STAMPLESS COVERS OF GREAT BRITAIN

1842 - RARE HOUGHTON LE SPRING PENNY POST
 TO SOLICITOR GENERAL, TORONTO, UPPER CANADA WITH
QUEBEC "2", "MORE TO PAY", AND "2½d" CURRENCY ON DURHAM COVER

An Exceptional Trans-Atlantic Cover Exhibition Item
shewing a scarce local Penny Post mark at one end
 and a triple set of "More to Pay" marks at the other end

COVERED BY OUR 5 YEAR PHILATELIC GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY

Houghton le Spring Penny Post with Durham July 26, 1842 cds cancel
 showing 1 shilling Trans-Atlantic rate England to Canada
 but not the Canadian inland delivery charge


 Reverse of Cover
Unclear Cancel July of 42, likely July 27th Octagonal Packet/Glasgow Mark

Note by Treasury Order of July 1840, a uniform inland Canadian Post of 2d sterling, or 2½ pence currency, was established from Halifax to any point in Canada. This was to equalize the inland rate to the new Penny Post standards of Britain. Previous to this it could cost up to 2 shillings from the port in Halifax to points in the Canada's. Britain did not wish to account for the Canadian Inland postage hence the Canadian Post would add 2d (2½ pence local currency) mark to be collected from the recipient, even though it was a "paid" cover. The cover would be marked 1s2d (1s 4 pence local currency) due if the cover was sent not prepaid which at this time was optional.

Durham July 26, 1842

Houghton le Spring
Penny Post
Willcocks & Jay #DU276

Quebec Black 2 pence Sterling Due
 for Provincial Inland delivery

Unlisted "More to Pay" straightline cancel
Similar to Jarrett Type 712 but noted as used in Lower Canada and the Maritimes from 1843.
 This would be the earliest known use likely at Quebec

Quebec 2½ pence Currency Due
Conversion from Sterling to local Currency
Arnell Type - B2 - 1st known used in May of 1842

Red Manuscript "P 1/" or Paid 1s indicating
British Inland & Transatlantic rate was paid

Manuscript Paid showing payment made up to Canada via Trans-Atlantic packet but not for inland delivery

[ Please note that British Stampless Cover catalogue numbers come from the following reference works: R. M. Willcocks, England's Postal History to 1840 with Notes on Scotland, Wales and Ireland (1975); R. M. Willcocks & Barrie Jay, The Postal History of Great Britain and Ireland 1981; Willcocks & Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History - Volumes 1 & 2, 2nd Ed. (1996); Barrie Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History Volume 3 London, 2nd Ed. (2005); Willcocks & Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History - Vol 4 (1988); Willcocks & Jay, The British County Catalogue of Postal History - Volume 5 (1990); American Stampless Cover Catalogue 2nd Ed. (1997); J.C. Arnell, Atlantic Mails - A History of the Mail Service between Great Britain and Canada to 1889 (1980); F. Jarrett, Stamps of British North America; W. S. Boggs, The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada; J.J. MacDonald, The Nova Scotia Post, Its Offices, Masters and Marks (1985) ]

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OUR 5 YEAR PHILATELIC GUARANTEE OF AUTHENTICITY

As a Life Member of the American Philatelic Society and in association with the American Philatelic Society's new guidelines on expertization, Berryhill & Sturgeon, Ltd. will guarantee the authenticity of this philatelic item to the purchaser of record for a period of five years from the date of sale. You will receive a full color receipt with our written guarantee of authenticity - signed and sealed. Please note that our five year Guarantee of Authenticity does not apply to condition issues such as centering, cancel, gum, paper or other aspects of the item. It is the buyer's responsibility to promptly examine the material upon receipt for any vices, defects or other dissatisfactions and return it within our seven day examination and "return-for-any-reason" period. However, if at any time during the five year period you receive an opinion from the American Philatelic Expertizing Service that this item is not authentic, please return the item in its original condition along with the written guarantee and contrary opinion and we will refund you the original purchase price and the cost of the opinion.