TheBulletin.ca Journal of Downtown Toronto
By Kimberly Spice –
Sean Quinn, estimator for Waddington’s auction house, expecting to see another Deed or Will, was surprised when a significant 1837 political proclamation—signed in Toronto—arrived in his office.
The document was drafted Dec. 11, 1837, and on Dec. 12 was signed by various government officials including Alexander Wood and Robert Jameson.
“I thought it was going to be a Deed or a Will, thinking $200 to $300,” Quinn, who was not willing to disclose the source of the document, told The Bulletin. “When I started reading it the first thing you read is, ‘Special commission appointing the vice chancellor and others to examine all persons arrested for high treason…’ That’s 1837 and I’m thinking right away that this is probably to do with the rebellion and that be exciting.”
On further investigation the goatskin parchment proved to be a vital document in the city’s history.
One outstanding feature of the document includes an outdated Henry IV seal. Queen Victoria was crowned in July of that year and the new stamp from the monarchy had not reached the settlement by December. Another attribute is the postmaster general was discharged after the document was signed.
“I was talking to the woman at the City of York Historical Society and she said that one of the interesting things is that the document was written on Dec. 11 and the appointees signed it on Dec. 12,” Quinn stated. “She said that on Dec. 13 the postmaster, who was somewhat involved in the rebellion, lost his position.”
Historical societies are currently inquiring about the cost, but Quinn had a difficult time with its evaluation, which is currently estimated at $3000.
“There is so little record of trading this sort of important Canadian ephemera that I’ve had a very difficult time establishing a value,” Quinn reflected. “I currently have put a value for auction at $2000 to $3000.
“The market for Canadian documents of this sort I feel is very soft. Canadians tend not to pay as much as Americans would.”
The document can be viewed online at www.waddington.ca from Nov. 27 to 29 and goes to auction Dec. 2.
