Internal Mails and Postage Rates of Pre-Confederation Prince Edward Island Purpose: This exhibit will look at the internal mails and associated postage rates of pre-confederation Prince Edward Island beginning with very early mail and moving through the stampless period, on to the pence period and finally the decimal period. Background: Virtually all postal records for the pre-confederation period of Prince Edward Island were lost when the Charlottetown Post Office was destroyed by fire in 1884. Therefore, it is through the study and examination of philatelic material that we have been able to piece together a story on the early period of Prince Edward Island postal history. The first post office appears to have opened in Charlottetown around 1787 when James Robertson was appointed Postmaster for the whole colony. Benjamin Chappell was commissioned Postmaster ‘on May 5, 1802. This was the only official post office on the island until 1827. No records of charges exist for this early period. In fact, very little internal mail exists until the 1840°s. The internal rate was 2d currency per sheet from 1828 until 1844, After this date, the rate became 2d per half ounce. The adoption of the decimal system on January 1, 1872 changed the rate to 3¢ per half ounce. Printed circulars were rated at 1d as were letters to and from non-commissioned officers. This changed to I¢ after the adoption of the decimal system. Registration fees were 6d and 4¢ accordingly. For a brief period from April 1871 to January 1, 1872 the rate was lowered to 3 pence (1 example known). Prior to the introduction of the postage stamp on January 1, 1861, mail could be sent either prepaid or unpaid. However, with the introduction of the postage stamp, prepayment of mail became mandatory. Challenge Factor: ‘The challenge factor for collecting pre-confederation PEI material is quite high due to the small amount of material that exists. In fact only 11 internal covers are recorded prior to 1840 and 20 between 1840 and 1850. Covers sent during the decimal system period are also quite scarce due to the relatively short period of use (I Jan 1872~1 Jul 1873). Items of particular significance are on blue mattes. Postmark identifications utilize the Lehr numbering system. Exhibit Layout . r oy tanta hens ES ae es ae — = Fae Geb. +S) Early Favour Mail PL-2 Favour Letter October 2, 1792 Pre Adhesive Unpaid P3 Second earliest recorded internal letter Pre Adhesive Prepaid Pa-6 Carried by favour from Charlotte Town [sic] by Wm. Hennesey Pence Adhesive Period P7~13 to Thomas Hooper of Bedec [sic] Decimal Adhesive Period P14— 16EARLY FAVOUR MAIL Charlottetown at this time, there are no markings to indicate this ever entered the post office. It is known that mail could be dropped off at the post office and collected from there. This may be the case for this letter. It may have been picked up by the recipient or carried by favour to West River. Favour letter sent July S", 1816 from Charlottetown to Bedeque. It contains a statement of goods owed. There are no postal markings. The earliest PEI cancel used was May 2", 1814. The early cancels (P1 — P4) appear to have been used exclusively for external mails. The earliest known date cancel on an internal mail item appears to be April 1%, 1845.PRE ADHESIVE UNPAID — Up to December 31, 1860 2 pence per half ounce Unpaid - May 28, 1849 ‘Manuscript 2 in black denoting the letter has been sent unpaid. With the introduction of postage stamps on January 1°, 1861, letters were to be prepaid. The Too Late (P98) marking is one of 3 recorded strikes and indicates that since no fee was paid it would be dispatched on the following day. The 1s/4cy marking (6 recorded) was intended for ating the. rate from the UK to PEI and was applied in error and subsequently scribbled out. Western mail route. 2 pence per half ounce Unpaid October 24, 1855 Sent from Kildare to Summerside. Cancelled on reverse with St Eleanors, Oct 25, 1855 town mark (P49). This along with Belfast, Georgetown and Princetown were the earliest town cancels utilized, The “2" handmark is unrecorded by Lehr (4 known examples). Western mail route. 