Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale

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

Early Postal History continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1813 (Sep. 29) Halifax, Nova Scotia to Kendal, England. Datelined folded letter written by John Corruthers, endorsed "p Schooner Mary, Capt. Snell", mailed privately by Capt., red "Liverpool, 2 NO 2" rimless cds and manuscript "8" pence due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 600.

John Carruthers was a Prisoner of War from Savannah, now working for an agent Mr. D selling prize property. (Image1)

Est. $300-600
SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

1814 (Nov. 5) London, England to St. John N.B. via Halifax. Datelined folded letter with London (11.5) backstamp and manuscript "2/2" 2s2d rating, carried by Packet Osborne to Halifax, manuscript "Packet 2N5" 2s5d cy. rating plus "9" pence cy. totalled to "3N19", pencil "3/2" 3s2d notation at top left, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $400 - 600. (Image1)

Est. $400-600
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1814 (Dec. 2) Eastport Me. to Halifax N.S. Datelined letter from John Young endorsed "by land", reverse with manuscript forwarder's endorsement "Yarmouth Jan: 17th 1815. forwarded this day by Post at the request of Capt. D. Harris of the Shallop Bee. I.N. Bond", entered mails with "YARMOUTH, N.S. / JAN 18 1815" two-line postmark and manuscript "11½" pence cy. rating plus "1" pence totalled to "1/½" for 1s½d cy. due; repaired faults, Fine.
Estimate; $2,500 - 3,500.

A RARE USE FROM OCCUPIED MAINE TO NOVA SCOTIA.

Letter from John Young with great war content reads in part, "I leave this for Castine to obtain permission to carry on my goods by land as the risk this port to Castine by see is beyond all calculation. The coast is invested by no less than 8 or 10 Privateers & even a Convoy will be a slight protection against their numbers."

Parts of Maine were reoccupied by the British re-establishing the Colony New Ireland. They occupied Eastport in July 1814, Castine was left in April 1815 and Eastport only in June 1818 after settling a border dispute. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $2,500-3,500
SOLD for $2,800.00
Will close during Public Auction

1814 (Dec. 8) Bath, England to St. John, N.B. via Halifax. Datelined folded letter with "Bath 9 DE 1814" rimless datestamp and red manuscript "P. 2/1" 2s1d prepaid rating for 1s3d packet plus 10d inland rate, endorsed "By Decebr. Packet" at bottom left, carried by Packet Osborne to Halifax arriving Mar. 13th, Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 750.

"Osborne" was attacked twice en route by privateers. News of the peace of Ghent (Dec. 24th 1814) had not reached North America. (Image1)

Est. $400-750
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

Early Postal History - Straightline Postmarks

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1815 (Jan. 25) Boston Mass. to St. John N.B. via Digby. Folded letter datelined "Dedham Jan 7 1815" and continued "Boston Jan 28th 1815", entered mails with "DIGBY "24" FEB. 1815" straightline postmark with manuscript dating and matching "9d" rating, flap with manuscript forwarder's endorsement "Taken from the Post Office & forwarded by his very obedt. servant, St. John, March 28th. 1815 W. Shipman" and readdressed to Cambridge Mass., red manuscript "24" cent due rating applied for double the 12¢ war surcharge rate for under 40 miles., Very Fine, ex-Mayer.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

The war surcharge rates were an indirect taxation to help the United States defray the cost of the War of 1812. The U.S. Congressional Act of December 23, 1814 was effective February 1, 1815 to April 30, 1815 for a total of 13 months. (Image1) (Image2)

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

1820 (Nov. 3) Annapolis, N.S. to London, England. Folded cover with partial "Annapolis 3 Nov 20" straightline postmark and matching "Paid" handstamp with red "9" pence cy. rating, carried as ship letter to Halifax where "Ship Letter, Halifax" oval crown handstamp struck and updated manuscript "1/1" 1s1d due rating, "SHIPLETTER" straightline and updated "1/8" 1s8d rating for 1s inland plus 8d ship letter fee, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000. (Image1)

