Rare 1836 SHIP straightline. SFL dateline “Manchester April 13, 1836)” via private ship to Montreal where it was struck with the rare “SHIP” handstamp in red and rated “2 1/2”d (= 2d Stg) as an incoming ship letter to the port of arrival. Postal records research from the quarter ending October 5, 1834 show a total of £5/13s/0d while Montreal paid out only 8s/3d, which represents just 40 ship letters. The old Canada Specialized records just 1835 examples, and this spectacular, and the best example of the three recorded was used in 1836.(R).
