The Beaver Line Collection Auction 2025-08-27 Auction - 168 Price Results - A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals in Ontario
CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY BEAVER LINE FLAGWILLIAM HOWARD YORKE (British, 1847-1921)LARGE S.S. LAKE SUPERIOR WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL
Done
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Auction Details

The Beaver Line Collection Auction

The Beaver Line, also known as the Canada Shipping Company, was founded in 1867 by a group of wealthy Montreal merchants led by Scottish businessman William Murray. The company began operations in 1868 with two sailing ships, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Competition in the shipping industry was fierce, however, and following William?s death in 1874, his son Alexander took over the Beaver Line and expanded its fleet to include steamships such as Lake Champlain, Lake Megantic, and Lake Nepigon. The company primarily operated transatlantic passenger and freight services between Montreal and Liverpool. In 1897, it was rebranded as Beaver Line Associated Steamers but faced financial difficulties, leading to its takeover by Elder Dempster and Company in 1899. In 1903, the Canadian Pacific Railway acquired the line, integrating it into its own shipping operations. A.H. Wilkens Auctions & Appraisals is proud to bring the Beaver Line collection to auction this Fall season alongside other interesting and historic items. A diverse assortment of documents, artifacts, and artwork will be brought to market for the first time, showcasing the rich history of North Atlantic and Canadian steamship navigation. Highlights will include paintings by William Howard Yorke and Isaac Joseph Witham, half hull models, navigation instruments, scrimshaw, early photographs, and a wide variety of ephemera. Do not miss out on this wonderful opportunity to acquire a piece of history.
Sold
CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY BEAVER LINE FLAG: Blue/purple cloth flag with white central panel. Hand-coloured pictorial logo in the center of the flag, depicting a beaver on a log. Overall measurements: H. 68" x W. 93". Provenance: William
2001: CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY BEAVER LINE FLAGEst. CA$500-CA$700
Sold
G.A. COFFIN (North American, 19th C): S.S. Lake Ontario (1888) Watercolour / gouache Signed and dated bottom left Measurements (framed): H. 34 1/2" x W. 28" Quite possibly painted by George Albert Coffin (American, 1856-1922).
2002: G.A. COFFIN (North American, 19th C)Est. CA$800-CA$1,200
Sold
RARE BEAVER LINE S.S. ONTARIO ADVERTISING POSTER: View of S.S. Ontario at sea with accompanying text that advertises its route and tonnage. Printed by the Toronto Lithographing Company in the last quarter of the 19th C. Based on the watercolour
2003: RARE BEAVER LINE S.S. ONTARIO ADVERTISING POSTEREst. CA$300-CA$500
Sold
RARE BEAVER LINE ADVERTISING POSTER: Poster advertising several of the Beaver Line steamships, including Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Nepigon, Lake Superior, Lake Winnipeg, and one under construction. The steamships' tonnage and
2004: RARE BEAVER LINE ADVERTISING POSTEREst. CA$300-CA$500
Sold
WILLIAM HOWARD YORKE (British, 1847-1921): Lake Superior (1875) Oil on canvas Signed and dated bottom right Comes with two William Notman photo prints of the painting H. 30" x W. 54" S.S. Lake Superior was built by J & G Thompson
2005: WILLIAM HOWARD YORKE (British, 1847-1921)Est. CA$4,000-CA$6,000
Sold
LARGE S.S. LAKE SUPERIOR WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL: Large, wooden half hull model of S.S. Lake Superior, housed in a wooden display stand with mirror backing. Paper label at bottom of display box with informational text in three blocks: "Owners /
2006: LARGE S.S. LAKE SUPERIOR WOODEN HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$2,000-CA$3,000
Sold
S.S. LAKE SUPERIOR WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL: Smaller, wooden half hull model of S.S. Lake Superior No. 182. Text to lower right hand corner of wooden plaque; includes "Principal Dimensions" and name of the builders: "Barclay Curle & Co. /
2007: S.S. LAKE SUPERIOR WOODEN HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$1,000-CA$1,500
Sold
ISAAC JOSEPH WITHAM (British, 1831-1901): Lake Winnipeg (1879) Oil on canvas Signed and dated bottom left Comes with William Notman photo print of the painting H. 23 3/4" x W. 42" S.S. Lake Winnipeg was built by J & G Thompson (later John
2008: ISAAC JOSEPH WITHAM (British, 1831-1901)Est. CA$2,500-CA$3,500
Sold
A.F. BEEVOR (British, 19th C): Lake Superior (1877) Oil on canvas Signed and dated bottom left H. 11" x W. 15" Provenance: William Murray's Canada Shipping Company or Beaver Line S.S. Co. (Montreal); Musee Copp's Ferry
2009: A.F. BEEVOR (British, 19th C)Est. CA$800-CA$1,200
Sold
ISAAC JOSEPH WITHAM (British, 1831-1901): Lake Nepigon (1875) Oil on canvas Signed and dated bottom left H. 24" x W. 41 3/4" Label to verso: “Single screw iron steamer / 2,250 Tons gross, / 250 N.H.P. (320' x 35' x 25') / Built
2010: ISAAC JOSEPH WITHAM (British, 1831-1901)Est. CA$2,500-CA$3,500
Sold
A.F. BEEVOR (British, 19th C): Lake Nepigon (1877) Oil on canvas Signed and dated bottom left Comes with William Notman photo print of the painting H. 23" x W. 40" This painting was copied by A.F. Beevor from an office
2011: A.F. BEEVOR (British, 19th C)Est. CA$2,500-CA$3,500
Sold
UNLABELED STEAM SHIP WOODEN HALF FULL MODEL: Smaller, wooden half hull model of unidentified steam ship. Overall measurements: H. 14" x W. 69 3/4" x D. 5". Provenance: William Murray's Canada Shipping Company or Beaver Line S.S. Co.
