Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale

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The "Skywalk" Collection of Nova Scotia Stamps and Postal History continued...

Postal Relations with the United States - Ship Letters

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

181

1808 (May 27) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter endorsed "via Boston", carried by private ship, entered mails with indistinct Boston cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp with manuscript "19" cent rating for 150-300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine cross-border use, ex-Dr. Robertson.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

182

1850 (Jul. 8) Boston Mass. to Maitland N.S. Blue datelined folded letter with red "Boston '10cts' 8 Jul" cds and red "Paid" straightline handstamp, carried by ship to St. John, entered mails with "St. John N.B. / Ship Letter" two-line and manuscript "1/1½" cy. rating, reverse with St. John (7.10) cds and Halifax (7.12) arrival oval, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

183

1853 (Feb. 9) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with "Halifax, Nova Scotia, FE 9 1853" cds with matching "Nova Scotia." scroll handstamp, endorsed "p. Sir John Harvey" at top, "Boston Mass, Feb 11" cds and matching "Ship" rating handstamp with manuscript "10" cents postage due rating, ex-Young, Clark. Illustrated in Jephcott/Greene/Young.
Estimate; $2,500 - 3,500.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE "NOVA SCOTIA" SCROLL HANDSTAMP.

The four recorded examples of the "Nova Scotia" scroll handstamp covers are from February 1853, this is the only one recorded with the Boston transit cds and "Ship" handstamp. The other three bear a "Steam" rating handstamp. (Image1)

Est. $2,500-3,500
SOLD for $2,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

184

1856 (Apr. 20) Boston Mass. to Bridgetown N.S. Blue folded letter carried by private ship to St. John, entered mails with "St. John N.B. / Ship Letter" two-line handstamp with matching "6" pence handstamp, reverse with St. John (5.3), Annapolis (5.5) and Bridgewater (5.6) arrival, Very Fine, ex-Halifax.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

The 6d rate for a letter from New Brunswick from or to the United States was valid from July 6th 1851. No ship letter fee was charged. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

185

1855 (c., Oct.) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y. via St. John N.B. Orange cover endorsed "via Windsor", entered mails with "Colonial Express Mail. St. John. N.B. Oct 13" cds and matching "10" cent due handstamp; some docketing, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

In September 1845, the U.S. Post Office Department appointed steamboat letter carriers to handle the mail on the Boston-Portland-Eastport steamer route. In 1853, the U.S. Post Office extended their steamboat letter carrier system to St. John. The Rates of Postage chargeable on letters thus forwarded are the same as by the land route: 6d cy. or 10¢ per ½oz. Prepayment will be optional and may be made by affixing Postage Stamps but no less than the whole postage. It must be borne in mind however that loose letters forwarded cannot be prepaid in money, they must either be prepaid by affixing Postage stamps or be forwarded unpaid. When loose letters, either unpaid or prepaid by stamps, were handed to the steamboat letter carrier, they were struck with Express Mail circular datestamps. As such letters did not go through the Post Office, they did not bear any New Brunswick postmark but only those applied on board the steamers.

The Nova Scotia Post Office Department found that mail sent from Halifax to the United States via the British packet to Boston was costly to the public. Beginning in 1856, the Nova Scotia Post Office gave an annual grant of £100 to Colonel Favor to carry mail from March 1st to December 31st by his express from St. John to Boston via Eastport and Portland (where closed mail to Canada changed to the railway to Montreal). The subsidy to Favor continued until December 31st 1861. Nova Scotia letters to the United States and Canada that were to go by "Steamer "Emperor" and Favor's Express" and later "per Express Steamer Express" were to be marked so and these were made up in special bags by the post office at Windsor, Nova Scotia. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,000
SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction

186

1860 (Dec. 20) Barbados to Nova Scotia via New York. Datelined folded letter carried by private ship John Moody as endorsed to New York, entered mails with United States 1857, 1¢ blue (24) and three 3¢ dull red (26) singles, all tied by two strikes of "New-York, Jan 21" duplex, red "U. States / C" exchange office arc handstamp, carried by coastal steamer to Halifax (Jan. 30th oval backstamp); some aging, Fine, Prepaid at the 10¢ rate value from July 1, 1851.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

187

1863 (Nov.) United States to Annapolis N.S. Orange cover entered the mails with "YARMOUTH. N.S. / SHIP LETTER" two-line handstamp and manuscript "7½" for 5¢ postage plus 2½¢ ship letter fee, reverse with Yarmouth (11.16.63) origin and Annapolis (11.19.63) arrival cds, Extremely Fine, ex-Greene (backstamp)., Illustrated in Young.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE YARMOUTH SHIP LETTER HANDSTAMP.

Although this cover does not have an enclosure, it almost certainly from the United States. (Image1)

Est. $5,000-7,500
SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

Postal Relations with the United States - Pacific Mail

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

188

1877 (Dec. 13) Palmerston, New Zealand to New Glasgow, N.S. Cover bearing New Zealand, 2d rose (52), 6d blue (55), tied by oval "04" grid cancels, reverse with Palmerston (12.13.77) origin and Dunedin (12.13) transit, carried by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. City of Sydney to San Francisco arriving Jan. 10th, closed bag to Canada, blue Windsor Ont. (1.18) backstamp and matching "5" due rating handstamp for 5¢ inland postage, Montreal (1.20) arrival backstamp; small flaws, reduced slightly at right, Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

Postal Relations with Prince Edward Island

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

189

1793 (Aug. 27) Charlottetown P.E.I. to Glasgow, Scotland. Datelined folded letter carried by private ship, entered mails with "Halifax / Ship Lre / Sep 9." three-line postmark with manuscript "2/1" rating for double ship letter with 1d ship fee, London (11.4.93) backstamp with "3/9" rating for 1s8d to Glasgow (1s2d London-Edinburgh and 6d Edinburgh-Glasgow), "Glas / Gow" in circle arrival postmark; address partially crossed out, Very Fine.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000.

