Lot 50112 – 1856 Hamilton to New York – Anglo American Hotel Double Rate Cover

1856 Hamilton to New York – Anglo American Hotel Double Rate Cover

Envelope bearing four 3d scarlet-vermilion stamps on medium wove paper, all with good to large margins, tied by cork cancels with HAMILTON DE 8 1856 circular datestamp adjacent. Red “CANADA PAID 10 Cts.” handstamp altered in ink to “20”, indicating a double letter rate, sent from the Anglo American Hotel, Hamilton to New York.

Note: The alteration reflects the correct 10 cent per half-ounce U.S. rate multiplied for a double-weight letter. This cover exemplifies early Canadian multiple-rate frankings for international mail.