Folded wrapper from Halifax to London, docketing inside "dated Halifax Sept. 4 1766" from Rev. Brynton to the Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts". No dispatch marking, clear two-line "PORTSMOUTH / SHIP LRE" handstamp and manuscript "7" along with bishop mark "19 / NO" on reverse. A rare example of early missionary mail, VF, ex. Sandy Clark (March 2011; Lot 1) (Image)

Estimate 500 $

Incoming Mail: Folded lettersheet datelined "London 15 th Augst 1787", addressed to Gideon White, Shelburne, Nova Scotia; privately carried by ship to Halifax where it entered the mail with neat boxed "SHIP LRE" (Macdonald Type 234) on obverse and straightline HALIFAX NS one-line boxed with "OC 25" date below (no year date; Macdonald Type 4) on reverse, manuscript "6" rate to collect on delivery, light central file fold. A very early ship letter displaying very rare markings; most likely the earliest recorded usage of Type 234 marking of Halifax (previous ERD is 1788). A great showpiece, VF; ex. John E. Young (1992), J.J. Macdonald (1996), Sandy Clark (2011) During the American Revolutionary War, the official packet ship service was suspended until November 7, 1787. Mail had to be carried privately by ship. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

Split Double Circle of Halifax Three stampless covers struck with very fine to superb HALIFAX / N : SCOTIA Colonial postmarks (Macdonald Type 4b; two-line date): 1) 1789 (July 18) Halifax to St. John, rated "2/" with superb Type 4b marking with period after "89" and line dividing date; 2) 1791 (September 3) Halifax to St. John, rated "9" with very fine Type 4b postal marking with period after "91"; and 3) 1795 (January 12) Halifax to Quebec, rated "1/8" with exceptionally clear Type 4b marking (ex. Glassco). A very scarce trio, F-VF covers with VF-XF strikes (Image)

Estimate 1000 $

1799 (September 27) Folded entire lettersheet mailed to New Brunswick, New Jersey datelined "Halifax 27th Septr 1799", clear dated straightline HALIFAX SEP 27 99 (Macdonald Type 9) on reverse and matching circular POST / PAID (Type 257), manuscript "Pd 4½" (currency) rate, carried by packet to New York and rerated "8" (cents) for postage (up to 60 miles), small wax stain shows through, still VF (Image)

Estimate 400 $

1818 (October) Folded cover with "Oct. 30 / 18" inside flap, entering the mail at Halifax with legible double oval Ship Letter "Crown" Halifax, manuscript "1/1" (currency) due rating crossed out, boxed SHIP LETTER and rerated "1/8" (8d ship letter rate + 1s inland postage), to London with clear double ring DE 25 arrival backstamp, VF (Image)

Estimate 300 $

1820 (November 3) Folded cover from Annapolis to London, mostly legible "Annapolis 3 NO 20" straightline (Macdonald Type 25) and Paid handstamp with red manuscript "9" rate, carried by ship to Halifax where it received a fairly clear strike of the double oval Ship Letter "Crown" Halifax (Macdonald Type 236), plus British straightline "SHIP LETTER", rerated "1/8" for 1sh inland postage and 8d ship letter fee. A very scarce colonial Annapolis straightline cancelled cover, VF (Image)

Estimate 1000 $

Incoming Mail: Folded entire datelined "Bahia 6th January 1829", carried privately from Brazil to Boston, forwarder's endorsement on backflap "Boston March 11th 1829 Forwarded by your Ob. Servt. Archd Foster" and carried again privately to Halifax, manuscript "3½" (currency) rate for any letter arriving at port, couple light file folds, a very early cover from an exotic location to Nova Scotia, VF (Image)

Estimate 250 $

1841 (October) An unusually clean folded lettersheet from Pictou to Quebec, rated "1/8" with legible Pictou "Star" marking (Macdonald Type 64), carried overland via New Brunswick with Frederickton OC 30 transit CDS in red. A scarce "star" circle cover to Lower Canada, VF (Image)

Estimate 250 $

Incoming Mail: Folded lettersheet originating from New Orleans with blue JUN 19 CDS and same-ink "PAID" handstamp with "25" cent rate, endorsed "by Boston & Liverpool steamer July 1 / 43", carried by Cunard Line "Columbia" from Boston July 1st. Wrecked on Seal Island, Nova Scotia in a fog on July 2nd. The "Margaret", the reserve steamer at Halifax, took the mail and some of "Columbia" passengers to England, departing on July 9 for Liverpool, with oval America / L backstamp and rated "1/-" shilling for packet rate, London 25 JY 1843 transit in red and Southampton JY 26 arrival backstamps. An appealing and rare Cunard Line wreck cover - transferred to a reserve steamer at Halifax, VF Reference: Atlantic Mails - A history of the mail service between Great Britain and Canada to 1889, by J.C. Arnell, page 289. (Image)

