Lot 50094 – 1852–57 Horizontal Pair 3d Orange-Red on Thin Oily Paper – Posted in the United States

1852–57 Horizontal Pair 3d Orange-Red on Thin Oily Paper – Posted in the United States

Horizontal pair of 3d orange-red on thin oily paper, left stamp just cut into at left otherwise clear to good margins, tied by PORTLAND ME JUN 20 PAID circular datestamp on 1856 cover, with scrolled “U. STATES” handstamp in black, addressed to Montreal (backstamped 21 June). The Canadian stamps were accepted for postage. The cover has some splitting along folds and internal strengthening including behind the stamps which seem to have a small internal tear.

A rare and desirable cross-border usage of Canadian stamps posted in the United States.

Note: Only a small number of covers are known bearing Canadian stamps on letters mailed in the United States. Ten examples are recorded after 1 July 1851 with Canadian stamps as the sole franking.

Illustrated in Gems of Canadian Philately.

Provenance: Caspary, Drew, Robertson, Wilkinson, Hackmey.