2 pence per half ounce Unpaid April 18, 1861 Late use of the 2 in circle postage due marking. This letter should have been prepaid with a postage stamp as it was mailed after, January 1, 1861. tt should have been fined and rated 4 pence (2 cents postage plus 2 pence fine); however, this may have been overlooked. Western mail route.2 pence per half ounce Prepaid - May 31, 1847 Lehr P10 PAID mark in black (should be red) along with @ manuscript “2” in red denoting that the 2 pence rate has been prepaid. Sent from Charlottetown to Georgetown. Eastern mail route. 2 pence per half ounce Prepaid —July 31, 1849 Faint P10 PAID mark correctly cancelled in red along with red manuscript “2”. Sent from Charlottetown to StEleanors. Western mail route.Lehr PS (from reverse of cover). AP 11845 Modified reproduction of P9 from Lehr Mail Route Zones 2 pence per half ounce Prepaid — April 1, 1845 Earliest known use of a date marking on internal mail (Lehr PS). See inset from reverse. Faint red PAID in circle marking (P9 ‘see inset) and manuscript “2” also in red. This printed circular, “Fence Viewers and Constables for King’s County March Term”, has been marked “On Service” but obviously could not pass free. Sent from Charlottetown to Georgetown. Eastern mail route. Modified reproduction at aa Romitee 4 pence up to one ounce Prepaid plus 6 pence Registration - April 4, 1860 4 pence up to 1 ounce Prepaid - December 9, 1858 One of 2 known internal money letters. Marked “On Service” with red manuscript 4 and 6 for a Cancelled by faint red Charlottetown PAID mark (see inset). Manuscript “4” in red denoting the letter has ‘total of 10 pence denoting prepaid double weight plus registration fees. Either the letter could been prepaid as well as manuscript “Paid”. Sent from Charlottetown to Georgetown. Eastern mail route. ‘not pass free or it is possible the rates were marked on for accounting purposes if indeed this letter was for official purposes. Sent from Charlottetown to Georgetown. Eastern mail route.PENCE ADHESIVE PERIOD — January 1, 1861 to December 31, 1871 1 pence rate for printed circulars ~ March 4, 1864 ‘One of two recorded single uses of the 1d perforated 11 (2 issue). Sent from Charlottetown to Summerside. ‘Western mail route. 2 pence per half ounce ~ December 30, 1868 Paid by vertical pair of 1d perforated 11% 3” issue stamps. In 1767 the British Crown divided the island into 67 lots of approximately 20,000 acres each. These Lot numbers are sometimes seen used as part of the postal addresses. Sent from Charlottetown to Grand River Lot 16. Western mail route.2 pence per half ounce ~ August 12, 1862 Single use of the 2 pence perforated 9 (1 issue) tied by 10 line barred killer (P134). Sent from ‘Summerside to Vernon River via Charlottetown (August 12, 1862 transit mark). Southern mail route. a eB 2 pence per half ounce ~ September 13, no year Single use of the 2 pence perforated 11 % (3 issue) tied by Tignish PAID mark (P36). The Tignish PAID mark is not typically used to cancel stamps. Very few letters did not travel through Charlottetown such as this one. The Summerside canceller did not have a year slug; therefore an exact year cannot be determined for this letter. Sent from Tignish to Summerside. Western mail route.2 pence per half ounce ~ February 3, 1866 ‘Compound perforated variety. Perforated 12 at top, 11 on the bottom and 11.7 on the sides. It appears that there were 5 different perforation machines used by the printer Charles Whiting for the different pence and decimal issues. Compound perforated stamps likely occurred when a different machine was used to perforate stamps that were partially imperforate during the initial perforation process. Local Charlottetown Letter. 2 pence per half ounce ~ March 21, 1870 Bisected 4 pence perforated 11 % (3° issue) tied by 7 line barred killer (P139). It appears that the use of bisected 4 pence stamps was tolerated by the Post Office. 