Nova Scotia continued...

(Digby to Halifax, Jun. 7, 1841). Folded letter datelined Digby Jun. 7, 1841 and addressed to Halifax, bold strike of Shp Letter Annapolis” crown oval handstamp (MacDonald 242), manuscript Service of the Revenue” and rated 1N8-1/2” at top right, mild file fold thru handstamp of little consequence

FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE SHP LETTER ANNAPOLIS” CROWN OVAL HANDSTAMP. AN IMMENSE NOVA SCOTIA AND SHIP LETTER RARITY.

MacDonald theorizes that the lettering SHP” was done in error and was created locally. Understandably, this has been missing from most major Nova Scotia collections, but it is a key cover for any award-winning exhibit or collection.

Ex Maritimus” (Image)

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(St. John, New Brunswick to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, Mar. 13, 1850). Blue folded letter datelined St. John Mar. 13, 1850 and addressed to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, bold red ANNAPOLIS N.S./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (Jephcott 151, MacDonald 243) with matching May 10 arrival backstamp, manuscript by Capt Brown, March 13/50” directive at bottom left and rated 4-1/2”

VERY FINE. A CHOICE STRIKE OF THE ANNAPOLIS N.S./SHIP LETTER” HANDSTAMP ON INCOMING FOLDED LETTER. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED--THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST. A MAJOR SHIP LETTER AND NOVA SCOTIA RARITY.

The four recorded include a new find (Apr. 7, 1849), which replaced the example offered here as the earliest known example. The one strike in black, dated Jan. 4, 1857, is offered in lot 2254.

Ex Dr. Clark, Rathbun and Skywalk” (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada (Nova Scotia) St. John, New Brunswick t]

(St. John, New Brunswick to Granville, Nova Scotia, Jan. 4, 1857). Folded letter datelined St. John Jan. 4, 1857 and addressed to Granville, Nova Scotia, black ANNAPOLIS N.S./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (Jephcott 151, MacDonald 243) and fancy 3” handstamp (likely carried privately from New Brunswick), cover with soiling and stain, splitting along folds, Fine strike of this rare marking--of the four recorded Annapolis Ship Letter covers, only this strike is in black, ex Dr. Clark (Image)

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(St. Pierre & Miquelon to Granville, France, Apr. 17, 1855). Folded letter datelined St. Pierre Miquelon le 17 avril 1855” and addressed to Granville, France, carried privately and entered mails with faint but clear strike of ARICHAT C.B./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (MacDonald 244), matching Arichat N.S. JA 27, 1855” (should read AP”) circular datestamp on back, red CANADA/&c. ART 12” boxed Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, Halifax, London, Calais and Paris transit and Granville arrival backstamps, 3” handstamp applied in Halifax and 14” decimes due handstamp in France

FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED ARICHAT C.B./SHIP LETTER” MARKING, REMARKABLY SENT FROM ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON ON A COVER TO FRANCE. A MAJOR NOVA SCOTIA, SHIP LETTER AND TRANSATLANTIC RARITY.

Illustrated in BNA Topics (Mar.-Apr. 1980, No. 376, p. 31). Ex Dr. Clark (Image)

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(Digby to Port Medway, Jun. 20, 1857. Clearly struck DIGBY N.S./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (MacDonald 245) with Digby N.S. JU 20 1857” circular datestamp on back of small cover to Port Medway, manuscript p Alexander via St. John NB” ship-name directive, red Yarmouth transit and rated 4-1/2” for 3p postage and 1-1/2p ship fee, slight overall soiling

VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS EXCEPTIONALLY RARE DIGBY N.S./SHIP LETTER” HANDSTAMP.

Jephcott gives a rarity rating of R.F. 10” (highest possible). Ex Maritimus” (Image)

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(Demerara, British Guiana to St. John, New Brunswick, Dec. 6, 1841). Printed folded letter datelined Demerary, 6th December, 1841” and addressed to St. John, New Brunswick, LIVERPOOL N.S./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (MacDonald 246) and Shelburne N.S.” circular handstamp with star (MacDonald 65), rated 7 (+) 9 (=) 1N4” collect

VERY FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE LIVERPOOL N.S./SHIP LETTER” MARKING. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES ARE RECORCED.

