1853, 1d Red Brown. Full to large margins, tied by oval grid cancel on 1857 drop letter from Cape John posted as a drop letter at Pictou, reverse with "Pictou N.S. AP 25 1857" cds, with 1966 B.P.A. and 1980 Diena certificates, signed by Diena in pencil. SG No. 1.
Scott No. 1; Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

AN OUTSTANDING DROP LETTER USE, ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 1853 1D DROP LETTERS WE HAVE RECORDED IN THIS SUPERB QUALITY.

A postal carrier worked for the Post Office in Pictou starting in 1842. Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

1853, 1d Red Brown. Full to large margins except barely clear at top, tied by oval grid cancel on light buff cover to Annapolis, docketed "Homer & Davis, Boston, June 20th/59" at right; some edge wear and tears at top, otherwise Very Fine. SG No. 1.
Scott No. 1; Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED SINGLE 1853 1D RED BROWN FRANKINGS PREPAYING THE UNSEALED CIRCULAR RATE. Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

1853, 1d Red Brown. Vertical strip of three, mostly large margins except clear at right, deep rich color and paper, tied by two strikes of oval grid cancel on cover to Onslow, reverse with Antigonish (2.2) origin cds and Truro (2.5) transit; trivial flap tear, Very Fine, ex-Reford, Burrus, Kanai, Mayer, with 1964 P.F. certificate. SG No. 1.
Scott No. 1; Estimate $2,500 - 3,500.

ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY A FEW 1853 1D RED BROWN VERTICAL STRIPS USED ON COVER PREPAYING THE 3D SINGLE LETTER RATE. Est. $2,500-3,500 (Image)

Est. $2,500-3,500

1853, 1d Red Brown. strip of three, partially severed between stamps, deep rich color, tied by oval grid cancels on 1860 blue folded letter from Halifax to Maitland, reverse with Hamilton (10.26) origin cds, Very Fine, signed by Holcombe and with his 1996 certificate. SG No. 1.
Scott No. 1; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

THE LATEST RECORDED USE OF THE 1D RED BROWN DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF THE DECIMAL ISSUE.

Pence stamps were withdrawn from sale at the end of September 1860, but could still be used legally in October. Later usages were tolerated.

This is the latest recorded use of the 1853 1d red brown prepaying the 6c single letter rate. The 1d stamps equaled 2c postage. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1851, 3d Bright Blue. Beautiful rich color with large even margins all around, tied by light strike of oval grid cancel on orange cover to Bridgetown; small cover flaws including top right corner tear and light horizontal crease, Very Fine, ex-Greene. SG No. 3.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $500 - 750.

A WONDERFUL USE WITH THE STAMP PROPERLY AFFIXED IN DIAMOND ORIENTATION. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1851, 3d Bright Blue. Clear to large margins, rich warm color, tied by oval grid cancel on cover to Pictou, reverse with Truro (9.22.1859) origin and Pictou (9.22) arrival datestamps, original enclosed letter, fresh and Very Fine. SG No. 2.
Scott No. 2; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1857, 3d Pale Blue. Four large even margins, clear impression, tied by light strike of open grid cancel on cover to Granville, reverse with Berwick (7.1.1858) origin and Bridgetown (7.2) transit datestamps, Very Fine, ex-Ludin, Carr. SG No. 4.
Scott No. 2b; Estimate $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1857, 3d Pale Blue. Mostly huge margins including parts of adjacent stamps, rich color, tied by oval grid cancel on folded cover (no side panels) to Halifax, reverse with Bridgetown (6.25) origin and Halifax (6.27) arrival datestamps, Very Fine. SG No. 2.
Scott No. 2b; Estimate $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1857, 3d Pale Blue. Each with deep rich color, large margins to touched, tied by oval grid cancels on blue 1860 folded letter to Pictou at double the 3d letter rate, reverse with Halifax (1.6) origin and Pictou (1.7) arrival datestamps, central file fold away from stamps, Very Fine. SG No. 2.
Scott No. 2b; Estimate $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1851, 3d Dark Blue. Huge margins all around including full sheet selvage at right, cancelled by oval grid cancel, on light pink cover to Bridgetown, reverse with Annapolis (9.23) origin cds, 1857 docketing at left and reduced from opening, Very Fine, ex-Mackie, Foxbridge. SG No. 3.
Scott No. 3; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 1851 3D BRIGHT BLUE SHEET MARGIN EXAMPLES KNOWN ON COVER, A STUNNING STAMP PREPAYING THE 3D SINGLE LETTER RATE. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1851, 3d Dark Blue. Large margins all around, tied by oval grid cancel on 1858 blue folded letter from Tusket to Liverpool, red Barrington (7.31.1858) origin backstamp and magenta "3" credit rating, a Very Fine use at the 3d single letter rate. SG No. 2.
Scott No. 3; Estimate $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1851, 6d Yellow Green. Used with 3d dark blue (3), each with four margins, and tied by oval grid cancels on registered 1856 folded letter from acting postmaster J.D. Buskirk to Member of Parliament Cornelius White at Halifax complaining about his bad remuneration, endorsed "Registered Letter", Aylesford (4.5) origin backstamp, Halifax (4.8) arrival oval, Very Fine and choice, ex-Halifax, Mayer, Wilkinson. SG No. 5.
Scott No. 4; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A WONDERFUL REGISTERED LETTER PROPERLY PREPAID BY THE 1851 3D DARK BLUE AND 6D YELLOW GREEN.

The 3d dark blue prepaid the 3d single letter rate and the 6d yellow green prepaid the 6d registry fee. Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

1851, 6d Yellow Green. Two singles of differing shades, one four margins and other large margins to touched, each tied by oval grid cancels on gray registered letter enclosing money, addressed to Liverpool, N.S., red "Yarmouth N.S., JU 15 1853" origin backstamp; right 6d light corner crease, Very Fine.
Scott No. 4; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

This cover was probably mailed by the sender with a single 6d for postage, and at the Post Office a second 6d yellow green of a different shade was added for the 6d registration fee. This letter was possibly sent to Liverpool inside a registered wrapper. A further three identical frankings are known of which one is addressed to New Brunswick. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1857, 6d Dark Green. vertical pair, beautiful bold color and impression, neatly tied by two strikes of oval grid cancels on registered blue folded letter to Halifax, manuscript "Registered Letter" at top; reverse with Baddeck C.B. (4.20) origin cds and Halifax (4.28) arrival oval; no side flaps and refolded, Very Fine, ex-Bainbridge, Caspary, Jephcott, Kanai, Schneider, Mayer, Wilkinson, with 1985 B.P.A. certificate. SG No. 6.
Scott No. 5; Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

A REMARKABLE REGISTRY USE WITH THE ONLY RECORDED 6D DARK GREEN PAIR USED ON COVER.

The 6d dark green pair prepaid double the 3d single letter rate plus the 6d registry fee. Est. $15,000-20,000 (Image)

Est. $15,000-20,000