1792 - 1851
This post deals with mail sent from Canada to or through the United States in the 1792 to 1851 period.
Postage Prepayment
In his classic text, The Postage Stamps and Postal history of Canada, Winthrop Boggs devotes a chapter to `Postal Relations Between Canada and the United States 1792 - 1886`. Boggs provides the following guidelines to classify a cover from Canada to the United States:
1. If before May 14, 1849, inclusive, the Canadian postage must be paid to the line.
2. If before June 1, 1792, the United States postage is UNPAID.
3. If between June 1, 1792 and November 15, 1847, inclusive, the Canadian postage must be prepaid, but the United States postage could be PAID or UNPAID.
4. If between November 16, 1847 and May 14, 1849, inclusive, the Canadian postage must be prepaid, but the United States postage could not be prepaid at Canadian offices, although United States Stamps could be affixed to be treated by U.S. postal officials as they saw fit.
5. If between May 15, 1849, and April 15, 1851, inclusive, the letter could be prepaid through or not at all; partial prepayment was not allowed.
6. From July 1, 1851, the whole of through rate of 6d or 10c per half ounce could be paid in Canadian stamps or cash.
Canadian Rates
The Canadian rate was the rate from the office of origin to the lines.
Ferriage
Letters transported across the border by ferry were subject to a `ferriage` charge from 1829 to 1837.
U.S. Rates
The U.S. rates were from the lines to the destination.
This post considers three periods:
1. To November 15, 1847
2. November 16, 1847 to May 14, 1849
3. May 15, 1849 to June 30, 1851
In his classic text, The Postage Stamps and Postal history of Canada, Winthrop Boggs devotes a chapter to `Postal Relations Between Canada and the United States 1792 - 1886`. Boggs provides the following guidelines to classify a cover from Canada to the United States:
1. If before May 14, 1849, inclusive, the Canadian postage must be paid to the line.
2. If before June 1, 1792, the United States postage is UNPAID.
3. If between June 1, 1792 and November 15, 1847, inclusive, the Canadian postage must be prepaid, but the United States postage could be PAID or UNPAID.
4. If between November 16, 1847 and May 14, 1849, inclusive, the Canadian postage must be prepaid, but the United States postage could not be prepaid at Canadian offices, although United States Stamps could be affixed to be treated by U.S. postal officials as they saw fit.
5. If between May 15, 1849, and April 15, 1851, inclusive, the letter could be prepaid through or not at all; partial prepayment was not allowed.
6. From July 1, 1851, the whole of through rate of 6d or 10c per half ounce could be paid in Canadian stamps or cash.
Canadian Rates
The Canadian rate was the rate from the office of origin to the lines.
Ferriage
Letters transported across the border by ferry were subject to a `ferriage` charge from 1829 to 1837.
U.S. Rates
The U.S. rates were from the lines to the destination.
This post considers three periods:
1. To November 15, 1847
2. November 16, 1847 to May 14, 1849
3. May 15, 1849 to June 30, 1851
1. To November 15, 1847
Letters from Canada to the United States had to be prepaid to the lines but the U.S. charge could be prepaid or collected by the addressee.
York to London, England (Via New York) : 1834
The cover below was sent from York to London, England, "Via New York". A ferry fee was imposed in addition to the postage rate from York to Queenston. Both Canadian and American postage were prepaid at York. The remaining postage was paid by the recipient.
York to London, July 1, 1834
Canadian and American Postage (Paid)
British Rate Marking
1s. 7d. Due
Hamilton to Rochester : 1838
The next cover is an 1838 letter mailed from Hamilton to Rochester, N.Y.
Hamilton to Rochester, N.Y., November 28, 1838
Prepaid from Hamilton to Queenston, 4 1/2d. 60 mile rate
(Ferriage rate dropped)
U.S. postage 10 cents unpaid
Canadian Marking
U.S. Marking
Kingston to New York : 1843
Kingston was an exchange office. Since the Kingston P.M. was also P.M. for the United States, there was no Canadian charge.
Kingston to New York, August 6, 1843
U.S. postage paid
Paid 18 1/2 cent : 150 - 400 mile U.S. rate
Kingston to New York : 1847
The U.S. rates were changed on July 1, 1845. The rate to New York was Kingston was reduced from 18 1/2 cents to 10 cents.
Kingston to New York, July 10, 1847
U.S. postage paid
U.S. 10 cents : over 300 mile rate
Montreal to New York : 1847
Montreal to New York, August 27, 1847
Canadian and American postage prepaid
Paid 4 1/2d. (60 mile rate the the border)
Paid 10 cents (over 300 mile rate)
2. November 16, 1847 to May 14, 1849
On November 16, 1847, Canada ceased to collect U.S. postage. Letters from Canada to the U.S. had to be prepaid to the lines. United States postage could only be paid with U.S. stamps.
Montreal to New York : 1849
Montreal to New York, May 7, 1849
Canadian postage 4 1/2d. prepaid
U.S. postage 10 cents unpaid
"Paid to Lines"
Montreal tombstone cancellation
"PAID" crossed out by U.S. post office
U.S. 10 rate marking ( over 300 mile rate)
3. May 15, 1849 to June 30, 1851
In 1849, an arrangement was reached in which letters between the United States could be paid through or not at all. Partial prepayment was not allowed.
Montreal to Cambridge, Mass. : 1850
Montreal to Cambridge, Mass., September 29, 1850
The postage was completely paid.
Canadian Marking
American Marking
LINKS
- `Canada U.S.A. Mail (1792-1851)` by Dorothy Sanderson published in the June 1, 1973 issue of Maple Leaves, the Journal of the Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain
- PhilaMercury a database for United States covers sponsored by Richard Frajola