Lot 672 Correspondence from Norway House Keewatin, 1906 to 1909, consisting of fifteen 2c Edward covers (one registered is missing its stamp), each still retaining its original letter inside. These covers are all addressed to Harry Marshall Erskine Evans either in Winnipeg or in Edmonton (he seems to have been travelling between both places in this period). Evans became Mayor of Edmonton in 1918 and had moved to the area to develop a coal mine. The letters were written in a number of different places (as per headlines) including The Hudson Bay Company in York Factory, Fort Churchill, Oxford House, Pepekwatooce, Churchill, God’s Lake, and Split Lake, and all despatched from Norway House Keewatin, except for one mailed from King Edward Man. Before this correspondence was found, only about a dozen Norway House postmarks had been recorded. The covers help to learn how mail was delivered in this part of the world, by analyzing all of the backstamps for routings, etc. These other postmarks include Edmonton, Selkirk, Winnipeg, Gimli, Lac Ste Anne, Icelandic River, Stony Plain and Winnipeg Beach. The letters are a most fascinating read (some are quite long and interesting) were written by, and about a number of people involved in the Northern fur trade, and touch on a number of subjects including the writing of the book Kasba, a Story of Hudson’s Bay (a rare surviving example of this book is included with the lot) and one of the letters includes a draft of the preface page. One of the covers also includes four real photographs of Norway House (very rare). Eight of these letters were extensively written about in issue 72 of The Northerner, the newsletter of the Northern Canada Study Group, a study group of the Postal History Society of Canada (article is included with the lot). A most fascinating and historically important lot, scans show an overview. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,100.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 727, Newfoundland group of 35 covers with 1880-96 B.A.B.N. issues, sold for C$1,170
Lot 727 Newfoundland #41/55 Group of Covers Franked with 1880-1896 B.A.B.N. Issues, with 35 covers total, with a good range of different frankings, with singles, pairs and a few combinations. We note a good variety of better postmarks as well, noting Little Bay Island, Burnt Bay, Kingsbridge, Greenspond, Twillingate, Trepassy, two covers with #235 in grid cancel, etc. Destinations include inland, to Canada, to Nova Scotia, to the US and to England and there are many correct single frankings. A few are reduced at one side, noted two fronts and others with faults, still an interesting and overall fine or better group. All covers scanned online. Estimate $400, sold for C$1,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 730, Newfoundland group of covers franked with 1897-1901 Royal Family Issues, sold for C$1,872
Lot 730 Newfoundland #78-85 Group of Covers Franked with the 1897-1901 Royal Family Issues, with 59 covers in all, with all denominations used, including many correct single frankings, etc. We note many better postmarks such as Placentia, Carbonear, Harbor Grace, Grand Bank, Trinity, St Leonard’s, Placentia Bay TPO, Hickman’s Harbour, Clarenville, St John’s Central, St John’s East, Notre Dame Bay TPO, N & W Railway TPO, Branch, Clarke’s beach, More to Pay, Collect Postage, and more. Destinations include inland, Scotland, Holland, United States, Canada, etc. We also note some registered covers, advertising covers, drop letters, a (faulty) cover with a major misperforation on a strip of five of the 2c, and more. A very useful group for the enthusiast, with a variety of faults, still overall fine or better. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,600.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 732, Newfoundland group of covers with Trail of the Caribou issues, sold for C$1,170
Lot 732 Newfoundland #115-122 Group of covers franked with the 1919 Trail of the Caribou Issues, with 35 covers in all, with frankings of every denomination except the four high values. We counted thirteen registered covers, with a wide range of different rates and frankings, as well as postmark interest. Overall fine or better with a few faults as usually seen in these types of lots. All covers scanned online. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
