St. John, New Brunswick, to New York City via Eastport Me. and Boston. Folded letter datelined "St. John 4th November 1844" to New York City street address, pencil "Gun Ex 12" Gunnison's Express 12c rate marking used in conjunction with red "Forwarded by Hale & Co.'s Great Eastern Mail" oval handstamp (Ty. F41) and Collect box (Ty. C4), carried by Gunnison on the Herald from St. John to Eastport and then by the Portland from Eastport to Boston, where it was given to Hale for the southbound trip to New York City, ink offset across the address panel, but no real condition issues, Fine and extremely rare -- Joseph G. Gunnison's express operated between Boston, Calais and Eastport Me., and St. John N.B., he linked with Hale to provide Independent Mail service along a wider area -- Hale announced service to Eastport Me., St. John and St. Andrews N.B. in an advertisement in the July 4, 1844, Morning Courier and New York Enquirer; another advertisement dated July 25, 1844, named Thomas Simes as the Hale agent in St. Andrews and J. D. Andrews as the agent in St. John (Gutman Hale book, p. 229); the rate to St. John was advertised as 12-1/2c -- only a few Hale covers to or from the British Maritime provinces are recorded by Gutman, and this is the earliest

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