1842 Niagara Cover - William Kirby

Thought I'd share this recently acquired folded letter sent from New York to Niagara in 1842. Though it does not bear any Niagara postmarks, the recipient is an interesting character in Niagara history, so I classify it as a Niagara cover, for my own purposes.
It does have a nice red New York cancel dated March 21 and a lovely script 20¢ in blue ink. I will say, the script is similar to others I've seen in some books which are labeled as 25¢, but I think for the period, 20¢ is the correct postage.
It also shows script postage totalling 1sh 6 1/2p, so, although the New York cancel is in red, which should indicate postage paid, I'm wondering if it was also charged postage due at the border, plus a ferriage fee. Some more research necessary.



The recipient is Mr William Kirby, at that time a currier in Niagara (now Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.). A currier was one who treated or finished leather after the tanner did his thing with it. According to a biography linked below, Mr Kirby continued in this trade until his business partner absconded with all the company funds in the mid 1840s, and Mr Kirby was left to find a new career.
He did so quite grandly, becoming a well known writer, newspaper owner and public servant.

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/kirb...iam_13E.html

The letters contents are interesting. A friend, Thomas Dixon and another gentleman, a Mr. Bowers, have travelled to New York to seek their fortune. Though they have found jobs, these do not start for a while, and the travellers are broke, so are writing Mr Kirby to send them a little money.



What are friends for.
Here's the delightful Mr Kirby.

Nice cover an write up..

Robert

Two corrections to the original analysis:
The blue manuscript rate applied at NY is indeed 25 cents, which is the correct rate for over 400 miles.
Ink color of the NY cancel means nothing, this letter is sent unpaid, unless explicitly marked as paid, which it does not.
Hope this helps.

25 cents would be right. Date-wise the cover would probably be scarce (? rare) as it falls within the dates ...March to May 1842... when the 6 per cent currency surcharge rate applied.

Thanks John, and scotzm, that certainly does help. Guess I should have trusted my initial instincts.

And thanks to you too Robert! Always nice to hear from you.