Worldwide Stamps and Postal History

S.S "Bruce". 1911 (Mar 19) Cover to Vermont with enclosed letter from Fraud Falls, Newfoundland, a partial N. & W. Railway T.P.O c.d.s, the stamp washed off the cover (a Newfoundland 2c from another cover applied) and severely water damaged resulting in the loss of much of the reverse. A printed green slip is enclosed, "OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER. / BOSTON, MASS. / The mutilation of this piece of mail matter was caused / by the burning of a mail car and its damaged condition is / greatly regretted. / POSTMASTER."; the words ‘burning of a mail car’ have been crossed out and the slip handstamped "WRECK OF S.S. BRUCE" in violet. The S.S "Bruce" was sailing from Port aux Basques to Louisberg, Nova Scotia, when it struck a submerged rock off Port Nova, near Scatterie, Cape Breton, at noon on March 23rd. Two passengers died but 128 people escaped in lifeboats and some mail was salvaged later that day. Only two covers recorded from this wreck, the other having a manuscript endorsement. A unique cover with this unusual altered mail car fire slip. Photo on Page 56.
Suggested price: £ 700-1,000