Lot 805 Canada Correspondence Pertaining to the Surveying of the CPR Route North of Lake Superior, 1872 to 1876, being the material originally used by George MacManus to write a two-part article in the PHSC Journal (included in lot). Contains a total of 22 letters (most with their covers) mailed by William E. Morgan (member of the Fleming survey team) to his better known brother Henry J. Morgan in Ottawa. These detailed letters show the trials and tribulations associated with such a trip in Northern Ontario in those days. There are way too many interesting quotes we could make here but recommend viewing the lot in person to better appreciate. There are many references to places he went through (and wrote from) such as “Pie Post Camp“, “Camp 8”, “The Pie”, “Prince Ruperts Land“, “Camp 35”, “Red Rock“, “Lac des Milles Lacs“, “Camp 76”, “Fort Francis” and many more. From the point of postal history, this is also an interesting lot, for the scarce early (for this area) broken circles it contains, mostly on 3c Small Queen covers, but also some free-franked, with rate handstamps. Noted Fort William, Red Rock, Thunder Bay, one cover mailed “via Duluth” in 1874, Michipocoten River CW, etc. Faults, still a fascinating read and historically important. Estimate $1,500, sold for C$4,000.00 plus 15% buyer’s premium.
thunder bay
Lots 1206-1212 Canada Postal History
The $1500 lot we featured yesterday was the standout, but it was only the highest in a run of seven stampless folder letters in the Canada section that deserve highlighting, all of which sold for much over our estimate and attracted spirited competition.
Lot 1207 CVR 1872 Thunder Bay Registered Cover to Toronto. Mailed Thunder Bay (Broken circle dated APR.25.1842 – earliest recorded date) with many markings including two boxed “REGISTERED” on back, “PAID 6”, “Windsor M.O.O. ONT” cds transit on back (likely travelled through the US via Duluth, Minn. because of winter weather and re-entered in Windsor). Very fine and written-up on Fred Stulberg page. Sold for $160 plus premium.
Lot 1208 CVR 1839 Picton to New Hampshire Stampless Folded Letter. Left Picton DEC.4 (red broken circle manuscript dated – new earliest recorded date) and described as Hallowell (former name) in letter, went through Kingston (DEC.6), then Cape Vincent. This cover bears a rare “BRIT’H POSTAGE PAID U STATES Do PAID” rate handstamp in red alongside the manuscript rates. Very fine and written-up on exhibit page. Sold for $300 plus premium.
Lot 1210 CVR 1832 River du Loup to South Brunswick, Maine Stampless Folded Letter. Mailed River du Loup (later Louisville) on SEP.19.1832 (manuscript dated broken circle in red) and carried on the Lake Champlain and Hudson River Steamboat. Very fine and written-up showing routed and rates on Fred Stulberg page. Sold for $675 plus premium.
Lot 1211 CVR Collection of Early Toronto Postmaster Stampless Folded Letters. With eight letters, each addressed to or from a postmaster in Toronto, dated 1832, 1833, 1834, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1849 and one undated. Mostly to or from William Allan, Charles Berczy, James Howard and mostly about changes or appointments to postmastership in Toronto. All but one were mailed FREE franked. Very interesting reading, and mostly on well written-up pages. Ex. Fred Stulberg and very fine. Sold for $450 plus premium.
Lot 1212 CVR 1838 Historical Letter re. 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. Mailed City of Toronto JUL.12.1838 and addressed to Clerk of the Peace in Cornwall. This letter was written by Governor William MacAuley (signed) following the December 1837 rebellion and instructs the Clerk of the Peace to be aware of the new “Act to Prevent the Unlawful Training of Persons to the Use of Arms and to Practice Military Evolutions and Exercises” and asks him to make sure that the surrounding justices of the peace be given copies. Also included in this lot are two Stampless Folded Covers addressed to William Lyon Mackenzie (grandfather of future prime minister) the leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion. Very fine and written-up on Fred Stulberg page. Sold for $450 plus premium.