Lot 50152 – FRANCE: 1853 Paspebiac to Granville – Transatlantic Cunard Letter

FRANCE: 1853 Paspebiac to Granville – Transatlantic Cunard Letter

Stampless envelope from Paspebiac, Gaspe Area, with manuscript “Post Office Paspebiac Dec. 24th”, rated 2s 8½d., endorsed “via Halifax N.S.” Carried overland via Carleton, Chatham (NB), Bend of Petitcodiac, Sackville (1/1/53) to Halifax, then by Cunard “Canada” to Liverpool (16/1), onward through London, Paris to Granville (20/1). Red French PD in oval and COLONIES & C ART.13 with 15 Decimes applied: British claim of 40d. equalling 10 Decimes plus 5 Decimes French postage.

Note: The routing of this cover reflects its origin in the Gaspe and Bay Chaleur region. Mail sent via the overland route ran tri-weekly, even after 1858, primarily to serve these remote areas. This route was eventually abolished following a Canadian petition to the British Post Office, which sought a more direct and efficient channel for mail to France. Illustrated in Arfken.