Thomas H. Carré, Halifax Commission Merchant
One Nova Scotia # 8 (1¢ black) and two # 9s (2¢ each), five cents in all — the standard intra-provincial single letter rate — franked a cover posted March 23, 1863, addressed to “Thos. H. Carre Esq., R. Gorham & Co., Halifax.” The stamps are tied by a barred oval cancellation, and the reverse carries two backstamps: an illegible originating office reading “MA 23, 1863” and Halifax's own “MR 24, 1863.” The month discrepancy — May against March — is almost certainly a postmaste
3 hours ago5 min read
William J. Coleman, Hat, Cap, and Fur Merchant, Halifax
Four United States stamps — a 1¢ blue Franklin (Scott #9) and three 3¢ dull red Washingtons (Scott #11), ten cents in all — franked a folded cover mailed July 26, 1852, from New York to Messrs. W. J. Coleman & Co., Halifax, Nova Scotia. Two NEW YORK JUL 26 circular datestamps tie the stamps, a manuscript “per Steamer” at left marks it as travelling by steam packet, and a black “5” alongside a second “5” in blue pencil are best read as the accounting split of the 1851 US–Briti
14 hours ago7 min read
Charles J. Cooke, Fancy Goods Merchant, Halifax
Six Great Britain penny reds, Scott 33 — six pence in all — tied by Birmingham's “75” numeral duplex cancellation on a cover mailed July 5, 1867, addressed to Charles Cooke Esq., Merchant, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and routed “Pr Steamer Cuba.” Backstamped HALIFAX, N.S., JY 15 1867 on the reverse, closed with a blind-embossed crest, ten days in transit from the English Midlands to the Nova Scotia coast. The 6d franking matches the going Canadian-packet rate of the day, and the sh
2 days ago7 min read
Daniel Morrison, Farmer and Justice of the Peace, Five Islands
United States 10c Washington on September 18, 1865 cover from Pembroke, Maine to Five Islands, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Daniel Morrison Esq. Five Islands, County Colchester. Datestamp from PEMBROKE ME SEP 13. Backstamps H(alifax) SP 15 1865, LONDONDERRY, N.S. SE 18 1865. United States 10¢ green Washington, Scott # 68, 1861 issue, on a cover mailed September 13, 1865, from Pembroke, Maine, to Daniel Morrison Esq., Five Islands, N.S., County Colchester. A manuscript “15 cts” i
2 days ago5 min read
William McDonald, Merchant and Farmer, Little Glace Bay
Nova Scotia # 10 on October 2, 1866 cover from Halifax to Little Glace Bay, Cape Breton. Addressed to Mr. Wm McDonald, Little Glace Bay, C.B. Stamp tied with barred oval cancellation. Backstamps HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA oc 2, 66, LITTLE GLACE BAY C.B. OC 6, 66. Nova Scotia # 10 on November 18, 1867 cover from Halifax to Little Glace Bay, Cape Breton. Addressed to William McDonald, Little Glace Bay, CB. Stamp tied with a barred oval and HALIFAX A no 18 67 datestamp. Backstamp LITTL
3 days ago5 min read
John Gillespie, Merchant, Parrsboro
Nova Scotia # 10 on a cover mailed November 20, 1864, from Halifax to Mr. John Gillespie, Parrsboro, N.S. The stamp is tied by a barred oval cancellation, a manuscript "P Mail" appears at upper left on the front, and the reverse is closed with a red wax seal rather than a plain gummed flap. Backstamped HALIFAX N.S., NO 20 1864, and PARRSBOROUGH N.S., NO 20 1864 — the same date on both strikes, suggesting the letter traveled by one of the direct Bay of Fundy mail packets rathe
3 days ago4 min read
Jesse Cumminger, Merchant, Sherbrooke
Nova Scotia # 10 on a September 4, 1865 cover addressed in manuscript to Jesse Cumminger Esq., care of A. McLeod & Co., Halifax, with the initial address crossed out and "Sherbrooke, St. Mary’s" added underneath in a different hand. Stamp tied with barred oval cancellation. Backstamped ST. MARY’S N.S., SP 4 1865; HALIFAX N.S., SP 7 1865; HALIFAX N.S., SP 11 1865; and ST. MARY’S N.S., SP 13 1865 — four strikes across nine days, tracing a letter that went out looking for its r
3 days ago3 min read