Est. $1,500-2,000
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

Early Postal History - Double-Circle "Post Office" Postmarks

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1826 (Oct. 11) Windsor, Canada to London, England via Halifax. Folded cover with "Post Office, Windsor, 'Oct 11 26' " double circle postmark with manuscript dating and red manuscript "Paid Inland Postage" and "4½" pence cy. rating, endorsed "Per Packet" at bottom left, "Halifax OC" fleuron, carried by Packet Swallow from Halifax Oct. 23rd to Falmouth arriving Nov. 14th, red London (11.16) backstamp and manuscript "2/2" rating for 2s2d packet rate to London, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex-Steinhart.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

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

1831 (Jan. 27) Ship Harbour, Cape Breton to London, England via Halifax. Docketed folded part letter with manuscript "P 11" rating for 11d cy. inland postage, "Post Office, Antigonish" double-circle struck twice dated "5 Feby 31" and "8 Feby 31", "Halifax, MR 4 31" fleuron transit, carried by Packet Rinaldo from Halifax Mar. 6th to Falmouth arriving Mar. 29th, red London (4.1) backstamp and ratings crossed out and updated to "2/2" for 2s2d due, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

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

1832 (Feb. 6) Digby, N.S. to Hull, England. Datelined folded letter with "Post Office, Digby" double-circle postmark and manuscript "6th Feby '32" dating, matching circled "Paid" handstamp and manuscript "9" pence rating, Halifax transit backstamp, carried by Packet Duke of York from Halifax to Falmouth, paid rating crossed out and updated to "2/4" for 1s3d packet plus 1s1d inland postage; light fold toning, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 750. (Image1)

Est. $400-750
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1832 (Dec. 25) Antigonish, N.S. to Halifax, N.S. Datelined folded letter with clear strike of "Post Office, Antigonish" double-circle postmark with manuscript "Decr. 25 32" dating, rating of "11" inland postage plus "1" pence delivery fee totalled to "1/" one shilling cy. due, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1)

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

1833 (Apr. 12) River John, Nova Scotia to London, England via Pictou and Halifax. Folded cover with inside origin docketing, entered mails with "Post Office, Pictou" double-circle postmark with manuscript "18 Apr. 33" dating and matching circled "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "7" d. cy. rating to Halifax, rimless "Halifax, AP 10" datestamp, carried by Packet Pigeon to London, flap with red (5.8) arrival cds and rating updated to "2/2" 2s 2d packet rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

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

Early Postal History - "Star" Postmarks

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1835 (Jan. 19) Guysborough, N.S. to London, England via Antigonish. Folded cover with inside origin docketing, entered mails with rimless "Antigonish * N.S." star postmark with red manuscript "Paid 11" 11d. cy. rating, light strike of "Halifax N.S., FE 18 1835" cds, carried by Packet Plover via Falmouth to London, flap with red (3.13.1835) arrival cds and rating updated to "2/2" 2s 2d packet rating, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $150-300
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1837 (May 29) Digby N.S. to Halifax N.S. Datelined folded letter with brilliant sharp strike of "Digby * N.S." star arc postmark with manuscript "9" d.cy. rating to Halifax, updated with "1" d.cy. delivery charge totalled to "10" d.cy. due, Extremely Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $150-300
SOLD for $190.00
Will close during Public Auction

1839 (Apr. 7) Westmoreland, N.b. to Guysborough N.S. via Cumberland. Folded letter entered mails with sharp strike of rimless "Cumberland * N.S." star postmark with manuscript "9" 9d. cy. rating, light strike of rimless "Halifax N.S., AP 10" cds, rerated and totalled to "1N8" 1s8d cy. total due; minor bottom edge toning, Very Fine.
Estimate; $250 - 350. (Image1)

Est. $250-350
SOLD for $240.00
Will close during Public Auction

Early Postal History - Aroostock War

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1839 (Apr. 15) Halifax N.S. to Derbyshire, England. Soldier's folded letter datelined at Halifax endorsed "From James S. Burn Musician 23rd Fusliers" and countersigned, red "Halifax. N.S. Paid" rimless cds and red "1" pence rating, carried by Packet Linnet via Falmouth May 13th, manuscript "2" rating for ship captain's gratuity; some minor soiling, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $750 - 1,500.