This was possibly carried by the Queen Charlotte that departed Halifax Oct. 13th and arrived Nov. 1st, as there was no packet in September. (Image1)

Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $3,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

190

1798 (Sep. 28) Hamilton, Great Britain to Island St. John (P.E.I.) via Halifax. Datelined folded letter with "Hamilton" double-circle backstamp, indistinct red London transit and red manuscript "4/4" rating for double 1s inland postage plus 1s2d to Halifax, carried by Swallow to Halifax care of Joshua Newton Esq.Custom House Halifax, manuscript "3½" d cy. rating consisting of 2½d ship master's gratuity and 1d for postmaster at port of arrival, carried privately to Island St. John (P.E.I.), docketed "Received the 16 April 1799", Very Fine, ex-Salmon.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $625.00
Will close during Public Auction

191

1802 (Feb. 2) Edinburgh, Scotland to Prince Edward Island via Halifax. Datelined folded letter with red "FE/28" bishop mark and red manuscript "Pd 2/2" prepaid rating, London red "Paid, Mar 3, 1802" postmark, carried by Duke of Kent to Halifax, reverse with "Halifax, May 3 802" two-line transit, manuscript "4½" rating, reverse with "4½" for sea postage, 2d for internal postage and 1s 0d for winter route totalled to "1/6½", fresh and Very Fine, ex-Salmon.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

192

1802 (May 29) Edinburgh, Scotland to Prince Edward Island via Halifax. Folded letter with red "MY 1802 29" in circle datestamp and red manuscript "P 2/2" rating, red London "Paid, Jun 1, 1802" transit, carried by Princess Amalia to Halifax, reverse with two-line "HALIFAX / JUL 19 1802" postmark and manuscript "7½" d cy. rating for inland postage (summer rate), manuscript "4½" rating on face, Very Fine, ex-Salomon.
Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

193

1824 (Oct. 16) Charlottetown P.E.I. to Halifax N.S. Folded cover with rimless "Prince Edward Island. Oct 16, 1824" cds and manuscript "8d" rating, Halifax manuscript "1" pence delivery charge added and totalled to "9" pence due; some paper loss on back, particularly fresh and Very Fine, ex-Salmon.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This is the latest recorded use of this rimless cds according to Lehr. The earliest known use is May 2nd 1814. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

194

1832 (Sep. 21) Charlottetown P.E.I. to St. John N.B. Datelined folded letter from E.L. Jarvis with double-circle "Post Office P.E. Island" postmark and manuscript "21st Septr. 32" dating with matching "8d" rating, Halifax transit cds with manuscript "9" pence rating to St. John totalled to "1N5" 1s5d due, some interesting contents "We live in a dull quiet place, where each day is only a repetition of the proceeding one & but for the steamboat (meaning the Pocahontas) bringing us twice a week a few Nova Scotians to take a look at the island, we should be wholly without variety. Several private letters from England by last packet speak with certainty of the intention of ministers to annex this island to Nova Scotia"; some light soiling and wear, Fine and interesting, ex-Salmon.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

195

1833 (Aug. 28) Prince Edward Island to Arisaig Wharf N.S. Folded letter with double-circle "Post Office P.E. Island" postmark and manuscript "28 Augt 33" dating with matching "4½" d cy. rating, manuscript "Pd. 2" pence at bottom for prepaid 2 pence internal postage, Nova Scotia manuscript "2" d cy. rating for inland postage, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Arisaig Wharf was a way office. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

196

1841 (Nov. 11) Charlottetown P.E.I. to St. John N.B. Folded letter written E.L. Jarvis with "Prince Edwards Island" circular handstamp with manuscript "12 Nov 44" dating and matching "4½" d cy. rating, "Pictou * N.S." star transit and "1/4" 1s4d cy. rating totalled to "1/4½" due from addressee; couple small edge tears, F.-V.F., The port to port charge (4½d cy.) was usually only applied in the summer.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

197

1845 (Jul. 22) Charlottetown P.E.I. to Pictou N.S. Cover with red "Prince Edward Island, Paid" double-circle postmark and "Prince Edward Island, JY 22, 1845" origin backstamp, red manuscript "4½" d cy. port to port summer time rating, Very Fine, ex-Saint.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

198

1846 (Sep. 26) Londonderry N.S. to Prince Edward Island. Gray folded letter with red "Londonderry N.S., SE 26, 1846" origin backstamp and "7d" cy. rating for 2½d cy. internal postage plus 4½d cy. ship letter fee, reverse with Truro (9.23) transit and Prince Edward Island (10.5) arrival, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

199

1847 (Oct. 29) Charlottetown P.E.I. to Plaister Cove C.B. Light blue registered folded letter enclosing £5 note, neat strike of red "Prince Edward Island, Paid" rimless circular handstamp and rimless "Prince Edward Island, OC 29, 1847" origin cds, red manuscript "9" pence rating, manuscript "696" registry number, Very Fine, ex-Salmon.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Registration was only introduced on May 15th 1851 with the Post Office Act. Money letters had been known before. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction

200

1851 (Nov. 11) Charlottetown P.E.I. to Halifax N.S. Cover with "Prince Edward Island, NO 14 1851" rimless origin backstamp and matching "D 3c" in circle rating handstamp, Halifax (11.13) arrival backstamp; tiny edge stain, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Wilkinson.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction