1854 (Jan. 25) Paspebiac, Canada to Granville, France via Halifax. Folded cover with red "Paspebiac L.C." cds and manuscript "25th Jany. 1854" dating and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "2/8½" 2s8½d cy. rating, reverse with Carleton (1.26), Campbellton N.B. (1.26), Chatham (1.30), Bend of Petitcodiac, and Sackville (1.31) transits, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Halifax (2.3) to Liverpool, London Paid (2.14) transit cds and matching oval "PD" handstamp, French entry cds and Granville (2.16) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, ex-Steinhart.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1855 (Jul. 26) Toronto, Canada to Halifax N.S. Blue folded cover bearing Canada 3d vermilion (4), four margins, tied by circular grid cancel on blue folded cover, matching "Toronto C.W., Jul 26" cds, reverse with Montreal (7.27), St. John (7.31) transits and Halifax (8.2) arrival cds; light stain, Very Fine, ex-Foxbridge.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE THREE-PENNY BEAVER COVER TO NOVA SCOTIA, ARFKEN WRITES IN HIS BOOK THAT THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY AS RARE AS TWELVE-PENNY BLACK COVERS. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1856 (May 13) Halifax N.S. to Montreal, Canada. Blue folded cover bearing 3d deep blue (3), large to clear at bottom left, tied by oval open grid cancel, endorsed "Via Portland" at top left, reverse with Halifax (5.13.1856) origin cds and Montreal (5.17) arrival cds, Very Fine, with 1965 B.P.A. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1858 (Jun. 15) Ottawa, Canada to Wallace, N.S. Orange cover bearing 3d red (4), four margins, tied neat bold strike of four-ring "27" numeral cancel, red "City-of-Ottawa, U.C., Paid, JU 15 1858" origin cds, reverse with Montreal (6.15), Halifax transits and Wallace (6.23) arrival cds; flap torn, couple light stain spots, a Very Fine and rare use.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY 6 COVERS RECORDED BY FIRBY ON THIS ROUTE FROM CANADA TO NOVA SCOTIA.

In 1858, steamer communications were resumed. S. Baby of Quebec began a fortnightly service with the Steamship Lady Head between Quebec and Pictou making calls at Gaspe, Paspebiac, Dalhousie, Miramichi and Shediac. In the following year, A. Heron of Niagara received a subsidy from New Brunswick to operate the Steamship Arabian on the same route. She also called at Bathurst and Richibuto. From June 2nd 1860, mails were made up at Halifax and sent to Pictou to be transported by a Canadian Government steamer to Quebec during the navigation season. The "Arabian" sailed until 1865 and the "Lady Head" until 1866 when replaced by the Steamship "Union". In 1865, the Steamship "Victoria" and in 1866 Steamship "Her Majesty" plied between Halifax and Montreal. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1861 (May 25) Montreal, Canada to Halifax, N.S. Blue datelined folded letter bearing Canada 5¢ vermilion (15), tied by grid cancel, endorsed "Via Portland" at top left, Halifax (5.29) arrival backstamp, F.-V.F., ex-Maritimus.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1865 (May 17) Paspebiac, Canada to Granville, France via Halifax. Orange cover with red "Paspebiac C.E. MY 17 65" small arc cds with matching red "PAID" handstamp and manuscript "17 Cts" cents rating, reverse with various transits of Carleton-sur Mer, Dalhousie N.B. (5.18), Chatham (5.20), and Sackville (5.21), red "British / 5 d / Claim" three-line script handstamp for the transatlantic share overprinted "7" in red crayon, carried by Cunard Line Asia to Queenstown, red London Paid (6.5) transit cds and matching "PD" in circle handstamp, Calais (6.5) entry cds and Granville (6.6) arrival backstamp; small pinhole and light vertical fold, Very Fine, ex-Steinhart.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1850 (Oct. 15) Halifax N.S. to St. Catherines, Canada. Gray folded cover with red "Halifax, Nova Scotia, Oct 15, 1850" tombstone postmark and endorsed p Steamer Mail" at bottom left, carried by Cunard Line America from Halifax to Boston where black "5" cent due rating handstamp struck and delivered to forwarding agent, remailed with United States 5¢ red brown (1) vertical pair, wide margins to just in at bottom, tied by two strikes of black circular grid cancel and red "Boston '10cts' 17 Oct" cds, "Queenston U.C., Oct 20 1850" cds and manuscript "4½" d. cy. due rating; vertical file fold just affects bottom stamp, tiny edge tear, a Very Fine use, ex-Lichtenstein, Hart.
Estimate; $15,000 - 20,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED COVER FROM NOVA SCOTIA TO CANADA CARRIED THROUGH OFFICIAL MAIL CHANNELS WITH THIS ROUTING BY BEARING THE UNITED STATES 1847 ISSUE.

