Folded lettersheet with "Miramichi 20 Sept 1801" dateline to Fredericton, endorsed "P. Ekean Thoma Indian" - first nation runners are known to have carried mail for traders and missionaries - this is one of the very few such examples to have survived; a highly interesting facet of Maritimes early postal history, VF

Provenance: J.R. Saint, June 2000; Lot 198

Literature: Illustrated in Jephcott, Greene & Young "The Postal History of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick" on page 61. (Image)

Estimate 1500 $

1826 (May 16) Folded cover with two-line manuscript "Miramichi / 16 May 1826", with circular "PAID" handstamp in black, rated 3/1; and 1841 (January 7) folded cover with manuscript "N.Castle / Jan 7 / 41" along with "Paid 1/6". Two rare provisional town manuscript cancellations - both unlisted in Jephcott, Greene & Young, VF (Image)

Estimate 500 $

1827 (May 5) An exceptionally fresh folded lettersheet in immaculate condition, bearing equally impressive and rarely seen postal markings; two-line "St Andrews / New Brunswk" (JGY 39) handstamp both in RED with manuscript "5 May 1827" date between and same-ink negative boxed PAID handstamp, rated "9" in manuscript to Fredericton. An extraordinary cover in all respects - a wonderful showpiece of New Brunswick postal history, XF

This is likely the earliest recorded date of use for this very scarce straightline - furthermore the unusual negative "PAID" handstamp in unlisted in Jephcott, Greene and Young. (Image)

Estimate 1000 $

1829 (January 20) Folded lettersheet rated "Paid 2/1" crossed out and rated "6" at the border to Maine; also 1829 (April 14) clean folded lettersheet rated "Paid 1/6" to Fredericton. Both covers struck with very nice, complete large Miramichi Star Circle cancels (JGY Type 58). A scarce duo of these distinctive "primitive" cancels, VF (Image)

Estimate 350 $

Undated folded cover bearing an exceedingly rare LIVERPOOL*NB straightline handstamp (unlisted in Jephcott, Greene & Young), manuscript rate "1/3" to Fredericton; couple light file folds. An exceptional straightline cancelled cover of the utmost rarity, VF

Provenance: John H.M. Young, December 1964; Lot 922
Vincent Graves Greene Collection, July 1975; Lot 406
J.R. Saint, June 2000; Lot 208

Interestingly enough this cover was the highest realization for a stampless cover among the famous John H.M. Young collection of Nova Scotia & New Brunswick stampless covers, as well as J.R. Saint's important New Brunswick holding of stampless covers (Lots 180-363).

Liverpool post office name was short-lived (circa. 1832-1833) as it changed back to its original name Richibucto sometime during 1833. Only one other Liverpool, NB straightline cover exist (ex. Glassco, Greene) (Image)

Estimate 2500 $

1832 (May 14) Folded lettersheet from Bathurst to Fredericton, rated "2/2" and bearing a superb double circle Post Office / Bathurst (JGY Type 50 - only recorded for 1832) postmark with filled-in "14 May 32" date, couple light folds, scarce and appealing, VF; ex. J. Grant Glassco (November 1969; Lot 180), J.R. Saint (June 2000; Lot 224) (Image)

Estimate 250 $

Folded lettersheet with "Boston May 23, 1840" dateline, privately carried to St. John where it entered the mail, light St. John MY 29 40 CDS at top and showing a very rare oval Ship Letter "Crown" St. John N.B. (JGY Type 147) handstamp in black, rated "11½" to Minudie, Nova Scotia. A sought-after Ship Letter marking of which very few have survived, F-VF; ex. Charles deVolpi (April 1966; Lot 177) (Image)

Estimate 500 $

1841 (October 20) Folded cover from Gagetown to Fredericton, rated "11/4oz - 1/8" and showing the very rare intaglio ring Gagetown N.B (JGY Type 73) with manuscript filled-in date; cover has tear at top and fault on backflap well away from the important and key, VF postal strike. Believed only 2 or 3 are known of this distinctive, primitive locally-made postmark. ex. J.R. Saint (June 2000; Lot 229) (Image)

