It sounded to me like John was describing something different than the Herald construction, which is well known and documented. My reference is to a construction technique where the canvas is inside the planking rather than outside, but the canoe is otherwise construction as it typically is. If memory serves, there is an example of this technique at the Canadian Canoe Museum, and at least one other builder describes the technique in a catalog.
Regarding ABA's listing, if the canoe is in Tupper Lake, then it is one of their "brokered classifieds." Anyone can list on ABA's site. Their price seems optimistic to me, and I suspect there are a few more than 8 examples of a Herald canoe out there...