Lot 619 Canada #E1 1898 10c Blue Green Special Delivery First Day Cover, tied by JUL.1.1898 5pm Montréal Bickerdike flag cancel (very uncommon on special delivery mail) on 2c green Queen Victoria stationery envelope (Webb EN9) paying the 2c drop letter rate plus 10c special delivery fee, fresh and very fine. July 1, 1898 was the first day the Special Delivery was offered in 14 Canadian cities, including Montréal. The sender of this cover obviously recognized the importance of this occasion by preparing the two covers offered in this sale (see previous lot for the other one). Prior to the discovery of the two covers offered in this sale, the earliest recorded use of this stamp was July 2, 1898. An exceptionally rare and important early first day cover, offered to the market for the first time 125 years after its date of issue. Estimate C$500, sold for C$3,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
montreal
Lot 618, Canada 1898 ten cent blue green Special Delivery first day cover, sold for C$2,691
Lot 618 Canada #E1 1898 10c Blue Green Special Delivery First Day Cover, tied by JUL.1.1898 5pm Montréal Bickerdike flag cancel (very uncommon on special delivery mail) on 1c blue Queen Victoria stationery envelope (Webb EN6) paying the 1c printed matter rate (unsealed as was required, with pencil notation “found opened no contents fw”) plus 10c special delivery fee, fresh and very fine. July 1, 1898 was the first day the Special Delivery was offered in 14 Canadian cities, including Montréal. The sender of this cover obviously recognized the importance of this occasion by preparing the two covers offered in this sale (see next lot for the other one). Prior to the discovery of the two covers offered in this sale, the earliest recorded use of this stamp was July 2, 1898. An exceptionally rare and important early first day cover, offered to the market for the first time 125 years after its date of issue. Estimate C$500, sold for C$2,300.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 554, Canada 1898 two cent Map Stamp on cover from Montréal paying circular rate to Toulouse, France
Sale 47 continues today with Postal History.
Lot 554 Canada #85 DEC.20.1898 2c Map Paying Circular Rate to France, a lovely yellow Solicitors of Patents corner card cover mailed from Montréal on DEC.20.1898 (Bickerdike flag cancel is dated well before the official DEC.25 day of issue) to Toulouse, France, franked with a single 2c Map with sheet selvedge at left, leaving a nice white space for the machine dater. The envelope backflap is unsealed and still retains its original gum, a pristine and attractive cover, as well as a scarce use of this stamp to pay the printed matter rate to France. Estimate C$150.
Lot 618, Canada 1898 ten cent blue green Special Delivery First Day Cover, Montréal flag cancel, earliest known
Lot 618 Canada #E1 1898 10c Blue Green Special Delivery First Day Cover, tied by JUL.1.1898 5pm Montréal Bickerdike flag cancel (very uncommon on special delivery mail) on 1c blue Queen Victoria stationery envelope (Webb EN6) paying the 1c printed matter rate (unsealed as was required, with pencil notation “found opened no contents fw”) plus 10c special delivery fee, fresh and very fine. July 1, 1898 was the first day the Special Delivery was offered in fourteen Canadian cities, including Montréal. The sender of this cover obviously recognized the importance of this occasion by preparing the two covers offered in this sale (see lot 619 for the other one). Prior to the discovery of the two covers offered in this sale, the earliest recorded use of this stamp was July 2, 1898. An exceptionally rare and important early first day cover, offered to the market for the first time 125 years after its date of issue. Estimate C$500.
Lot 82, Canada 1899 twelve cent cross border Registered AR cover Montréal to New Orleans
Lot 82 Canada 1899 12c Cross Border Registered AR Rate Cover, mailed from Montréal to New Orleans on AUG.9 (squared circle precursor free strike) to New Orleans (AUG.13 receiver on front) through New York (faint AUG.10 transit on back), franked with a 2c purple QV Numeral and pair 5c QV Numerals (stamps have faults), paying 2c postage, 5c registration and 5c AR fee. Overall aging, edge and backflap tears, still a very rare cover and early use of the AR service in Canada, with only a handful recorded in the Victorian era (mostly Small Queen covers). Estimate C$1,000.