Estimate 350 $

1842 (July 29) Folded lettersheet with "Miramichi / Chatham July 29 1842" dateline, Miramichi, NB Paid double arc dispatch in black with filled-in date, same-ink extremely rare, unlisted PAID AT CHATHAM (39 x 3mm) straightline handstamp; dual manuscript rates "Paid 1/2" and "1/4 cy" for Trans-Atlantic voyage to Liverpool, England. Horizontal fold along lower edge, a striking Paid handstamped cover - the first we recall seeing, F-VF (Image)

Estimate 250 $

1852 (June) Small envelope endorsed "Via United States" originating from St. John, mailed to Hamilton with neat three-ring St. John N.B. Eastport & Boston / Favor's Express Boston handstamp (JGY Type 181) in red struck on side flap, opened for display, straightline STEAM and "UD. STATES 6D" and large circular Boston 4 JUN 10cts datestamp in black; Hamilton JU 7 1852 receiver backstamp. An appealing and very scarce Express handstamped cover from New Brunswick to Province of Canada, VF (Image)

Estimate 350 $

Folded letter sheet in immaculate condition, with "St. John 28 Nov 1854" dateline, mailed to New York, very clear Express Mail / St. John NOV 28 circular marking in black and same-ink "10" (cents to collect), XF (Image)

Estimate 250 $

1861 (January 16) Envelope endorsed "Via Portland" prepaid in cash from St. John to Liverpool, England, very rare Paid 12½ Cents unframed postage paid handstamp in black and same-ink St. John NB Paid double arc datestamp; cover has couple tears at top, blurry St. Stephen transit and clear Liverpool 1 FE 61 CDS receiver backstamps. A very rare rate handstamp - unlisted in Jephcott, Greene and Young, F-VF; 1988 Greene Foundation cert. ex. J.R. Saint (June 2000; Lot 280) (Image)

Estimate 200 $

Substantial Collection of Stampless Covers - Rare Markings, Rates, Etc. Includes rare straightlines, Ship Letters, early Fleuron type cancels and incoming mail. Among the straightlines (10 covers) are different types of St. John (5), Fredericton (2), St. Andrews (4; all JGY 39); St. John Fleuron postmark (7 covers, JGY 26) as dispatch or transit 1820 to 1833; St. John NB / Ship Letter straightline (3) and Ship Letter "Crown" St. John (2), etc. Lot also includes 23 covers originating from the UK mailed 1822 to 1858 via Nova Scotia or the US with myriad rates and markings, plus four later covers franked with British stamps. Many covers are displayed on pages with detailed write-up and illustration of markings. Mixed condition to mainly Fine to Very Fine; clarity of strikes ranging from legible to superb. A wonderful lot for the specialist and would certainly be a strong nucleus for someone who wishes to start specializing to build an exhibit. (Image)

Estimate 2500 $

Early Straightline / Manuscript Town Markings Five different handstamp / manuscript town markings. Includes 1816 Bend of Petitcodiac / signed by postmaster two-line manuscript; 1842 Hillsbro manuscript (of Hillsborough); 1800 Magerville manuscript (of Maugerville), 1832 St. Stephens two-line manuscript and Woodstock AUG 1830 straightline handstamp (JGY Type 40 RF10 - highest rarity factor) cover a little overall aged and small tear at top. These manuscript town postmarks are rarely seen and are unlisted in Jephcott, Greene and Young. A great opportunity for a specialist to obtain several of these very elusive postal markings. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

