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 to Great Britain
One of only five recorded examples of the Keefler’s Reading Room handstamp(Halifax to London, England, Feb. 9, 1839). Lengthy folded letter datelined Halifax Feb. 9, 1839 with a bold strike of “Keefler’s Reading Room, Halifax N-S” double-circle handstamp (Jephcott 165, Rowe Rarity 10, the highest awarded) addressed to London, rated “2/2” collect
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE HANDSTAMPED MARKING APPLIED BY KEEFLER’S READING ROOM. ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED--THIS LETTER FROM HALIFAX TO LONDON IS A KEY ITEM FOR ANY COLLECTOR OF NOVA SCOTIA, FORWARDING AGENT MARKINGS OR TRANSATLANTIC MAIL.
Keefler’s Reading Room was established by Charles Keefler in October 1836. He continued in business until at least 1845, possibly longer. Forwarding agents began falling out of favor around 1843, when the British Post Office required mail to be delivered to the post office at the port of arrival.
Illustrated in The Postal History of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, 1754-1867 by Jephcott, Greene and Young (p. 205). Ex “Halifax”, Meroni and Steinhart
