Lot #737: Vintage 1906 Fredericton, New Brunswick Postcard - "Parliament Buildings, Fredericton, (Closed 1930s) - Electic Trolleys - 1¢ Green "Edward VII" stam

One Vintage 1906 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada Postcard, used, showing "Parliament Buildings, Fredericton, N.B.". This richly coloured postcard is labelled as "Issued by the Fredericton Tourist Association, Fredericton, N.B." The Postcard does have a divided back, and is labelled "Private Post Card". Includes one cancelled Green 1903 One-Cent "King Edward VII Coronation Robe" Stamp. Postmarked September 1906 in Stratford, Ontario. Ink message in large bold hand from "Jean Trow" to "Miss Mary McTavish" reads: "Dear Mary: You tell Janet she better come back to school." Because it was postmarked in September 1906, this postcard is an incredibly early example of a Divided Back being used in Canada—predating the widespread adoption and official "standardization" of the format in 1907. The "Parliament Buildings" shown on this postcard is the Legislative Assembly Building, which opened in 1882. Designed by J.C. Dumaresq in the Second Empire style, it features the iconic mansard roof and a central dome that made it a premier subject for early provincial photography. The fact that this was "Issued by the Fredericton Tourist Association" suggests it was part of an early organized effort to promote New Brunswick’s capital as a destination for "refined" travelers. The 1906 "Divided Back" on this card is a good illustration of the confusion in postal regulations during the mid-1900s. Canada did not officially authorize the divided back for domestic mail until 1907. However, in 1906, some publishers began printing them early, and many postmasters—especially in larger hubs—began "tolerating" them. Seeing one used successfully in 1906 makes this a high-interest item for a postal historian. The "Private Post Card" Label is also interesting: this was a legal requirement to distinguish it from government-issued stationery. The connection between the sender and recipient adds a charming layer of social history: The card shows a Fredericton scene but was mailed from Stratford, Ontario. This suggests Jean Trow likely brought the card back as a souvenir from a trip to the Maritimes or received it from someone else before mailing it locally. The Message: "You tell Janet she better come back to school" is a wonderful bit of 1906 "peer pressure." It highlights the postcard’s role as a quick, informal way to send a nudge or a reminder—the "instant message" of the Edwardian era. The Trow and McTavish names are prominent in Ontario’s Scots-Canadian history, particularly in the Stratford and Perth County areas. Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}