Auction # 72 - Gems of Philately

(Hudson Bay Company) "En Route, August 7th, 1838" to London, England. Datelined folded Autograph Letter Signed with integral address leaf of A.M. McLeod written while with the Hudson's Bay Co. canoe brigade express traveling from Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca to York Factory on Hudson's Bay via Norway House to Chief Factor John Stewart in London, carried by H.B.C. ship to England arriving with stepped "Deal/Ship Letter" handstamp and manuscript "1/4" (1s4d) due rating for 8d ship letter fee plus 8d inland postage from Deal to London (74 miles), red London "18 Oc 1838" backstamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex-de Volpi, Risvold.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

The autographed signed letter from Alexander Roderick McLeod, a Chief Factor with the Hudson's Bay Co. in charge of the Athabasca district when this letter was written, comments on the year's poor results due to a bad season and, "…there is still a much greater evil lurking about, i.e. the small Pox, it has (caused) awful ravages among the Plains Tribes in the Saskatchewan…vaccination has been resorted to, as the most effectual means of avoiding the Contagion…it is considered expedient that I should see most of the Post fall & spring, which I admit is very proper, but it is attended with inconveniences, arising from my being so much out of the way, when the Expresses pass and repass…".