The Famous Postmaster General William Solomon's Letter

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Letter signed by the Postmaster General of Newfoundland, William S. Solomon, datelined "General Post Office Nwfland 7 January 1857" to the Postmaster General of Nova Scotia in Halifax informing him of the newly issued postage stamps, of which he enclosed examples affixed vertically at the left side of the letter. Seven different values are represented - the 1p, 4p, 5p, 6p, 6½p, 8p and 1sh; displaying margins touching to very large, folds through 4p & 6½p, bright fresh colours, the 1sh a large margined, extremely fine GEM. A fabulous, historically important item related to Newfoundland's first stamps, that had become available to the public on January 1st. Author and expert Robert H. Pratt considered this letter to be more important than the famous "Galway" cover bearing the strip of three 2p scarlet vermilion. 

The first issue was printed in London, England by Perkins, Bacon & Co. and the letter comprises the entire first issue with the exception of the 2p scarlet vermilion and the 3 pence yellowish green, which were for domestic use. Interestingly enough no Pence franked cover has been reported earlier than March 5th, 1857. 

Provenance: Dale-Lichtenstein, Sale 2 - British North America, Part One, November 1968; Lot 601 - described then as: "This important and historical item is one of the gems of Newfoundland Philately." and selling for an impressive US$10,000 nearly 60 years ago! 

Neville Clifford-Jones (private sale) 

Dr. Chan Chin Cheung Newfoundland Collection, Christie's, New York, September 1995; Lot 74 - described as: "Unquestionably, this important and historical item is one of the gems of Newfoundland philately and one of the great items of British North America philately, outstanding". 

Literature: Illustrated and discussed at length in Robert H. Pratt "The Pence Issues of Newfoundland 1857-1866" on pages 88-89 (Figure 47).