Show Us Your Oldest Stamped Or Stampless Cover.

There is no postmark on this early letter but it has 1786 written in pencil and pen on the front. Although the letter is GB (Lincolns Inn to Whitehall), it has a distant connection to Canada.

This letter is written by Mr J Townsend to his mother Lady Viscountess (Anne) Townsend who was the 2nd wife of George Townsend.

George Townsend took command of the British Forces in the Seven Years War in 1759 after General James Wolfe had died in battle, and 2nd in command Robert Monckton was wounded. It was George Townsend that received the surrender of Quebec.

yes, there was a 3d rate beginning in 1851, but the letter was sent in 1850. The Canadian postage was 4½d currency for a distance under 60 miles for the rates by distance in effect in 1850.

I'm not sure what the manuscript marking in the upper left represents. It could be the number 31 which might be docketing by Kennedy indicating it was the 31st letter in that account and that it was sent paid or it might be the 31st letter in a stack of letters sent to the post office with a note that the letter should be sent paid. It could also be a notation that it was the third copy (3d) of a letter sent in triplicate, but I think it would be unusual to send a letter to New York in triplicate.

Here is an old one sent in 1727


Date and month identified via the bishop stamps on the right.

jamesw - this is what I see on your cover.

The St Catharines PO applied the CDS and PAID hs. YOu can see that the red matches for these two. Since it is crossborder to NY, the manuscript 4 1/2 was also applied showing the Canada portion was paid for the letter.

At the border in Lewiston, the red LEWISTON was applied, the red PAID was crossed out and the 10 hs was applied to show the US payment was outstanding (due).

The 31 paid might be to show that the postage due on the letter was paid. This could have been applied by the carrier who delivered the letter. 31 would be his Carrier number.

Just another possibility.

Postmark says "Edwardsburg, UC 23 January(?) 1853". Where does the 1850 date come from?

You two are talking about two different covers. My St. Catharines cover is 1850 while the first very decorative cover that chipg posted is from Edwardsburg postmarked 1853.

I love this thread. Some very impressive covers here. I can contribute quite alot to this thread as I have two collections that fit, one GB Stampless Early 19th Century and one Early 19th Century GB autographed Free Franks collection.

Here is my favorite Free Frank, signed by Lord Melbourne (William Lamb), who was Queen Victoria's 1st Prime Minister. There is a faint Chapel St Penny Post straightline in the upper right and Crown Free dated SP 12 1839.