August 16, 1832 American Postage Remittance
Description
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Postcards
- Description
- Shown here in 3 scans ("Pages Select" to view each) is the remittance of 2 pounds, 10 shillings for American postage from Trafalgar Postmaster Alexander Proudfoot to the Queenston Postmaster, Alexander Hamilton. This is the earliest item from the Trafalgar Post Office in the collection of Mr. David Hobden. Mr. Hobden explains that when people in Trafalgar Township picked up collect mail sent from the United States, the local postmaster had to remunerate the Canadian exchange office for the U.S. portion of the postage, as the exchange office had already paid it out. Because postmasters had free mailing privileges (supposedly only for post office business), the letter is not charged the 4 1/2 pence rate for 0-60 miles, and is marked "Free" and initialled "AP". In the upper left corner, a faint Trafalgar post office cancel is in red. Later cancels of this type were in black.
Mr. Hobden notes that neither Trafalgar Township post office, although opened in 1822 and 1824, had cancelling devices until about 1830. The cancelling device was an accountability measure for the post office to note the length of time it took for mail delivery. It was supposed to be stamped on the face and dated from the sending office and stamped likewise on the back at every sorting office (transit point) and finally, at point of receipt. As seen in this example, it wasn't always done. - Notes
- Library Archives Canada lists Alexander Proudfoot as the PM in 1832 through 1854 when J.L Beggar took over. James Appelbe also purchased the position.
For more information on the early post offices of the area, David Hobden refers us to several articles in the newsletter of The British North America Philatelic Society, BNA Topics. The October 1963 issue, page 233, Early Post Offices of the Brampton-Georgetown Area. August 1966, page 171, Postal Service in the Early Days in Peel and Halton Counties. April 1963, page 96, Early Post Offices of the Oakville Burlington Areas. A link to all issues of BNA Topics is provided in this record. - Inscriptions
- Trafalgar
From A.P.
A. Hamilton, Esq.
PM
Queenston
PO Trafalgar 16 August 1832
Sir, enclosed is L2.10s for American postage, dep to the ? ? the 5th July-
I am Sir
Your
of ?
A. Proudfoot
A. Hamilton Esq. - Date of Publication
- 16 Aug 1832
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Alexander Proudfoot Alexander Hamilton
- Corporate Name(s)
- Trafalgar Post Office
- Local identifier
- TTDH00081
- Collection
- Trafalgar Township Historical Society
- Geographic Coverage
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.48341 Longitude: -79.71632
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- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- August 16, 1832 American Postage Remittance
- Contact
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Trafalgar Township Historical Society Sponsor: Jeff Knoll, Local & Regional Councillor for Oakville Ward 5 – Town of Oakville/Regional Municipality of Halton
