Chapter III: Part 3

_Remarks._—A specimen of the One Penny in the Vice-President’s collection is pin-perforated, but no information is available as to the authenticity of this stamp. Two sets may be made of the One Penny, Three Pence, and Five Pence. The first is found on fairly thick white wove paper, and the second on paper which is thinner and more transparent. A close examination will also show that the two papers are quite different in texture. The paler shades of the One Penny and Five Pence, which appeared in 1863, are found on the thinner paper. All three values are appreciably smaller in size than those printed on the thicker paper, but whether this is due to shrinkage of the paper, or to the engraving of a new plate, is doubtful. The same shade of green was used for the Three Pence in both sets. M. Moens catalogues the Six Pence Halfpenny and Eight Pence as issued with this set; but these two values are not known to the Society as existing in the early shade of orange. The stamps of this series printed in orange, and those of the next set, are frequently met with with the colour changed to brown or even black. These varieties are simply due to oxidation.

Issue II. 1860(?).

_Six values._ Consisting of the Two Pence, Four Pence, Six Pence, and the One Shilling of the preceding issue, with two new values of Six Pence Halfpenny and Eight Pence added. The central designs of these two latter are similar to those of the other stamps, but the minor details vary. The colour of the four first stamps is changed from orange to scarlet-vermilion. (_Illustrations 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66._)

2d., scarlet-vermilion (slight shades).
4d. ” ” ( ” ).
6d. ” ” ( ” ).
6½d., ” ” ( ” ).
8d. ” ” ( ” ).
1s. ” ” ( ” ).

_Variety._

The 8d. is found cut in half obliquely, and used as 4d.

Issue III. 1862.

_Six values._ Similar to those of the last issue, but with the colour changed to a dull lake. (_Illustrations 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66._)

2d., dull lake (shades).
4d. ” ( ” ).
6d. ” ( ” ).
6½d., ” ( ” ).
8d. ” ( ” ).
1s. ” ( ” ).

_Remarks._—The Eight Pence of this set, although printed, is said not to have been issued to the public. Several of the values are scarce used, but forged obliterations are not uncommon, as well as copies postmarked by favour.

Issue IV. January, 1866.

_Six values._ Engraved and printed in _taille-douce_ by the American Bank Note Co., of New York, on yellowish and white wove paper; machine-perforated. The sheet of the Two Cents (the only one seen by the Society) contains one hundred stamps in ten rows of ten. Designs:

TWO CENTS. Cod-fish swimming to left on shaded ground of horizontal lines, within a transverse oval band of solid colour, inscribed in white Roman capitals “NEWFOUNDLAND” above, “TWO CENTS” below, and “TWO” at either side. Ornamental circles break the oval at each corner, and contain the Arabic numeral of value on coloured ground.

FIVE CENTS. Seal on ice-floe, with icebergs in the background. Two curved coloured labels above—the first inscribed “FIVE 5 FIVE,” with an oval at each end with Arabic numeral of value; and the second, “NEWFOUNDLAND” in white Roman capitals. Straight label at the bottom of the stamp, with value in full in white Roman capitals and Arabic numeral at either end.

TEN CENTS. Nearly full-faced portrait of the Prince of Wales in military uniform looking to right, on ground of horizontal lines, within a fancy ornamental frame. Curved label above inscribed “NEWFOUNDLAND,” and a similar one below with value in full, all in white Roman capitals.

TWELVE CENTS. Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, on ground of horizontal lines, within an oval garter inscribed with the name of the Colony and value in full in white Roman capitals.

THIRTEEN CENTS. Schooner sailing to right. Curved label above with the name of the Colony, and straight label below with value in full in white Roman capitals. Ornaments at sides broken by coloured circles, with white Arabic numerals of value.

TWENTY-FOUR CENTS. Full-faced diademed portrait of Queen Victoria on ground of cross hatched lines, within a white octagonal frame. Scroll above with name of Colony and label below with “CENTS” in white Roman capitals. On either side of the word “CENTS” is a white bordered oval with Arabic numerals of value on ground of horizontal lines. Side borders and a few ornaments complete the design. Shapes: Oblong rectangular for the Two, Five, and Thirteen Cents; upright rectangular for the other values. (_Illustrations 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72._)

(A) _On yellowish paper. Perforated 12._

2 c., green (shades).
5 c., brown ( ” ).
10 c., black ( ” ).
12 c., red ( ” ).
13 c., orange ( ” ).
24 c., Prussian-blue ( ” ).

(B) _On white paper. Perforated 12._

2 c., green.
10 c., black.
12 c., red.
24 c., Prussian-blue.

(C) _Rouletted._

5 c., brown.

