10c Black (2). Position 32R, large margins to in at bottom, tied by red grid cancels on blue folded letter datelined "Montreal 26th April 1850" and sent from Montreal, Canada, to New York City, from the Kennedy correspondence, bold strike of red "Montreal L.C. AP 26, 1850" circular datestamp with matching "PAID" handstamp, manuscript "9" for Canadian pence postage (double 4-1/2p rate)

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE USED ON A COVER FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES. THIS COVER WAS ACCEPTED AS FULLY PREPAID IN NEW YORK, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDERPAID FOR THE DOUBLE WEIGHT CLASS. THE ONLY SUCH USE RECORDED IN THE USPCS CENSUS.

The manuscript "9" pence marking and letter content listing several enclosures indicate that this originally weighed more than the half-ounce single-rate limit. The correct U.S. postage from the border should have been 20c for a letter weighing between one-half and one ounce, sent over 300 miles. However, New York accepted this as fully prepaid and cancelled the stamp on arrival. This is the only double-rate use recorded in the USPCS census.

Illustrated and described in an article in Chronicle 222 (copy accompanies). Ex Ackerman and Mirksy.

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