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

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about the BlueNotes

Nova Scotia issued its first postage stamps in September 1851. The stamps, 3d. blue, 6d. yellow-green, and 1s. dull purple, were diamond shaped and depicted the crown of Great Britain surrounded by four heraldic flowers of empire. In 1853 the square 1d. rose stamp was added featuring a portrait of Queen Victoria.

On January 1st, 1860, Nova Scotia switched from pounds to dollars and cents. So, in October of that year, the province issued stamps in five new denominations: 1c. purple, 5c. blue, 8 1/2c. green, 10c. vermilion, and 12 1/2c. black, and in May of 1863 a 2c. grey/black stamp was added. The stamps were based on two portraits of Queen Victoria, one in profile and one face on. After Confederation, in 1867, Nova Scotia stamps were gradually replaced by stamps of the Dominion of Canada.

The blue stamps for both the pence and cents issues were by far the most common, being the inter- and intra-provincial letter rate. Although The BlueNotes will feature examples of stampless covers and covers franked in other denominations and mailed from other jurisdictions, Nova Scotia's blue stamps will predominate here as they did in historic provincial usage.

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Charles J. Cooke, Fancy Goods Merchant, Halifax

10 hours 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

17 hours 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

1 day 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

2 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

2 days ago3 min read

A Letter to Acadia College

Nova Scotia # 10 on December 12, 1866 cover from Halifax to Wolfville, Nova Scotia. Addressed to Mr. William McKinley, Acadia College, N.S. Backstamps from H(alifax) N.S. DE 13, 1866, with further partial backstamps consistent with Kentville and Wolfville — the letter’s route down the Windsor & Annapolis Railway line to the college itself. An embossed floral seal decorates the back flap. William A. MacKinlay, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, is listed among Acadia Coll

3 days ago4 min read

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

3 days ago4 min read

Contact

Finding Persons and Places in 19th Century Nova Scotia

A. F. Church County Maps

"The Great Map," published in 1834 by William Mackay, is the first printed map to present the entire interior of Nova Scotia, “Compiled from Actual and Recent Surveys”. It was a ‘great’ effort then in size and scope, and a remarkable accomplishment for its time. The map was the result of a five-year project undertaken by a special Map Committee of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. The following link takes you to the Nova Scotia Archives' searchable copy of McKay's map.

The Great Map of William MacKay

Between 1865 and 1888, the Ambrose F. Church Co. published a series of topographical maps for each of Nova Scotia’s eighteen counties. These maps feature detailed plans of the various census districts and townships, including the specific location of buildings, names of occupants, transportation routes and various geographical markings. Inset detail maps for larger communities within each county are an additional bonus. With an address and name, a researcher can often pinpoint the exact location of a sender or recipient. Sadly, no central, searchable database exists for the entire collection of county maps. When possible, we have included vignettes from the applicable Church Map.

The Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources maintains a detailed set of Crown Land Index Sheet Maps. Often the original grantees are still listed on these maps.

Crown Land Grant Map

Charles J. Cooke, Fancy Goods Merchant, Halifax

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TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Charles J. Cooke, Fancy Goods Merchant, Halifax

Daniel Morrison, Farmer and Justice of the Peace, Five Islands

William McDonald, Merchant and Farmer, Little Glace Bay

John Gillespie, Merchant, Parrsboro

Jesse Cumminger, Merchant, Sherbrooke

A Letter to Acadia College

A Lady’s Cover to Clarence: Tracing the Marshalls of Annapolis County

Finding Persons and Places in 19th Century Nova Scotia

A. F. Church County Maps