18th Century Post Rates; New York to Quebec

Rates in general and questions on particular covers.
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agenteinrebus
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:00 pm

18th Century Post Rates; New York to Quebec

Post by agenteinrebus »

I have a wrapper dtd 8 Dec 1799 sent from London to Quebec. It was charged 1s 11 1/2 pence. The 1/- covered the Packet Rate london to New York. The 11 1/2d is said to be "the Canadian rate from the lines of Quebec". This latter phrase is not understood. Also that the rate from New York to lines was 20 cents applicable to a distance between 330 - 500 miles. I estimate the 18th Century distance to have been 375 miles approx of which the majority would have been within the USA boundary.
Can anyone suggest a) the route New York to Quebec; b) the rate USA (border?) to Quebec; and c) what was the worth of 20 cents in sterling monetary terms.
agenteinrebus
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Transfer from previous board: original post 28835

Post by agenteinrebus »

All resolved!
Through further research I discovered two contemperary wrappers/covers with the same handwriting addressed from Dublin to Boston and New York. The interpretation of their postage rates immediately answered the oddities on my wrapper viz. 8d Dublin to London + 1/- London to NY + 3 1/2d (20 cents) NY to Quebec.
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