Lot 50134 – 1852–57 7½d Yellow-Green (Plate Variety Position 57) – Toronto to London via Canadian Steamers

1852–57 7½d Yellow-Green (Plate Variety Position 57) – Toronto to London via Canadian Steamers

7½d yellow-green (Plate Variety Position 57), good to large margins, tied by Toronto grid on cover 12 November 1857, endorsed “By Canadian Steamer”. Carried by Allan “Indian” from Quebec 17/11 via Liverpool 25/11 to London.

Note: The Canadian Steam Navigation Company ran twice monthly between Quebec and the Atlantic. From July 1853, rail connections to Portland, Maine, provided an ice-free port. The postal rate was 1s. sterling / 1s.10d. cy. (10d to Canada, 2d to the UK). In March 1854, the rate was reduced to 6d. stg. / 7½d. cy. (5d to Canada, 1d to the UK). During the Crimean War, the British government requisitioned steamships, causing the original Canadian Steam Navigation Company to cease operations. A new line, the Montreal Ocean Steam Ship Company (Allan Line), began sailings April–May 1856 between Liverpool and Quebec, adding Portland in winter. Letters had to be endorsed “By Canadian Mail Packet”.

Provenance: Glassco, Carnegie