The route from Halifax by the Cunard Line to the United States and then overland to Canada was much quicker than any other alternative at this time. A cover dated October 2nd 1850 from the Merritt correspondence is currently in the William Gross collection was not carried through the mails from Halifax to Boston. Lichtenstein mentions this cover in his description of his Nova Scotia exhibit at the 1936 New York International: "The Ship Letter with United States stamps used from Nova Scotia, through the United States to Canada.". Est. $15,000-20,000 (Image)

Est. $15,000-20,000

1858 (Nov. 29, Dec. 26) Toronto, Canada to Halifax N.S. Pair of covers, first with "Toronto, C.W. Nov 29" cds and matching fancy "3" rating handstamp carried overland, reverse with Montreal (11.30) transit and Halifax (12.1.1857) arrival; other with "Toronto C.W. Dec 26" cds and light strike of matching fancy "3" rating handstamp overstruck with "7½ Cy" circled rating handstamp, carried via Boston by Cunard Line Canada, Halifax (1.1.1858) arrival backstamp; each with light horizontal filing crease, a Very Fine exhibit pair showing different routings.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

A closed mail to Canada was established on October 27th 1851. It was made up in time to be forwarded by the Cunard steamer to the United States. Letters so forwarded were to be especially addressed "Closed Mail for Canada". This route was largely established due to the opening of the Vermont Central Railroad, which extended from Rouse's Point N.Y. to Boston. From January 1st 1868, Inman steamers from New York replaced the Cunard service from Boston that had ceased to run to Halifax and Liverpool. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1859 (Mar. 21) Montreal, Canada to Plaister Cover, Cape Breton via Boston. Blue datelined folded letter with "Montreal, MR 21 1859" origin cds and manuscript "7½" d. cy. rating, endorsed "p Steamer via Boston" at top left, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from Boston to Halifax, reverse with Halifax (3.25) transit and Plaister Cover (3.28) arrival cds; some edge wear, Very Fine, Illustrated in Arfken on page 156., ex-Nickle, Wilkinson.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Letters transmitted via the United States to catch Cunard steamers were charged 7½d for 4d stg. (5d cy.) plus 2d stg. (2½ cy.) inland rate. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1866 (Oct. 20) Quebec, Canada to Halifax, N.S. Mourning cover bearing Canada 12½ yellow green (18), tied by "Quebec, OC 20 66" cds, countersigned "Monck" (Viscount Monck, Governor General of British North America) and addressed to Sir Williams of Kars, Governor of Nova Scotia, endorsed "By Cunard Mail via Boston" at top, carried by Cunard Line Asia from Boston to Halifax; small edge tear, Very Fine, Illustrated in Arfken.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE PACKET USE FROM GOV. GENERAL VISCOUNT MONCK TO SIR WILLIAM OF KARS, GOV. OF NOVA SCOTIA.

The rate changed to 12½¢ on July 1, 1859 when Canada went to the decimal system. The cover is countersigned by Viscount Monck who had the free franking privilege in Canada. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000