PAID AT QUEBEC CROWNED CIRCLE CANCELLED IN TRANSIT ON CROSS-...

Hammer

£240

PAID AT QUEBEC CROWNED CIRCLE CANCELLED IN TRANSIT ON CROSS-BORDER COVER TO U.S.; 28 Jan. 1851 EL (central vertical fold clear of marks) from Quebec (“JY” for January in the c.d.s.) to the U.S. clearly (and correctly) endorsed “via Stanstead”; the Canadian postage of “11½[d]” (201 to 300 miles from Quebec to Stanstead) - 262 miles via Montreal (fair red 10 Jan. transit backstamp) - was then prepaid in cash. [Postage stamps were not introduced until 23 April 1851 and the 6d rate to the U.S. was not introduced until 6 April 1851.] At the U.S. mail Exchange Office at “DERBY LINE/Vt.” (red c.d.s.), the “PAID/AT/QUEBEC” Crowned Circle was cancelled with the red dotted grid (usually used to cancel U.S. postage stamps) and the red (but unpaid) “5[c]” charge-mark was applied for the U.S. “under 300 miles” internal postage rate Unusual Crowned Circle cover. Cross Reference: DERBYSHIRE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA