1871 John A. Macdonald Treaty of Washington Cover & letter to J.S. Helmcken
Sold for $20,000 Lot 69 in our auction Saturday 27th February 2021

“Letter written by Sir John A. Macodonald in Washington, DC when confering with the US – BC – Canada border problems
Dr. Helmcken had been a member of British Columbia delegates to arrange terms of Confederation and the Pacific Railway.”

Read John Mackie’s review in the Vancouver Sun about our milestone 1300th Auction with Gerald Wellburn’s San Juan Island collection and this letter. He sets the context from the 1859 Pig War to the arbitration between Great Britain, Canada and USA in 1872 with Kaiser Wilhelm awarding the islands to the USA.

1871 John A. Macdonald Treaty of Washington Cvr & letter to Helmcken
1871 John A. Macdonald Treaty of Washington Cvr & letter to Helmcken
1871 John A. Macdonald Treaty of Washington Cvr & letter to Helmcken
1871 John A. Macdonald Treaty of Washington Cvr & letter to Helmcken


#geraldwellburn #sanjuanislandcollection #pigwar #johnamacdonald #canadianhistory #bchistory

Private

Washington

March 31st 1871

My dear Sir

I have your note of the 7th instant reminding me of Point Roberts. I shall bring the matter up at a fitting season.

I read with great interest your interesting speech on the San Juan question, and made some use of it.

Believe me

  My dear Sir

Yours very truly

John Macdonald

The Hon.-

J.S. Helmcken

   Victoria

British Columbia