A SCARCE SOLDIER'S LETTER SENT DURING THE AROOSTOCK WAR.

The red "Halifax Paid" cds was used 1817 to 1839. The sender James S. Burn mentions a war 200 miles from Halifax (the Aroostock war between Maine and New Brunswick) and reads in part: "…with Regard to the Regiment being ingaged with the Enemy for Everything is very quiet in the town where we are lying but there some sign of a war about 200 miles from here but they are all quiet for the present it is to England we must look too for Either War or Peace for it all depends on her Decisions but they are making great preparations for them both in the States and here. You must not let that trouble you…". The Aroostook War was a confrontation in 1838-1839 between the United States and the United Kingdom over the international boundary between the British colony of New Brunswick and the U.S. state of Maine. Top-level diplomats from the U.S. and Britain met in Washington and forged a peaceful compromise, the Webster-Ashburton Treaty in 1842, which fixed the permanent border. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,500
SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

Early Postal History - Double Circle with Crown Postmarks

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1842 (Apr. 30) Annapolis Royal N.S. to London, England via Bridgetown. Folded letter entered mails with neat strike of "Bridgetown N.S." double-circle crown postmark and endorsed "On Her Majesty's Service" at top, carried by Cunard Line Britannia via Halifax May 3rd, reverse with red London (5.16.1842) arrival cds and manuscript "1/2" one shilling two pence due rating for one shilling packet fee plus 2d inland, Very Fine.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,500.

MacDonald recorded the Bridgetown double-circle crown postmark used only on June 24th 1842. (Image1)

Est. $2,000-3,500
SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

1842 (Sep. 5) New Glasgow N.S. to Halifax N.S. Datelined folded letter with "New Glasgow N.S." double-circle postmark to Halifax N.S., reverse with "Halifax, Nova-Scotia, SP 9 1842" rimless cds; some erosion due to docketing erasure, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 350.

This strike of the double-circle postmark without crown was recorded by MacDonald used only eight months from Mar. 1st to Oct. 12th 1842. (Image1)

Est. $200-350
SOLD for $210.00
Will close during Public Auction

1842 (Oct. 20) Guysborough N.S. to Halifax N.S. Datelined folded letter with bold strike of "Guysborough N.S." double-circle crown postmark and manuscript "Free" rating to the Provincial Treasurer, Very Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,500.

MacDonald recorded the Guysborough double-circle crown postmark used from Sep. 9th 1842 with the Oct. 20th letter offered here now the latest recorded example. (Image1)

Est. $750-1,500
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

Early Postal History - Maritime Mail and Special Rates

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1843 (Sep. 5) Halifax N.S. to Yarmouth N.S. Datelined folded letter carried by private ship and entered mails with red "Yarmouth / Ship Letter" two-line handstamp and manuscript "5" d.cy. rating (ship letter tariff 1842 4d. stg.); central file fold, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

A SCARCE YARMOUTH SHIP LETTER HANDSTAMP USE. (Image1)

Est. $1,500-2,000
SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1846, 1850 Nova Scotia to Cape Breton. Pair of folded letters comprising 1846 (Dec. 10) with "Arichat N.S., Paid" postmark with "Paid" crossed out and replaced by "DE 12" datestamp to Gut of Canso C.B. with manuscript "4½" d.cy. due rating for a ship letter; and 1850 (Sep. 19) Halifax N.S. to Sydney C.B. with manuscript "4½" d.cy. packet rating, endorsed "Per Steamer", F.-V.F. pair of letters.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Better communications in the province were also achieved by ships linking coastal communities. In 1837, the first attempt was made to encourage the running of regular sailing vessels or steamers between the smaller ports in the province. The Legislative Council granted £100 annually for three years for a steamboat to carry the mail once a week between Windsor and Parrsborough, and Horton and Parrsborough, and £50 for the sailing of a schooner between Guysborough and Arichat touching occasionally at Fox Island and Canso. (Image1)

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