Early Postal Routes Of Upper Canada - 1840

Hi all, and happy new year!
I'm trying to pin down some of these stampless cover I acquired a couple of months ago, in terms of their postal rates. That means I need to know distances between locations. Now, that's easy with my good friend google, who will give me mileage over modern routes.
But I'm wondering about distances in the 1840s. Particularly I'm looking at from Toronto to Bytown (Ottawa). I believe the Rideau Canal was operating by the 1840s, and some mail travelled on that from Bytown to Kingston, so that helps some.
But if I could find a source, it would be helpful for future research as well. I've been looking on the inter-web, BNAPS and in my back issues of PHSC Journal, but not finding much, apart from the Rideau info.

So, the short version of the question is, do any of you have information or sources to determine postal routes in Upper (and Lower for that matter) Canada during that time period?

Any and all help is appreciated.

As an old girlfriend of mine used to say, 'Ciao for now!'

Jamesw...I have tried to find any info for you and came up blank..Also you may want to attack this question 2 ways..Remember the year 1840..there was probably 2 different postal routes..French and British..Know what I mean.

Robert

6000 posts...wait-a-go

No, don't think so Robert. The British post office department was well ensconced by then, though I understand where you're going with it.

and 6000 just means I talk way too much!

You talk too much like me..haha
I will keep looking..Would be an interesting map to find.

Robert

I think the postal routes are surprising. If you can get scans of early Registered Mail you can see the postmarks of each Post Office that handled the letter as they were all supposed to cancel the letter if it was registered. Try to find some early Registered mail and this should give you a rough idea of the routing.

Canada Post Offices 1755/1895 by Frank W.. Campbell and History of Rural Mail in Canada by George Wilcox....2 references I have which might help. In the first book, there are some drawings of geographical site locations in some areas at the time.

jamesw, the answer to your question is found in Horace Harrison's book CANADA'S REGISTRY SYSTEM: 1827- 1911 published by the American Philatelic Society in 1971. On page 3 there is a discussion of the rates which were based on distance travelled for single sheets. Page 4 provides the mileage as published in the Post Office Guides.

This book is long out of print but is a most worthwhile addition to a postal history reference library. Keep looking at ebay and dealer websites.

Due to copyright rules I am not posting scans of the pages to the Forum but if you contact me through the back channels I will send scans directly to you.

GJP

Thanks gportch for this reference.

Thanks for the book names Renden and gprotch. I have the Campbell book, and will have a closer look through.
Horace Harrison's book is one I've been looking for for a while, but its elusive.
If the vgg ever wants to get rid of a copy, let me know!

Actually, you are only a few subway stops away. I may pop up on my lunch hour some day soon!

jamesw. We will be happy to see you at the VGG. The best day for a visit is Wednesday (because of the number of people usually in attendance) except the 3rd Wednesday of each month when the Expert Committee is meeting in the library. For safety reasons, we don't encourage visitors while there are so many stamps belonging to other people circulating among the committee members.
gjp

emailed Kathy last night. If I can't make it this Friday, I may aim for Wednesday next. Always like to visit!

jamesw:

See: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canadas-Reg...AOSw241YYem2

This seller also has a softcover book by Harrison listed, but I think it is a different title, perhaps merely a reprint of his Registry exhibit..

I just checked the link --- that is the Harrison book to which I referred.

GJP