A Lady’s Cover to Clarence: Tracing the Marshalls of Annapolis County
Nova Scotia # 10 on July 28, 1863, embossed "lady's" cover from Kentville, Nova Scotia to Clarence, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Jane Marshall, Clarence, Annapolis. Barred oval cancellation. Four backstamps all struck within a day of each other - KENTVILLE JY 28 1863, GRANVILLE JY 28 1863, WILMOT illegible date, LAWRENCE-TOWN, JY 29, 1863. The string of same-day and next-day backstamps across four Annapolis Valley post offices — Kentville, Granville, Wilmot, and Lawrencetow
8 hours ago4 min read
Windsor, Nova Scotia: A Port Built on Gypsum and Ships
2 Nova Scotia # 12a, 10c vermilion on double-franked partial cover from Windsor, Nova Scotia to New York. Addressed to - F. Whitney & Co., New York. Partial red “Paid 20 on front. Backstamp, Windsor, JU 5 1961 and manuscript “1861” visible. The rate The pair of 10¢ stamps, together paying 20¢, is double the standard 10¢ Nova Scotia–United States cross-border letter rate — indicating this letter weighed more than the ½-ounce single-rate limit. As a partial cover, the address i
12 hours ago4 min read
A Business Letter to Arichat: Fever, Repairs, and the Brazil Trade
Great Britain Scott # 27 – 6d Pale Lilac, on May 18, 1860 folded letter from Liverpool, England to Arichat, Cape Breton. Addressed to Messrs De Carteret & de Visconte, Arichat, Cape Breton. Manuscript "Mail via Halifax" on front. 466 barred oval cancellation (Liverpool). Backstamps LIVERPOOL P.O.19 MY 60, H(alifax) N.S. MY 28 1860, ARICHAT N.S. MY 30, 1860. a transatlantic transit of twelve days. Manuscript "C.R. Taylor Son, Liverpool, May 18/60" on inside flap. Liverpool 18t
2 days ago10 min read
A Letter to Harvard Medical College
Nova Scotia # 12 on January 27, 1866 cover from Clementsport, Nova Scotia to Boston, Massachusetts. Addressed to D. O. Saunders Esq., Harvard Medical College, Boston, Mass. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps CLEMENTSPORT N.S. JA 27 1866, and H(alifax) NS JA 31 1866. Identifying the recipient The address, initially read as “D.C.” or “D.G. Sanders,” proved to be a case of both a misread surname and a misread initial. No Sanders family appears in Clementsport records of the pe
3 days ago4 min read
Three letters to Miss Susan Foster & Co.
5¢ New Brunswick (Queen Victoria portrait, 1860 decimal issue), tied with a grid cancel on a November 30, 1864 interprovincial cover from Saint John, N.B. to Annapolis, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Miss Susan Foster, Annapolis, N.S. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps SAINT JOHN N.B. NO 20 1864, ANNAPOLIS N.S. DE 5 1864, An unusually long transit time, perhaps due to inclement weather on the Bay of Fundy preventing maritime travel. Manuscript "Magee & Brothers, Bill $262.07 C,
3 days ago6 min read
A Halifax Letter to a Boy at School in London
A stampless cover, sent from Halifax, Nova Scotia, December 13, 1858, to Benjamin G. Jenkins, care of (Rev. A. Stewart), Palmer House, Holloway Road, London N. Postage paid in cash, marked by a red boxed “HALIFAX PAID DEC 13 1858 NOVA SCOTIA” tombstone handstamp. A bold manuscript rate mark, very likely reading “1/–” (one shilling) — the standard Cunard packet rate for a half-ounce letter carried directly between Halifax and Liverpool since 1839. Red circular “PAID LONDON DE
3 days ago7 min read
Robert West, Merchant and Stephen Willett, farmer: the search for a Baptist Connection
Nova Scotia # 8 on December 18 1862 cover from Bar___ , Nova Scotia to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Robert West Esqr, Bridgewater, La Have, N.S. Manuscript "S. B. Willett, December 20, 1862" on front. Barred oval cancellation. Backstamps from BAR___DE___, and BRIDGEWATER N.S. DE __, 1862. Embossed floral design on flap. I've been working through an 1860s Nova Scotia cover and thought I'd share where the research has taken me - partly to get feedback, and partly as
5 days ago6 min read
