Charles Spurden, Baptist Seminary Principal, Fredericton
This cover carries a Nova Scotia “Cents” issue 10¢ stamp (Scott NS # 12), the vermilion-orange denomination portraying a diademed Queen Victoria, sent from Wolfville, Nova Scotia to Rev. Charles Spurden, D.D., at the Baptist Seminary in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Backstamps read Wolfville, N.S., JU 14, and Windsor, N.S., JU 14, 1861, with a Fredericton receiving mark present but too worn to read a date from. A broken wax seal and a manuscript notation on the reverse appear t
3 hours ago9 min read
Eliza A. Seaman, Pugwash and Fisher's Grant, Nova Scotia
A Nova Scotia five-cent Queen Victoria carried a letter addressed in one hand to “Eliza A. Seaman, Pugwash, Care of Hon. H. G. Pineo,” and then redirected in a second hand: “Care of Geo. Seaman, Fisher's Grant, Pictou.” The reverse carries the whole chase in wax and ink — a red seal at the centre fold and four backstamps around it: Kentville FE 6 1867, N.S.; Halifax FE 7 1867, N.S.; Pugwash FE 9 1867, N.S.; and Pictou FE 13 1867, N.S. The letter was posted at Kentville, in th
20 hours ago9 min read
Bartholomew R. Haines, Merchant, Westport, Nova Scotia
A printed wrapper headed “Prices Current only,” postmarked BARBADOES DE 11 1861, carried a commercial circular from Barbados across the Atlantic and up the whole length of Nova Scotia to “B. R. Haines Esq., West Port, Nova Scotia,” routed, per the endorsement at lower left, “Mail, via Halifax, N.S.” A small manuscript “1” beside the address marks the piece for the privileged reduced rate carried by printed commercial circulars of this kind, well below the cost of an ordinary
2 days ago10 min read
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
4 days 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
5 days 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
6 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
6 days ago5 min read