Fredericton Early Manuscript & Straightline Postal Markings A remarkable lot of 6 folded covers: 1) St. John to Montreal with two-line manuscript "Fredericton / 9th Febry 95" (1795) and clear Quebec broken double circle with bishop mark "5 MR" inside transits postmarks; 2) one-line manuscript (1798) to Quebec; 3) two-line handstamp very clear struck (dated June 21 1804) to St. John; 4) same two-line handstamp as previous (dated August 2 1809), rated "4/6" to England; 5) two-line "Fred, N;.N;B / 23 May 1813" handstamp; and 6) two-line FREDE,N / 26 JAN 1815" handstamp. Clarity of the strikes mainly VF, very scarce to extremely rare. (Image)

Estimate 1500 $

Richibucto Early Manuscript & Straightline Postal Markings Three different: 1) "Richibucto NB / 5th April 1826" two-line manuscript, "Free" franking privilege to Fredericton ("1d" for local delivery) (ex. Saint); 2) Richibucto straightline handstamp in black with same-ink circular "PAID" and manuscript "11 August / 30" (ex. Greene, Saint) to Fredericton; 3) Richibucto P.O. (1826) straightline, "Free" franking privilege to Fredericton, "1d" for local delivery (ex. Glassco, Saint), cover has some creasing and ageing. All three markings very rare to possibly unique. F-VF (Image)

Estimate 1500 $

St. Andrews Early Manuscript & Straightline Postal Markings Four different stampless covers: 1) with manuscript "St. Andrews 8 Dec 1820" and "Paid 2/3" to Fredericton; believed to be the earliest known use of the manuscript straightline (ex. Saint); 2) St. Andrews / 20th Dec 1824 two-line manuscript on clean cover from Boston to St. John (ex. Saint); 3) two-line handstamp in red St. Andrews / Brunswk" with manuscript date 23 May 1827 on overall aged cover; and 4) two-line similar as (3) but in black and manuscript "9 May 1828". Very scarce to rare markings. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

St. John Straightline Handstamps An impressive lot of five straightlines: 1) St. John N:B / MAY 29 '94 (1794) soiling but superb strike (ex. Glassco, Saint); 2) St. John N*B* / October 31 '96 (1796) and 3) St. John N*B* / April 22.1804 two-line datestamps with 2 and 4 digit year respectively; 4) St. JOHNS N.B. (1827); and 5) St JOHN NB / SHIP LETTER two-line handstamp (1852). Covers are mainly Fine, postal strikes are clean and VF (JGY Type 12, 13a, 13b, 16, 159) (Image)

Estimate 1000 $

Stampless Paid Datestamps with Rate Handstamps Selection of eleven covers, all sent prepaid with town Paid dispatch in red (one in black) with same-ink rate handstamps, several struck within dispatch. Noted better registered cover from Gagetown "9" handstamp within dispatch PAID cancel (1984 Greene Foundation cert.), St. John Paid datestamp in black with large "1d" handstamp for local drop rate. Minor faults to Very Fine, relatively common to very scarce (Image)

Estimate 500 $

Different Town Double Arc Paid Handstamps From Andover to Woodstock, 28 stampless covers with double arc Paid handstamps in red or in black with manuscript rates inside or beside the postal marking. Serif and non-serifed letters and various rates to be found, including money letters. Covers and markings range from Fine to Very Fine; many are hard to find. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

Selection of Star Circular Postmarks Eleven different strikes - Bathurst, Dalhousie, Dorchester, Kingston, Miramichi, Richibucto, St. Andrews in black and in blue, St. George, St. Stephens, Sussex Vale. Covers and postal markings ranging from Fine to Very Fine; scarce to rare. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

Way Office Postal Markings Neat lot of 14 stampless covers, paid & unpaid rates noting scarcer strikes such as W.O.Carraquet, New Bandon, etc. Plus two Manuscript Way Office early markings - W.O. Andover (February 1846) and Dumfries (May 1846). A useful lot for the specialist. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

Stampless Covers - Balance of Consignment An interesting lot of 22 stampless covers, various types of postal markings, such as Star cancels, town paid datestamps, rates, etc. Displayed on stockpages and on leaves with some write-up. Inspect. (Image)

Estimate 500 $