Lot #732: Vintage 1912 Ontario Postcard - "Duck Shooting" - "Stedman Brothers, Ltd., Brantford" - "Square Dome Gelatine Art Series" - Germany - 1¢ Edward VII

One Vintage 1912 Ontario Canada Postcard, used, showing "Duck Shooting". This richly coloured postcard was published by "Stedman Brothers, Ltd., Brantford and Winnipeg, Canada" in its "Square Dome Gelatine Art Series" which was "Made in Germany" (Number S.B. 4447"). Postally used. Includes One Green 1903 One-Cent "King Edward VII Coronation Robe" Stamp. Postmarked and dated January 1912 in Toronto. Personal message in pencil. Stamp upside down (Symbol of Romance). Based in Brantford and Winnipeg, Stedman Brothers, Ltd. were giants of the Canadian postcard trade. Stedman Brothers often released sets focused on Canadian pastimes like hockey, canoeing, or (as in this case) hunting, including duck hunting. Their "Square Dome Gelatine Art Series" was one of their most premium lines. Like PECO cards offered in this auction, these "Gelatine" cards utilized a photogelatine (collotype) process, but with a "Made in Germany" pedigree. This resulted in a photographic depth and a slight glossy "sheen" that was far superior to standard lithography. The number S.B. 4447 refers to the specific Stedman Brothers printing plate registered with the German lithographer. This partnership ended abruptly two years later with the start of WWI. The use of the Green One-Cent "King Edward VII" stamp in January 1912 is a classic "inter-reign" usage. While King Edward VII passed away in 1910, his stamps remained in circulation for several years until the "Admiral" series of King George V fully replaced them. Placing a stamp upside down was a widely recognized "Postcard Code" of the era, a symbol for "I love you" or a secret romantic greeting. It allowed the sender to convey a private sentiment on an open card that anyone could read. Interestingly, many 1910s senders used pencil because fountain pens were prone to leaking during travel or smudging on the glossy gelatine surface of high-end cards like this one. This unique postcard is triply interesting: it has a documented postal history (1912 Toronto), a provenance of quality (German Gelatine), and a cultural narrative (the romantic stamp code). Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}