Lot 388 1897 5c non-UPU letter rate to Cook Islands, 2c green stationery envelope uprated with ½c black strip of six, tied by c.d.s. cancels, paying the 5c non-UPU letter rate. Mailed from Montreal (JAN.20.1897) to Raratonga, Cook Islands, Oceania (Mar. 24 receiver on front) via Vancouver (Jan. 30), San Francisco (Feb. 2) and Auckland (Feb. 26). Rare and very fine. (Unitrade 34, U7)
A rare and exotic destination, with only two Small Queen covers recorded, being the one offered here and a registered cover which recently sold for $9,500+15%.
Provenance: George Arfken.
Illustrated in: Canada and the Universal Postal Union by George Arfken, p.23.
Estimate $1,500, sold for $2,100 plus buyer’s premium.