17 examples are known. Sent from Charlottetown to Mr Williams, Postmaster at West Cape, Lot 7. Western mail route. Certificate2 pence per half ounce plus 6 pence Registration - October 19, 1869, 2 pence per half ounce plus 6 pence Registration - November 10, 1868 Rate paid by a 3" issue 2 pence and 6 pence stamps. Fewer than 10 covers exist with the 6 Paid by 2 pairs (from original strip of four) 3" issue 2 pence stamps. Tied by Charlottetown pence stamp paying the registration fee (effective until 1871). Sent from Charlottetown to ‘numeral 13 (P114) canceller. This is the only numeral cancel used on pre confederation PEL Grand River Wharf, Lot 56. Lot 56 was likely added to differentiate the address from the Grand stamps. Only 2 covers are known with strips of 4, 2 pence stamps. Local Charlottetown Letter. River located in Lot 16 on the western side of the island. Eastern mail route. Certificate. “Free” On Her Majesty's Service ~ August 4, 1869 Military correspondence endorsed by John Hamilton Gray, Adjutant General of the PE! Militia. Gray was Premier of PEI from 1863 ~ 1865 and was Chairman of the 1864 Confederation Conference. Sent from Charlottetown to Beach (sic) Point, Lot 18. Western mail route.4 pence Double Weight up to one ounce ~ April 4, 1861 Rate paid by a pair of the 1" issue perforated 9, 2 pence stamps. Early use, just 3 months after issue. Four covers with pairs of 1" issue 2 pence stamps are recorded. Local Charlottetown letter. Certificate. 4 pence Double Weight up to one ounce — August 10, 1868 This is the earliest known use of the 4 pence stamp on an authenticated cover. Two earlier examples have been determined to be fakes. Tied by indistinguishable barred killer. Sent from Charlottetown to Port Hill. Western mail route. Certificate.2 pence per half ounce plus 1 pence overpayment — August 14, 1867 ‘Only known cover to St. Peters Island, Paid by 3" issue 3 pence stamp. Tied by 10 line barred killer (P134). Since this letter would have travelled on the Charlottetown to Pictou, N.S. boat and dropped off along the way, it may have been charged the same as the other mails going to Canada. Sent from Charlottetown to St. Peters Island. Southern mail route. 2 pence per half ounce plus 1 pence overpayment ~ February 4, 1870 As this is a commercial cover and examples are known mailed to Canada, this may have been originally prepared to be mailed outside of the island and had the 3 pence rate added. However it has been ‘mailed internally and therefore overpaid by 1 pence. Sent from Charlottetown to Georgetown. Eastern mail route.DECIMAL ADHESIVE PERIOD ~ January 1, 1872 to June 30, 1873 1 cent Circular rate ~ May 13, 1872 (One of 3 known covers paying this rate. Sent from Charlottetown (tied by P80 cancel) to Annandale, Grand River. Southern mail route. Pe peG, wea ~M 3 cents per half ounce rate —June 20, 1872 One of 9 known covers bearing 3 one cent stamps to pay this rate. Sent from Charlottetown (tied by P80 cancel) to ‘Anondale (sic). Southern mail route.3 cents per half ounce rate - May 24, 1872 One of 2 recorded covers with a bisected 2 cent stamp. The 2 cent stamp did not apply to any specific postal rate; therefore, it had to be used in combination with other stamps. This letter was sent by Postmaster Wightman to himself possibly seeking permission from the postmaster general in Charlottetown for the use of the bisected stamp. The stamps are tied by Charlottetown P119 cancels (3 recorded uses). This cancel was possibly used to signify approval for the use of the bisect. Sent from Georgetown back to Georgetown via Charlottetown. Southern mail route. | hi Wile Mem dl os, ‘ren AL hans trirshl lt. St Mis tio? 3 cents per half ounce rate —June 5, 1873 Rate paid by 1 cent and 2 cent stamp combination. Tied by fancy P127 cross within triangle cancel. Sent from Charlottetown to Souris East. Eastern mail route.3 cents per half ounce rate — April 23, 1873 Sent from Charlottetown (tied by fancy P127 cross within triangle cancel) to Middleton. Western mail route. 6 cents Double Weight up to one ounce rate — February 18, 1873 Rate paid by 2 three cent stamps. Sent from Alberton to Charlottetown. The date on the Alberton cancel is indistinguishable however the Charlottetown receiver is dated February 20, 1873 (a Thursday). Therefore the ‘mail was likely picked up on Tuesday February 18, 1873 (Tuesday and Friday being the 2 possible pickup dates). Western mail route.