Estimate 750 $

1847 (September 4) A clean, fresh folded lettersheet from Amherst to Connecticut, showing nice strike of crowned circle in red. Rated "1/1½" prepaid; subsequently "Paid" crossed out and rated "10" to collect for a letter travelling over 300 miles; on reverse Amherst SP 4 dispatch and Dorchester, St. John, NB and St. Andrews, NB transits, Robbinston Maine SEP 8 border exchange office cancel. An attractive crowned circle cover to the United States, VF (SG CC1 £1,000) (Image)

Estimate 600 $

Incoming mail - folded entire datelined "Leogan St. James, Jamaica / 19th June 1848" addressed to Newmarket, Upper Canada via Halifax, Quebec and Toronto, manuscript "3N2" rate to collect - 4½p ship letter fee and 2sh9½p Canadian inland postage, showing a superb three-line boxed "SHIP LETTER / HALIFAX NS / 18 JY 1848" handstamp (Type 238) along with Quebec JUL 26, faint Toronto and clear Newmarket JY 31 arrival backstamps. An attractive ship letter cover, VF; ex. J.J. Macdonald (1996), Sandy Clark (2011) (Image)

Estimate 350 $

1852 (May 4) Folded entire datelined "Parrsboro May 4th 1852" on clean cover to Halifax, addressed to Hon. Joseph Howe, M.P.P. (served as premier 1860-1863), manuscript "3" and "paid" and showing a superb strike in red of the British "Crown" circle Paid at Amherst (Macdonald Type 182) handstamp; Amherst double arc MY 4 1852 and oval "H" (Halifax) MY 5 receiver backstamps. A beautiful cover, XF (SG CC1 £1,000) During our research of "name-sales" of Nova Scotia postal history, we found only twenty covers showing the Amherst Crowned Circle. Years of usage were 1845 to 1854, all struck in red, plus one cover dated 1874 struck in black. The cover offered is one of the finest extant. (Image)

Estimate 1000 $

1853 (March 31) Soldiers' Letter rate cover countersigned by commander with red Halifax "tombstone" Paid and same-ink "1" handstamp (Macdonald Type 300 - struck a year before reported ERD of 1854), addressed to Chester, England with red America Paid AP 10 53 Liverpool transit, same-day arrival backstamp; cover wear at top right, a Fine and rare 1 penny Soldiers' letter rate cover to England. (Image)

Estimate 350 $

Incoming Mail, via New Brunswick: 1856 (April 30) Blue folded lettersheet written at Boston and addressed to Bridgetown, privately carried to St. John, NB where it entered the mail, clear two-line St. JOHN NB / SHIP LETTER (JGY 159) and rated "6" (pence) to Nova Scotia, St. John MY 3 dispatch, Annapolis MY 4 transit and Bridgetown MY 6 receiver backstamps, VF; ex. "Halifax" (October 1984; Lot 1214) (Image)

Estimate 350 $

1788-1873 Postal History - Collection Balance Lot of 27 covers, the majority stampless and mailed to the US or UK with various rates shown. Many have detailed write-up on rates, markings, etc. Wide range of packet rates, claims and other markings; ideal for someone wanting to study these in detail. Mainly Fine or better (Image)

Estimate 750 $

Halifax Prepaid Stampless Covers Selection of 15 covers from the Sandy Clark collection, individually mounted on pages with detailed write-up. Includes Halifax Paid Fleuron OC 16 1818 in black, rated "4" in red prepaid to New York; 12 covers showing Halifax Paid "tombstone" type datestamps applied in red (mostly) or in black denoting postage had been paid, dated between 1846 and 1858 on domestic mail from Interior to / from Halifax, also as transit or dispatch cancel to USA or UK; also two covers with Halifax Paid split rings in red mailed during the Cents era, one mailed to New Brunswick and other to Lawrencetown, NS. A nice group, F-VF (Image)

Estimate 500 $

Incoming 1807-1874 Mail to Nova Scotia A substantial lot of 30 covers, large percentage are stampless originating from the UK with various rates, many with detailed write-up on rates, markings, etc. Includes 1831 England to Shelburne Seamen Letter Rate, 1840 London to La Have carried on last Falmouth packet to sail to Halifax, 1863 mourning envelope from Bonn, Prussia to Bridgetown, 1869 cover St. Pierre & Miquelon to Boston, rated "10" handstamp, via Sydney, Port Hastings, Amherst, New Zealand 1877 2p + 6p "Sideface" franking to NS, via US, Victoria State 1877 2p with five examples from Melbourne to Bridgewater, etc. A useful lot for the postal history collector. Mixed condition in places, mainly Fine or better (Image)

Estimate 1000 $