Canadian Stampless Covers

Picked up some early Canadian covers and have been writing them up. Thought I'd show some of them, as they have some unusual rates and markings that are not commonly encountered. Hope you enjoy.
Chip

...I think that's enough for now. More to follow one of these days.
Enjoy.

If anyone has any corrections to my notes or any info that could complement the rate/route/markings info on any of these, I would love to hear it.
Thanks.
Chip

Chip - I think your letter to Saint John NB was actually rated to a destination inland from Saint John. The 7d rate would be the 2½d ship letter fee plus a 4½d inland rate for distance up to 60 miles. The address appears to be "near St. Ann's, River St. Johns" - I don't see a post office by that name, but my guess is that it is someplace on the river between Saint John and Fredericton

Bravo! Beautiful covers and well displayed and written. A man after my own heart (in a philatelic way, of course).
Do you ever research the names on your covers. I find that an added thrill. Sometimes you find the most amazing people.

Thanks, SPQR - that's just what I was hoping for.
James - thanks also. Generally, I only research the addressee when I need to validate something having to do with the mailing.

More to follow.
Chip

chipg...I really like stampless covers...very nice collection you have there.

Robert

These are fantastic. Nicely prepared and researched.

I would thank you for taking to time to scan and share, as it gets harder to do so during the hectic demands of the day. Thanks

My only comment (coming from a guy who only collects Newfoundland, particularly covers), is that I see occasionally these related to Newfoundland and I see, think and feel their beauty and postal history, but I struggle to grasp what they are worth? On covers and stamps, there are many sources to use (good or bad, but directionally helpful) but on stampless covers--what empirical data or books or sources are out there to use? How do you know whether an 1831 cover is worth $50 or $500 or $5000? just because someone asks $X, how does one (or how do you know what to pay?) I am not looking for a definitive answer, and I know all things are market supply and subjective, but do you have any guidance for generally how to approach fair pricing?

Those are fantastic covers chipg.

The postal history pertaining to these covers is very interesting. Also, these covers do not necessarily have to be expensive either, although, some are I am sure.

Would love to see more

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hi all.
Was away yesterday - thanks for the comments. Let me address the value one as best I can.

In my mind, there are a pile of "levers" that ratchet the value of a cover, whether stampless or stamped up. Obviously, on a cover with stamps, the biggest lever is the stamps themselves. However, even here, the other factors can take a cover with a $10 stamp on it and turn it into a $1000 cover.
Here's how I might think about the value of a stampless cover:
First, start with a base value - let's say $10.
Now, ratchet it up based on the things that make this cover different (the "levers"):
- Does it have markings on it that you don't often see (such as the Queenston accountancy markings)?
- Does it follow an a-typical routing (such as the 1841 cover to Stanstead or the one from NYC to Whitehall via Montreal)?
- Does it show an a-typical rate (such as the 1812 War rate or an adjoining exchange office rate)?
- Is it from or to a really obscure location (19th century covers to Greece are much rarer than covers to Italy during the same periods)?
- How sexy is it? (clear markings, no holes/tears, etc; multiple stamps of multiple denominations)
- How many times over the next 10 years am I going to kick myself for not having stretched to acquire it?

I am a firm believer in study prior to acquisition. I've probably invested as much in research material as in any individual cover. As a start, there are probably a few books I refer to more than any others (from brain - don't hold me to names/spellings/forgetting something):

A History of Cross-Border Communications between Canada and the USA (Sanderson and Montgomery)
Decimal Era (Arfkin/Legget)
Large Queens (Duckworth)
The Wilson/Firby guide to cover values (for the relative rarity of various rates/uses): http://www.bnaps.org/ore/WillsonFir...terGuide.htm

Hope that helps.
More to follow.
Chip

Just a quickie this morning - Three covers through the Lewiston, NY Exchange Office showing three different datestamp types: