Lot 50161 – France: 1856 Legal-Size Stampless EnvelopeLegal-size

France: 1856 Legal-Size Stampless Envelope

Legal-size stampless envelope with red PASPEBIAC L.C., manuscript date 22 December 1856, endorsed “via Halifax and Liverpool”, bearing red PAID manuscript rate 3/11½ stg. (4/10 cy.) via Carleton (25/12), Campbellton (29/12), and Sackville (1/1/1857). Carried by Cunard “Niagara” from Boston, 14 January, via Liverpool and London, with red PAID, 26 January, to Saint-Pair-sur-Mer (28 January) near Granville. Also struck with red French PD in circle.

The BRITISH 5d CLAIM handstamp, applied at Sackville, relates to the initial single-letter Cunard rate from Canada to England (5d stg.), later corrected to 3s stg. with the original Paid Postage barred. The half-ounce rate was 2/5 stg. or 3s cy.

A rare and highly complex overland letter, demonstrating multiple routing points, transatlantic packet carriage, and rate corrections.