Sale 1218 — The "Dubois" Collection of Important Prestamp Covers and Postal Markings of British North America, 1694-1861
Sale Date — Tuesday, 24 March, 2020
Category — Nova Scotia Postal Markings
One of the finest and the earliest recorded examples of the Annapolis straightline datestamp(Annapolis to Shelbourne, Jun. 15, 1815). Perfect strike of “Annapolis. June, 15th 1815” straightline datestamp with day and last two digits of year in manuscript (Jephcott 30, MacDonald 25) on back of folded cover to Shelbourne, rated “9”, small piece missing from outer sheet
EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE ANNAPOLIS, NOVA SCOTIA STRAIGHTLINE DATESTAMP. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE AND, WITHOUT QUESTION, IT IS ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES.
This style of datestamp with manuscript was used briefly--date slugs were incorporated by summer of 1816. Ex “Maritimus”
Clear strike of the rare Antigonish straightline handstamp(Port Hood to Halifax, Sept. 21, 1824). Folded letter datelined Port Hood Sept. 21, 1824 with faint but readable strike of “ANTIGONISH” straightline with “6th Oct. 1824” below (Jephcott 32, MacDonald 26) addressed to Halifax, rated “2d (+) 2 (=) 4 (+) 11 (=) 1N13 (+) 1 (=) 1N4” comprising 2p way fee for Port Hood and Antigonish and 11p to Halifax plus 1p local delivery, couple file folds, one crosses handstamp, light stain at bottom
FINE STRIKE OF THE ANTIGONISH STRAIGHTLINE. ONE OF THE RAREST STRAIGHTLINE MARKINGS OF NOVA SCOTIA.
This straightline is recorded in use 1824-26.
Unusually well-struck Antigonish straightline(Antigonish to Halifax, Oct. 13, 1824). Clearly struck “ANTIGONISH” straightline with “13th Oct. 1824” below (Jephcott 32, MacDonald 26) on folded cover to Halifax, rated “1d 11d” for postage to Halifax plus local delivery, file fold and some minor faults to flaps, neither affecting marking
VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS SELDOM-OFFERED ANTIGONISH STRAIGHTLINE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF NOVA SCOTIA MARKINGS.
This straightline is recorded in use 1824-26. Ex “Maritimus”
Unusually clear strike of the boxed Halifax handstamp with date below(Halifax to St. John, New Brunswick, Feb. 9, 1788). Wonderfully clear strike of “HALIFAX N.S.” boxed handstamp with “FE 9” datestamp below (Jephcott 2, MacDonald 3) on back of folded letter to St. John, New Brunswick, rated “1N8”, Very Fine, a choice strike of this scarce Halifax straightline, ex Glassco, Mayer and Dr. Clark
Bold boxed Halifax marking with datestamp below(Halifax to St. John, New Brunswick, Jan. 14, 1794). Clear strike of “HALIFAX N.S.” boxed handstamp with “JAN. 14/94” datestamp below (Jephcott 2, MacDonald 3) on back of folded letter to William Hazen in St. John, New Brunswick, rated “9”, cover with minor interior panel splitting and repair around wax seal just affecting outer rim of handstamp, otherwise Very Fine strike that bears a resemblance to the markings listed in Jephcott and MacDonald, the addressee, William Hazen (1738-1814), was an entrepreneurial merchant who expanded into fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding and trading, ex Jephcott and “Maritimus”
The scarce Lunenburg circular handstamp(Lunenburg to Halifax, Oct. 9, 1841). Fairly clear “Lunenburg, Nova Scotia” large circular handstamp (Jephcott 75, MacDonald 77) on folded letter datelined Oct. 9, 1841 and addressed to the Provincial Treasurer in Halifax, light file fold thru marking, otherwise a Fine strike of this scarce marking, which is only recorded in 1841-42, ex de Volpi and “Maritimus”
The rare large Yarmouth three-line datestamp(Yarmouth to St. John, New Brunswick, Mar. 23, 1824). Well-struck “Yarmouth,/MAR 23/1824” three-line datestamp (Jephcott 37, MacDonald 33) on folded letter to St. John, New Brunswick, rated “9d”, two file folds, one crosses handstamp, otherwise Very Fine strike of this rare marking, the number known is reported by some to be as low as five (the “Dubois” collection contains four)
Rare Yarmouth three-line datestamp on “Free” cover from Argyle(Argyle to Halifax, Jun. 13, 1825). Well-struck “Yarmouth,/JUNE 22/1825” three-line datestamp (Jephcott 37, MacDonald 33) on folded letter datelined in Argyle to Halifax, red manuscript “free” and rated “1d” for local delivery, letter regarding £10 payment for damaged caused by ice to the bridge over Tusket River in Gravels Falls, Very Fine strike of this rare marking, the number known is reported by some to be as low as five (the “Dubois” collection contains four), ex Greene and Dr. Clark
Large Yarmouth three-line datestamp on official cover from Yarmouth School Board(Yarmouth to Halifax, Jun. 2, 1828). Clear “Yarmouth,/JUNE 2/1828” three-line datestamp (Jephcott 37, MacDonald 33) on folded letter to Provincial Secretary in Halifax, manuscript “On H.M. Service” and “Yarmouth School Board” at bottom left, rated “1d” for local delivery, some minor flap faults and splitting along folds, cover with two slight vertical file folds, one crosses datestamp, otherwise Fine strike of this rare datestamp, the number known is reported by some to be as low as five (the “Dubois” collection contains four) illustrated in The Postal History of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 1754-1867 by Jephcott, Greene and Young (p. 142), ex Young, Glassco and Dr. Clark
Excellent strike of the Wallace N.S. with star circular handstamp(Wallace to Halifax, Apr. 7, 1842). Exceptional strike of “Wallace N.S.” in circle with star handstamp (MacDonald 68) on folded letter datelined Apr. 7, 1842 to Halifax, manuscript “Free” as it was written by Stephen Fulton who was M.P.P. for Cumberland County, Very Fine strike, illustrated in The Nova Scotia Post by J. J. MacDonald (p. 117), ex Young, MacDonald and Dr. Clark
Small group of four Nova Scotia circle with star handstampsCircle with Star Handstamps. Four covers, including 1841 Digby to St. John, New Brunswick, 1841 Richibucto to Miramichi (ex “Maritimus”), plus two red Yarmouth, one 1841 to St. John, New Brunswick and 1842 sent “Service” to Halifax (ex Montgomery), Very Fine strikes
(Photo Ex)