UNIQUE(?) UNDERPAID 1s-6d RATE COVER (1859 6d x3) WITH ORIGI...

Hammer

£950

UNIQUE(?) UNDERPAID 1s-6d RATE COVER (1859 6d x3) WITH ORIGINAL ENCLOSED PHOTOGRAPHS OF SENDERS; 28 Oct. 1862 env. (understandable minor edge wear) from "SOUTH-CAYUGA/U.C" (partly fine cds on front) to Suffolk with 1859 6d Green (vertical pair + single) all cancelled by three m/s lines (as usual for this PO at this period; see next lot), but then endorsed "Over 1oz" in transit in Canada and so having a partly fine "MORE-TO-PAY" mark (Hamilton?) on the front with m/s "9d" (6d deficient + half 6d fine). This was changed (on the Allan Line S.S. 'North American' en route) to a handstruck "1/-" (v. fine), and there is a 14 Nov. "IPSWICH" backstamp. The reason for the extra weight in the letter is clear because it entire contents are still present; twin letters (on a single sheet) from the addressee's cousins (Robert & Eliza Cook) along with metallic-framed original photographs of each of them; the photos tipped the weight above the half ounce limit. The contents (full typed transcript included) include; "...I wish we could come and thank you in person and see you and Charles... but as that is denied us, vanity prompted us to think that our likenesses would be acceptable; so I hope you will think them worth having...". One hopes that the addressee was happy to pay a shilling postage due for the photos of her cousins! Probably a Unique survival of such early photographs of pioneer Canadians in the original envelope that they were sent to England in 1862. Spectacular and Important Exhibition Page! [See next lot for the rest of this correspondence.] [Illustrated in FTM; p.80.] Cross Reference: PHOTOGRAPHS, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL