Lot #731: Vintage 1914 Ontario Postcard - "Convocation Building, Toronto" - "Ballantine Bros." - Thomas Baker, Cambridge, Mass. - 1¢ "George V Admiral" stamps

One Vintage 1914 Ontario Canada Postcard, used, showing "Convocation Building, Toronto, Ontario". This richly coloured postcard was issued by "Ballantine Bros., Toronto, Canada" (Mfg. by T.B., Cambridge, Mass.". Postally used. Includes Two Yellow One-Cent "King George V (Admiral)" Stamps. Postmarked in 1914 in Toronto. Sent by "Nettie" to "Dad and All" in "Yarker, Ontario" with message in clear bold ink. ("Mother arrived O.K. Top side up." The image on this Postcard, over 110 years old, is of the Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto, which was completed in 1907. Designed by Frank Darling and S. George Curry, its circular, domed structure was a marvel of the era. By 1914, it was the intellectual heart of the campus. This Postcard was manufactured by Thomas Baker ("T.B.") in Cambridge, Mass. and utilizes a high-quality American lithographic process. The Cambridge/Boston area of USA was the "hub" of American high-end printing, often rivaling European quality by the mid-1910s. Ballantine Bros. was a Toronto-based distributor that partnered with American printers to supply the Canadian market. This partnership allowed for faster production turnaround than the British-printed Valentine cards, which was essential for keeping up with the rapid growth of Toronto’s landmarks. While the postcard rate was typically one cent, the use of two cents in 1914 is interesting. It often occurred if the sender considered the message "personal correspondence" or if the "War Tax" (which added an extra cent) was beginning to be anticipated or applied, though the official 1-cent War Tax wasn't mandated until 1915. Yarker is a charming historic village in Lennnox and Addington County, near Kingston. In 1914, it was a bustling mill town on the Napanee River. Sending a card from the "Big City" (Toronto) to a small rural hub like Yarker was a common way to keep families connected. Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}