The James Milgram Collections of U.S. Registered Mail and Campaign Envelopes

1844-1856 Canada Registered mail to the United States, better group of 6 stampless covers comprising early 1844 Montreal "Money Letter" straightline to New York City; 1850 Hamilton "Money Letter" straightline to NYC; 1850 Montreal "Money Letter" framed h.s. to NYC; 1854 Toronto with red "Money-Letter" straightline to NYC; 1854 Bayfield "Money-Letter" straightline to Detroit Mich.; 1856 Montreal "Registered" straightline to Boston Mass.; each with excellent strikes, a Very Fine group.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

Buffalo N.Y. "Money", blue folded letter with sender's ms. " Money " endorsement, entered mails with blue "Buffalo N.Y. '10' Sep 12" intregral-rate cds and "Paid" handstamp, red Montreal (9.15) arrival backstamp and matching " Money Letter " straightline with "4½" pence due rating, Very Fine cross-border money letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1856 (Oct. 4) London, Canada to New York N.Y., orange buff cover with "London, U.C., OC 4, 1856" cds and "Registered" straightline with ms. 286" number, red "Paid" h.s. with red ms. "3 6 / 9" rating for 3 pence registration fee and 6 pence postage, additional red "Paid" h.s. with red ms. "15" cent equivalency, New York framed "Canada" arc handstamp and magenta "8-1491" number; no flap, small top edge mend, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED REGISTERED COVER SENT UNDER THE NEW U.S.-CANADA CONVENTION.

This cover was sent from London, Upper Canada on October 4, 1856 only 4 days after the registration treaty went into effect and is the earliest known registered letter sent under the U.S.-Canada convention. We know it was registered in New York since there is a magenta New York destination manuscript marking below the address.

1859 (Dec. 16) Toronto, Canada to New York N.Y., buff cover with blue illustrated "Engine Boilers, James Currie, Boiler & Blacksmith" Eaves cameo corner card showing engine boiler, showing red "Toronto C.W. 'Paid' Dec 16, 1859" cds with matching "Paid 15" in large circle and "REGISTERED" straightline with ms. "103" number, New York magenta "19" and "15557" registry numbers, registry receipt remnant on flap; neatly opened at top, Very Fine and handsome cross border use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

1861 (Mar. 18) Buffalo N.Y. to Guelph, Canada, buff envelope bearing 10¢ green (35) straddline s.e., pos. 60L2, tied by circular grid cancel, matching "Buffalo N.Y. Mar 18, 1861" cds and ms. "341" registry number, Hamilton (3.19) entry cds backstamp with matching "Registered" straightline and ms. "6951" number, Guelph (3.19) arrival backstamp; light horizontal fold, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Canada had a money letter system which was changed to registration on May 1, 1855. A bilateral treaty on registration between the U.S. and Canada became effective October 1, 1856. Registration of 5¢ was paid in cash. The treaty stipulated that each country would keep the registration fee paid by the sender.

1861 (Nov. 14) Chicago, Ill. to Quebec, Canada, amber cover bearing 10¢ green (68) canceled by blue grid cancel, matching blue "Chicago, Ill. Nov 14, 1861" rimless cds with ms. "518" registry number, endorsed "Registered", partial "G.T.R." (11.15) transit backstamp with "Registered" straightline with ms. "629" registry number, red Quebec (11.16) arrival backstamp; bit of back torn away, Very Fine and scarce Chicago cross-border registry use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1862 (Oct. 18) Fort Bridger, Utah Territory to London, Upper Canada, 10¢ yellow green (U41) buff entire canceled by "Fort Bridger U.T. Oct 18" cds with ms. "No 1" registry number, Windsor (11.4.1862) double-arc backstamp with matching "Registered" straightline and ms. "870" number, London (11.5) arrival backstamp and ms. "593" registry number; small edge tears and wear, couple small stain spots, otherwise Very Fine and rare Utah Territory registered cross-border use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

Originally an emigrant stop, by this period, Ft. Bridger was almost 100 miles out of the way. However, unlike the rest of the region, this spot had plenty of trees and fresh water. Thus, it was an ideal spot for the overland mails.

1866 (Nov. 19) London, Canada West to Portland Me., orange cover bearing Canada 5¢ vermilion (15) vertical strip of three , tied by grid cancels duplexed with "London C.W. NO 19 '66" cds, matching "REGISTERED" straightline and ms. "24" registry number, Montreal (11.21) transit backstamp, blue ms. "2723" number; minor cover wrinkling at top, reduced slightly at right, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1867 (Mar. 6) Cleveland, Ohio to Wellington Square, Canada West, yellow cover bearing 10¢ green (68) tied by circular grid, matching "Cleveland O. Mar 6, 1867" octagon datestamp with ms. "88" registry number, Hamilton (3.7) backstamp and two matching "REGISTERED" straightline strikes with ms. "307", blue Wellington (3.8) arrival backstamp and ms. "427" registry number, top edge tears, Fine appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

This Cleveland octagon postmark is recorded only on registered covers.

1867 (Jun. 6) Quebec, Canada to New York N.Y., folded cover bearing Canada 5¢ vermilion, 10¢ purple (15, 16) tied by open circular grids, matching "Quebec C.E., JU 6 '67" rimless cds and "REGISTERED" straightline with ms. 208" number; cover refolded at top slightly affecting stamps, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1868 (Aug. 20) Flint, Michigan to Milnesville, Ontario, Canada, cover with dove and ribbon address panel bearing two 3¢ red, grilled (88) singles and 5¢ brown (76) , tied by cork cancels duplexed with bold "Flint, Mich. Aug 20" cds, matching "REGISTERED" straightline and ms. "43" number, Toronto (8.21, 8.22) backstamps with light "Registered" straightline and ms. "149" registry number; small faults including sealed cover tears, reduced slightly at left, Fine appearance.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

A RARE 1860S CROSS-BORDER USE SHOWING REGISTRY FEE PREPAID BY STAMP.

The 13¢ postage prepaid the 6¢ treaty rate to Canada plus 5¢ registry fee.

1881 (Feb. 1) Danville, Canada to New York N.Y., registered Canada 3¢ red entire with Goodhue Brothers corner card bearing Registered, 5¢ green tied by seven-ring target cancels, matching "Danville, Que. FE 1 '81" rimless cds and "REGISTERED" straightline with ms. "397" number, reverse with Island Pond Vt. (2.3) transit and purple New York (2.5) arrival, fresh and Very Fine, ex-Lussey .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1889 (Jun. 27) Montreal, Canada to Cleveland, Ohio, cover bearing Canada 1¢ yellow strip of three, 3¢ vermilion and Registered 2¢ red, each tied by "R" oval handstamp, matching "Montreal Que. JU 27 '89" rimless cds, reverse with "G.T. Ryt & K, R.P.O., West, No 1, JU 28 '89" and purple Buffalo (6.28) transits, various registry numbers, F.-V.F., ex-Lussey .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.