising for the Newbury & Birely company of Hamilton in blue-black, and is franked with an extremely fine example of the 3d red Beaver with four large and balanced margins, neatly tied by a crisp 4-ring #16 obliterator which has an RF 7 on Pence issues (only used in the Pence era), and an early example, as the first 4-ring numeral known is dated from March 1857. A lovely cover in all respects, which possesses many desirable attributes, extremely fine and easily worth more than our starting price. Ex Guilford (1994), Carrington (2002) and Cantor (2011). Rsv. $4,500. Estimate C$5,000.

Lot 496, Canada group of five First Cents Covers, sold for C$1,404

Lot 496, Canada group of five First Cents Covers, sold for C$1,404Lot 496 Canada #14, 15, 17, 20 group of five First Cents Covers, 5c Beaver on 1861 cover North George Town LC to Prescott, 10c Consort on 1861 cover Montréal to Montpelier Vermont, 10c Consort on 1864 cover Hamilton to Buffalo New York (with PAID / CANADA-10-CENTS handstamp), 10c Consort on 1867 cover Québec City to Norwalk Connecticut (large double circle MONTREAL-POST-OFFICE / C.E backstamp) and 2c Queen Victoria on 1866 cover Hamilton to Cayuga (probably paying the adjacent post office rate?). A few backflap tears, else a mostly very fine group. Estimate $400, sold for C$1,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Lot 484, Canada 1894 illustrated colour post card, Hamilton to Hagersville

Day Two of Sale 37, Postal History, takes place today.

Lot 484, Canada 1894 illustrated colour post card, Hamilton to HagersvilleLot 484 Canada 1894 Fully Illustrated Colour Post Card, a 1c Queen Victoria card mailed from Hamilton to Hagersville, with a fully illustrated advertising on back for the Hamilton Coffee and Spice Co., depicting a very colourful butterfly with its open wings showing some of the companies’ wares. A rare and very fine example of early colour illustrated advertising cards, would also be ideal for a butterfly thematic collection or exhibit. Estimate $150.