2012: UNLABELED STEAM SHIP WOODEN HALF FULL MODELEst. CA$1,000-CA$1,500
Sold
S.S. LAKE WINNIPEG & LAKE MANITOBA HALF HULL MODEL: Large, wooden half hull model for S.S. Lake Winnipeg and S.S. Lake Manitoba. Text painted in three blocks to bottom of wooden plaque. It reads: "Tons Gross 3300 / I.H.P 2500"; "S.S. 'Lake
2013: S.S. LAKE WINNIPEG & LAKE MANITOBA HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$1,000-CA$1,500
Sold
S.S. LAKE MICHIGAN WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL: Smaller, wooden half hull model of S.S. Lake Huron No. 192. Overall measurements: H. 12" x W. 59 1/4" x D. 5". Provenance: William Murray's Canada Shipping Company or Beaver Line S.S. Co.
2014: S.S. LAKE MICHIGAN WOODEN HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$1,000-CA$1,500
Sold
S.S. LAKE HURON WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL: Smaller, wooden half hull model of S.S. Lake Huron. Text to lower right hand corner of wooden plaque; includes "Principal Dimensions" and name of the builders: "Barclay Curle & Co. / Shipbuilders
2015: S.S. LAKE HURON WOODEN HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$1,000-CA$1,500
Sold
S.S. LAKE MEGANTIC WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL: Large, wooden half hull model of the S.S. Lake Megantic. Blue paper label with golden lettering affixed to bottom of wooden plaque. Label includes three blocks of text. From left to right: "Built
2016: S.S. LAKE MEGANTIC WOODEN HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$1,000-CA$1,500
Sold
S.S. LAKE HURON WOODEN HALF HULL MODEL: Large, wooden half hull model for S.S. Lake Huron. Remnants of paper label describing the boat are evident at the bottom of the wooden plaque on which the model is mounted. Overall measurements:
2017: S.S. LAKE HURON WOODEN HALF HULL MODELEst. CA$2,000-CA$3,000
Sold
FOUR LEATHER BOUND FAMILY PHOTO ALBUMS (19th C): Lot of four leather bound family photo albums, manufactured in the late 19th C. Includes portraits of William A. Murray, his family, and others, together with vistas of Edinburgh streets, churches,
2018: FOUR LEATHER BOUND FAMILY PHOTO ALBUMS (19th C)Est. CA$300-CA$500
Sold
CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY SIGN: Metal plaque engraved "Canada Shipping Company. / Thompson, Murray & Co. / Agents." H. 7 7/8" x W. 24 1/8". Provenance: William Murray's Canada Shipping Company or Beaver Line S.S. Co.
2019: CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY SIGNEst. CA$300-CA$500
Sold
CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY TRACK CHART (1892-94): Large bound book that preserves the track charts for 189 voyages taken by Canada Shipping Company ships from 1892 to 1894. Each track chart includes the following information: course taken, daily
2020: CANADA SHIPPING COMPANY TRACK CHART (1892-94)Est. CA$300-CA$500
Sold
PASSENGER BENCH FROM THE QUEBEC-LEVIS FERRY: Mahogany upholstered bench with back lean that can be altered depending on the direction of the ferry. Probably late 19th C. Comes with informational book on the Quebec-Levis ferry: Roger Bruneau,
2021: PASSENGER BENCH FROM THE QUEBEC-LEVIS FERRYEst. CA$800-CA$1,200
Sold
SET OF THIRTEEN SPLINE WEIGHTS IN CUSTOM CASE: Set of thirteen spline weights housed in a custom case. Weights are green with circular red labels that read: "W.A. Murray, Engineer. 164 St. James Street, Montreal". Each weight weighs 3 lb. 11
2022: SET OF THIRTEEN SPLINE WEIGHTS IN CUSTOM CASEEst. CA$600-CA$800
Sold
STEAM BOAT TEST GAUGE (JAMES MORRISON, TORONTO): Steam Boat Inspector's Test Gauge. Manufactured at the Ontario Steam Gauge Works, Toronto. Bourdon Steam Gauge. Marked "James Morrison Maker", lower center edge. "Test Gauge / The Property of the /
2023: STEAM BOAT TEST GAUGE (JAMES MORRISON, TORONTO)Est. CA$500-CA$700
Sold
ANTIQUE STEAM WHISTLE: Dimensions: H. 15 1/4" x W. 5 1/2" x D. 3 1/2". Provenance: William Murray's Canada Shipping Company or Beaver Line S.S. Co. (Montreal); Musee Copp's Ferry Museum (Georgeville)
2024: ANTIQUE STEAM WHISTLEEst. CA$300-CA$500