5c Red Brown (1). Three huge margins showing framelines of adjoining stamps, clear to ample at right, rich color on deeply blued paper, worn-plate impression, tied by Canadian 7-ring target cancel, "Chippawa U.C. DE 24 1851" circular datestamp, red "CANADA/PAID 10 Cts" two-line handstamp on folded letter from Oliver T. Macklem to Upjohn & Co. in New York City, Queenston backstamp, the letter concerns settlement of a debt which had been delayed due to suspension of banking in Canada at the time

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING 1847 ISSUE COVER, SHOWING ACCEPTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES 5-CENT STAMP ON MAIL FROM CANADA MONTHS AFTER THE ISSUE WAS DEMONETIZED. THIS REMARKABLE COVER FIRST CAME TO LIGHT IN 1989 AND RANKS AMONG THE MOST STRIKING EXAMPLES OF THE 1847 ISSUE USED FROM CANADA EXTANT.

The U.S.-Canada postal treaty of April 1851 provided for prepayment of full postage from the country of origin to the destination, eliminating the need for "paid to the lines" part prepayment and collection. The 6p rate in Canada and the 10c rate in the United States are the standard April 1851 treaty rates. After the 1847 Issue was demonetized on July 1, 1851, post offices in Canada continued to accept the old issue on mail to the U.S., as evidenced by several covers with 1847 stamps used in Canada well after demonetization. These were also considered fully paid on arrival in the U.S. The cover offered here was mailed in December 1851, months after demonetization, and the postmaster at Chippawa cancelled the stamp. The red "Paid 10 Cts" marking was applied in Canada to indicate that the postage was prepaid, half by the U.S. stamp and presumably half in coin. There are no U.S. due markings, so the Canadian "Paid" was apparently sufficient.

USPCS census no. 229. Illustrated in Alexander 1847 Census book (p. 24). Ex Boker and Gross. With 2013 P.F. certificate

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