Lot 50162 – France: 1857 – Toronto to Beblenheim via Allan “North American”

France: 1857 – Toronto to Beblenheim via Allan “North American”

Envelope from Toronto, 23 March 1857, bearing 6d greenish grey (medium-wove paper, outer frameline just shaved at top otherwise clear to huge margins) and Cartier 10d dull blue on thin yellowish paper (framelines cut into), both tied by concentric circles. Red single-circle datestamp, PAID and REGISTERED handstamps applied. Carried by Allan “North American” from Portland, 28 March, via Liverpool (arr. 12 April) and London (13 April), with Crown REGISTERED and French PD in circle to Beblenheim, Alsace. English registration charge “6” deleted. Small portion of backflap missing.

The letter was treated as a double letter (marked “14 gr.” in France) via the USA; the Cunard “America” (25 March departure) was missed, but the Allan Line conveyance was prepaid 16d.cy. in stamps + 2/10s.cy. cash = 34d.cy., equivalent to 40d.stg.

Note: Effective 1 January 1857, a new Anglo-French postal convention set rates:

1/4 oz.: 8d.stg / 10d.cy. via Allan Line, 10d.stg / 12d.cy. via Cunard

1/2 oz.: 1s 4d.stg / 1s 8d.cy. via Allan, 1s 6d.stg / 2s.cy. via Cunard

References: Illustrated in Arfken and Gems of Canadian Philately.

Provenance: Reford, Meroni, Smart, Fairbanks, Des Rivieres, Richardson, Wilkinson, Hackmey.