UNIQUE(?) COVER WITH G.B. STAMPS - 2½d BLUE PAIR - USED IN T...

Hammer

£800

UNIQUE(?) COVER WITH G.B. STAMPS - 2½d BLUE PAIR - USED IN TORONTO & INITIALLY TAXED AS UNPAID; Fine 24 Jan. 1881 env. from Toronto to Portarlington in Ireland (6 Feb.; cds on reverse) uniquely(?) franked with a Pair of G.B. Surface Printed 2½d Blues (pl.19) tied by a v. fine "TORONTO/ONT./1" Duplex and so with a v. fine "T" in circle mark (Toronto presumably) beside the manuscript "25" (25 UPU gold centimes deficient - treated as entirely unpaid) rate. On arrival in G.B. an unpaid letter should have been charged 10d (assuming an above ½oz 5d rate), but the British stamps seem to have been recognised on arrival and the "25" cancelled with no Postage Due charged. We are not aware of any other Canadian Usages of a G.B. QV Surface Printed stamp on cover! Fabulous Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: G.B USED ABROAD STAMPS & COVERS, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL