1799 (Jun. 1) Halifax N.S. to Newport R.I. Folded letter from Stephen W. Deblois to his uncle, contents includes transmission of a letter received from London, with "Halifax, Jun 1 99" two-line backstamp and matching "Post Paid" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "Paid 4½" d.cy. rating, endorsed "p Pkt via New York", carried as a packet letter by Grantham to New York, paid rating crossed out and updated to "17" cents inland postage due for 150-300 miles; couple small holes, Fine cross-border use, ex-Dr. Robertson.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1799 (Sep. 27) Halifax N.S. to New Brunswick Me. Folded letter with "Halifax, Sep 27 99" two-line backstamp and matching "Post Paid" in circle handstamp, manuscript "Pd 4½" d.cy. rating, carried as packet letter by Jane to New York, rerated with manuscript "8" cents inland postage for up to 60 miles; small wax stain, Very Fine, ex-Dr. Robertson.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1845 (Feb. 20) Little Bras d'Or C.B. to Boston Mass. Datelined folded letter entered mails with sharp strike of "Sydney-C.B., Paid" postmark and red manuscript "Paid 2/1" rating for 1s1½d cy. packet rate plus 11½d cy. inland postage, reverse with "Sydney C.B., MA 5, 1845" backstamp; soiled with edge splitting, Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1847 (Oct. 12) Baltimore Md. to Halifax N.S. Blue folded cover bearing United States, 10¢ black (2), full to large margins including part of adjoining stamp at left, tied by blue grid cancel, matching "Baltimore Md. Oct. 13" cds, endorsed "pr steamer Hibernia via Boston", reverse with "Ud.States, Halifax, OC 13, 1847" arrival backstamp and manuscript "1/" one-shilling British packet charge, Very Fine, ex-Mirsky.
Estimate; $7,500 - 10,000.

AN OUTSTANDING 1847 ISSUE COVER CARRIED BY CUNARD PACKET TO NOVA SCOTIA.

The United States 10¢ 1847 stamp paid the U.S. over-300 miles rate from Baltimore to Boston, and the letter was then carried by the Cunard Line "Hibernia" from Boston to Halifax. The British packet rate of one shilling was collected from the addressee (no inland postage was assessed). The one-shilling packet charge was levied until September 20, 1849, at which point it was reduced to 4 pence (4½ pence in local currency). Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

1848 (Sep. 28) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y. Datelined folded letter with red "Halifax, Paid, Sep 27, 1848, Nova-Scotia" tombstone postmark and manuscript "1/-" prepaid packet rating, carried by Cunard Line America to New York arriving Feb. 29th, New York red "24" cent due handstamp for the 24¢ retaliatory fee; some magenta docketing, Very Fine, ex-MacDonald.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Great Britain raised its ocean rate to 1 shilling from 8 pence to protect the Cunard Line after the American Congress established an American Transatlantic Packet service. The United States in turn cancelled the closed mail arrangement and passed an act on June 28th 1848 with a 24¢ retaliatory fee for all letters arriving by British packet service. The two countries resolved the dispute on January 26th 1849. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1849 (Oct. 25) New Orleans La. to Halifax N.S. Blue folded cover front with top flap only bearing United States 5¢ red brown (1), corner margin pair, extra large margins all around, tied by manuscript cross-hatching and red "New Orleans La Oct 25" cds, flap with "Ud.States, Halifax, NO 9, 1849" arrival cds and manuscript "4½" d.cy. due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1854, 1856 United States to Nova Scotia. Two blue datelined folded letters, 1854 (Dec. 5) New York to Kentville N.S. with partial New York "Paid" cds, "Boston, Br. Pkt. 6 Dec" backstamp and carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Canada to Halifax, "Ud.States, Halifax, DE 8, 1854" entry backstamp and matching "8d." due rating handstamp, pencil "3" d.cy. for Nova Scotia share, Kentville (12.9) arrival backstamp; other 1856 (Feb. 27) Boston Mass. to Mirimichi N.B. with red "Boston Paid Br. Pkt Feb 27" exchange cds and carried by Cunard Line Canada to Halifax, "Ud.States, Halifax, FE 29, 1856" entry backstamp and matching "8d." due rating handstamp, Sackville (3.4) and Chatham (3.5) transit backstamps, a Very Fine exhibit pair.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1861 (Feb. 7) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y. Cover bearing Nova Scotia 8½¢ green (11) tied by numeral 1 oval grid cancel, matching Halifax (2.7) backstamp, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Canada to Boston, "Boston Br. Pkt. '5cts.' Feb 10" exchange cds, Very Fine, ex-Carnegie, with 1976 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A CHOICE USE AT THE SCARCE 8½¢ PACKET RATE TO THE UNITED STATES. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1862 (Feb. 5) Halifax N.S. to New York N.Y. Cover bearing Nova Scotia 8½¢ green (11) tied by oval grid cancel, matching rimless Halifax (2.7) backstamp, carried by Cunard Line America to Boston, "Boston Br. Pkt. '5' Feb 11" exchange due cds, fresh and Very Fine, ex-Shenfield.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A CHOICE USE AT THE SCARCE 8½¢ PACKET RATE TO THE UNITED STATES. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1861 (Mar. 14) Jamaica to Halifax N.S. via New York. Folded letter without side flap from letter removal, docketed from Jamaica, sent privately to New York with red "Leacraft & Co., New York" forwarder's oval backstamp, posted with United States 5¢ brown (30A), tied by "New-York Apr 2 1861" duplex, "Boston Br. Pkt. Apr 3" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston to Halifax, reverse with "Ud. States, Halifax, AP 5 1861" arrival cds and matching "5" pence due rating handstamp, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1862 (Apr. 14) Baltimore Md. to Halifax N.S. Folded letter without side flap from letter removal, bearing United States 1¢ blue (63) pair and 3¢ rose (65), tied by two strikes of bold blue "Baltimore Md. Apr 14" cds, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston to Halifax, reverse with "Ud. States, Halifax, AP 18 1862" arrival cds and matching "8½" cents due rating handstamp for the packet, Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1864 (Feb. 16) New York N.Y. to Arichat, Cape Breton. Cover bearing United States 5¢ brown (76) tied by "New-York, Feb 16 1864" duplex, "Boston Br. Pkt. Feb 17" exchange cds, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Arabia from Boston by Cunard Line Arabia to Halifax, reverse with "Ud. States, Halifax, FE 19 1864" and matching "13½" in circle due handstamp, Feb. 22nd arrival backstamp; some docketing, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The 13½¢ due rating was for 4d stg. (8½¢) packet postage plus 5¢ inland postage. The letter was not charged the 1½¢ that was assessed on letters addressed to Halifax. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1866 (Dec. 31) Windsor N.S. to San Francisco Cal. Light buff cover bearing Nova Scotia 5c blue (10) and 10c vermilion (12), tied by oval grid cancels, reverse with Windsor (12.31) origin and Halifax (12.31) transit cds, although endorsed by Cunard Packet at top left, actually sent overland; small edge tears and wear, Fine.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Prepaid at the 15¢ rate to California and Oregon with 5¢ extra for destinations over 3,000 miles from the border. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000