Montreal, Canada to Birmingham, England via Liverpool - June 26 1836

Postmarks: -
"MONTREAL L.C. JU 26 1836" in red
"LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER" Robertson type S13 recorded 1834-38.

There is no arrival date.

Rate Markings: -
"PAID 6" (Cy) This is not in line with known rates
"PAID18 ¾" (U.S. Cents) 150 to 400 miles from Canadian border to U.S. port
"1/5" (Stg) - 8d ship letter and 9d inland postage Liverpool-Birmingham

Montreal was only about 30 miles from the nearest exchange point so the postage should have been 4½d Cy.

Postmarks:
"MONTREAL L.C. DE 28 1836" in red
"SHIP LETTER DEAL" Robertson type S10 in red recorded 1836-39,
"18 JAN 18 1837" - London in red

Transit time 21 days

The lower panel of the ship letter is 27 mm wide and should properly be type 10a. It was the last Deal ship letter mark to be introduced but an earlier mark is recorded up to 1851.

Rate Markings: -
"PAID 1/-" (Cy.) This is double the special rate from Montreal to the U.S. border
"PAID 37½" (U.S. Cents) double the 150 to 400 miles U.S. rate to the port
"1/4" (Stg) - 8d ship letter and 8d inland postage Deal-London

Montreal was only about 30 miles from the nearest exchange office. The 6d rate was in force from 1818-1837 and was reduced to 4 1/2 Cy in March 1837 when the ferriage charge was dropped elsewhere. The Letter appears to have been charged a single rate in Britain, but a double rate in N. America.

Mersea, nr. Windsor, Canada to Chelsea, England via Liverpool - April 15 1836

Postmarks: -
"MERSEA U.C. 15" Apl 36" in red, date in manuscript
"LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER" Robertson type S13 recorded 1834-38
"EX 6 JY 6 1836" (London)
"10 Fn 10 JY 7 1836" (London) in red
"10 Fn 10 JY 7 1836" (London Twopenny Post) in red

Transit time 83 days, confirmed by "Received July 7 1836".

Rate Markings: -
"1/1" Cy. - Rate for 201-300 miles
"U. States. 1/3" Overwritten 25 (U.S. cents) - the rate in the U.S
"PAID 2/4"
"1/7" (Stg) - 8d ship letter and 11d inland postage Liverpool-London,
"?? 2" (Stg) - 2d for the London Twopenny Post,

Using the nearest exchange point at Windsor, only 30 miles from Mersea, would only have cost 4½d in Canadian postage. Instead the letter probably went via the Lewiston exchange office. The Mersea Post Office had only been open 6 months on 15/4/1836 so the postmaster probably had little experience of cross border mail.

"PAID 1/2 & 50"

Ferriage in Upper Canada was abolished in 1837 reducing the combined rate to New York from "9 & 25", (Cy. & U.S. cents), to "7 & 25"

A double letter was therefore rated "1/2 & 50"

The letter is marked "via New York"

Postmarks: -
"CITY of TORONTO U.C. DE 29 1837"
"LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER" Robertson type S13 recorded in black 1815-39
"N 2 FE 2 1838" (London)

Transit time to London 35 days.

Rate Markings: -
"PAID 1/2 & 50" in red, (1/2d Cy & 50 cents U.S.)
"3/2" (Stg) - 2 x 8d ship letter and 2 x 11d inland postage Liverpool-London,

The letter states: - "I now send it" (an important document) "enclosed herein". The enclosure made the letter liable to double postage.

"PAID 7 & 25" HANDSTAMP
Ferriage in Upper Canada was abolished in 1837 reducing the combined rate to New York from "*9 & 25", (Cy. & U.S. cents), to "7 & 25", Toronto, Canada to Edinburgh, Scotland via New York - January 20 1838

The letter is marked "Paid to New York" and "via New York"

Postmarks:
"CITY of TORONTO U.C. JA 2 1838"
"LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER" Robertson type S13 recorded in black 1815-39,
"FEB W 14 F 1838" (London)

Transit time to London 43 days.

Rate Markings: -
"PAID 7 & 25" in red, 7d Cy & 25 cents U.S.)
"1/7" (Stg) - 8d ship letter and 11d inland postage Liverpool-London
"½" (Stg) - Scottish road tax