Lot 50014 – Exceptional ½d deep rose on medium wove paper, tied

1852-57 ½d Deep Rose, First Day Cover, 1 August 1857

Exceptional ½d deep rose on medium wove paper, outer frameline just cut into at left otherwise good to large margins, tied by the bold “21” numeral cancellation of Montreal on a printed circular to Toronto, endorsed “Montreal Brokers Circular” with printed date. Docketing on the reverse confirms 1 August 1857 — the day of issue.

A remarkable and historically significant item: the only recorded clear Canadian Pence First Day Cover.

Rate: The domestic printed matter rate was originally 1d per 1 oz (Department Order, 17 April 1851), later reduced to ½d (recorded by 1856 in the Canadian Almanac), correctly paying the applicable circular rate.

A key exhibition piece and one of the great rarities of Canadian Pence postal history.

Provenance: Bertram.