Ex Maritimus” (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada (Nova Scotia) Demerara, British Guiana]

(Demerara, British Guiana to Yarmouth, Jul. 7, 1843). Folded letter datelined Demerary 7th July 1843” and addressed to Yarmouth, carried privately to Nova Scotia with exceptional strike of LIVERPOOL N.S./SHIP LETTER” (MacDonald 246) and matching Aug. 9 circular datestamp on back, rated 1/8-1/2 (+) 1 (=) 1/9-1/2”, minor internal splitting along folds and vertical file fold not affecting markings

EXTREMELY FINE. CERTAINLY THE FINEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE LIVERPOOL N.S./ SHIP LETTER” MARKING, STRUCK ON A COVER FROM BRITISH GUIANA. ONE OF THE KEY SHIP LETTER ITEMS FOR ANY MAJOR NOVA SCOTIA COLLECTION.

The 1/9-1/2” paid 9p for the -1/2oz to 1oz sea postage, 2-1/2p ship fee, 9p rate to Yarmouth plus 1p for local delivery.

Illustrated in The Postal History of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 1754-1867 by Jephcott, Greene and Young (p. 190). Ex Jephcott, Greene and Steinhart (Image)

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(St. Bartholomew to Philadelphia Pa., Apr. 28, 1849). Folded letter datelined St. Bartholomew Apr. 28, 1849 and addressed to Philadelphia Pa., Lunenburg N.S. MY 21 1849” circular datestamp and LUNENBURG N.S./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (MacDonald 247), Halifax May 24 transit backstamp and red No. 541 Detained for Postage” handstamp (Jephcott 369, MacDonald 276), rated 1/1-1/2” (crossed out) and re-rated 1/4”, evidently paid with red Halifax Jun. 11 tombstone, 5” in circle handstamp, couple file folds, one thru the Detained marking

FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF BOTH THE LUNENBURG SHIP LETTER AND DETAINED FOR POSTAGE HANDSTAMPS OF HALIFAX. A MAJOR NOVA SCOTIA RARITY.

These two handstamps are each listed in Jephcott and MacDonald, but neither author recorded an example on cover. They were previously only known in proof books. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [Canada (Nova Scotia) St. Bartholowmew to Phila]

(Sydney, Cape Breton to Morlaix, France, Jul. 28, 1852). Wonderful strike of SYDNEY C.B./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (Jephcott 153, MacDonald 250) with matching Sydney C.B. JY 28 1852” circular datestamp on back of folded cover to Morlaix, France, manuscript par Halifax & Liverpool” directive at top right, Halifax, London and Paris transit and Morlaix arrival backstamps, 96” decimes handstamp, Extremely Fine strike of this scarce marking (Image)

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(St. Pierre & Miquelon to St. Servian, France, Sep. 7, 1853). Bold strike of SYDNEY C.B./SHIP LETTER” handstamp (Jephcott 153, MacDonald 250) with matching Sydney C.B. SP 7, 1853” circular datestamp on back of cover from St. Pierre & Miquelon to St. Servian, France, carried privately to Sydney with manuscript voie a Halifax & Liverpool” directive, red CANADA/&c. ART 12” boxed Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, Halifax and Calais transit datestamps, variously rated, light edgewear

FINE EARLY COVER FROM ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON WITH THE RARE SYDNEY C.B./SHIP LETTER” MARKING. SELDOM SEEN WITH THE ANGLO-FRENCH ACCOUNTANCY MARKING.

St. Pierre & Miquelon did not have a post office until March 1854. Any mail prior to that, such as this cover, would have been privately carried directly or thru Nova Scotia.

Ex Smith (Image)

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(Santa Catarina Island, Brazil to Windsor, Feb. 21, 1850). Folded letter datelined Island of St. Catherine’s, 28 South Latitude, Coast of Brazil” on Feb. 21, 1850 and addressed to Windsor, carried privately with clear red WINDSOR N.S./SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp (MacDonald 251), red SHIP” handstamp (unrecorded in Jephcott and MacDonald from Windsor) and Windsor N.S. JY 25 1850” circular datestamp on back, rated 4-1/2”, cover with some internal splitting and tear at bottom, fascinating contents regarding trip via Chagres, other ships calling at Santa Catarina Island, incoming shipment of slaves, his journey and seasickness

FINE. CLEAR STRIKE OF THE WINDSOR N.S./SHIP LETTER” HANDSTAMP ON A FASCINATING GOLD RUSH LETTER WRITTEN BY AN ARGONAUT WHILE ANCHORED OFF THE COAST OF BRAZIL, PICKING UP SUPPLIES FOR THE REMAINING PART OF HIS JOURNEY AROUND CAPE HORN.

Ex Maritimus” (Image)

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