_Remarks._—The latter variety is taken from _The Halifax Philatelist_ for July, 1888, page 82. The Five Cents of this and also of issues V. and VII. has been seen perforated 14, but no explanation is forthcoming of a kind of mystery which appears to overhang these specimens. There is some doubt as to their authenticity.

Issue V. 1868-70.

_Four values._ Engraved and printed in _taille-douce_, by the American Bank Note Co., of New York, on white wove paper; machine perforated. Designs: ONE CENT. Three-quarter-face portrait of the Prince of Wales in Highland costume, looking to the right, on ground of wavy lines, within a shaded oval frame inscribed below “NEWFOUNDLAND” in white Roman capitals, and above with the letters “N. F.” Over the upper portion of the oval is a scroll with value in full in white Roman capitals, Arabic numeral of value in the two bottom corners. THREE and SIX CENTS. Profile bust portrait of Queen Victoria to right in widow’s weeds, on shaded background of horizontal lines within an arched frame. Two curved labels above, inscribed respectively “THREE” (“SIX”) and “NEWFOUNDLAND.” Curved label below with value in full, all in white Roman capitals. Scroll ornaments in each corner, the upper ones containing Arabic numerals of value and the lower ones small five-rayed stars. Shape: Upright rectangular. The FIVE CENTS is the same design as that of the preceding issue, with the colour changed. (_Illustrations 73, 74, 68._)

(A) _Perforated 12._

1 c., purple-brown (shades). End 1868.
3 c., vermilion ( ” ). July, 1870.
5 c., black ( ” ). End 1868.
6 c., dull lake ( ” ). July, 1870.

(B) _Perforated 10½ (?)._

5 c., black.

(C) _Rouletted._

5 c., black.

_Remarks._—The variety of the Five Cents, rouletted, is taken from the same paper as that of the previous issue. Neither of these stamps has come under the notice of the Society.

It is somewhat peculiar that after issuing a stamp in 1866 with portrait of the Prince of Wales arrived at manhood, another should have been issued nearly three years later representing him as a little boy.

Issue VI. 1871-1873.

_Two values._ In May, 1871, a new die was engraved for the One Cent of 1868. The chief alterations noticeable are in the face of the Prince of Wales, and the letters “N. F.,” which are closer to the scroll. On April 1st, 1873, the Three Cents of the last issue appeared with its colour changed to blue. The perforation of both stamps is 12. (_Illustrations 75, 74._)

1 c., lilac-brown (shades).
3 c., blue (shades).

Issue VII. 1876-1879.

_Four values._ Similar to the preceding values as regards designs, but the stamps are rouletted. The Five Cents also has its colour changed to blue. The One Cent is printed from the plate of the last issue. (_Illustrations 75, 67, 74, 68._)

1 c., lilac-brown (shades). End 1877.
2 c., green ( ” ). End 1879.
3 c., blue ( ” ). End 1877.
5 c., ” ( ” ). End 1876.

Issue VIII. Early in 1880.

_Four values._ Engraved and printed in _taille-douce_ by the British-American Bank Note Company, of Montreal, on white wove paper; machine-perforated 12. The entire sheet of each value contains 100 stamps, arranged in ten rows of ten. These stamps are coarse imitations of those printed by the American Bank Note Company. Designs: ONE CENT.—Three-quarter face portrait of the Prince of Wales in Highland costume looking to right, on ground of horizontal lines, within inscribed oval. Ornamented circles in the upper corners, lettered respectively “N” and “F;” ornamental numerals of value below. TWO CENTS.—Cod fish on background of horizontal lines; curved inscribed labels above and below; ornamental scrolls in lower corners with numerals of value. THREE CENTS.—Portrait of Queen in widow’s weeds to right, on ground of horizontal lines; curved label above, and straight label below, inscribed with white Roman capitals. Circles in upper corners with numerals of value; side ornaments, resembling thigh bones. FIVE CENTS.—Seal on ice-floe; curved label above, and straight label below, inscribed in white Roman capitals. Circles in lower corners with numerals of value; ornamental border. Shapes, upright rectangular for the One and Three Cents, oblong rectangular for the other two values. (_Illustrations 76, 77, 78, 79._)

T. “ONE CENT.” B. “NEWFOUNDLAND.” T. “NEWFOUNDLAND.” B. “TWO,”
“THREE,” “FIVE CENTS.”

1 c., madder-brown, grey-brown (shades).
2 c., yellow-green ( ” ).
3 c., blue ( ” ).
5 c., ” ( ” ).

_Remarks._—The Two Cents was not issued until two or three years after the other values.

Issue IX. Early in 1888.

_Six values._ Engraved and printed in _taille-douce_ by the British-American Bank Note Co., of Montreal, on white wove paper; yellowish gum; machine-perforated 12. The entire sheet of the Ten Cents contains fifty stamps, arranged in five vertical rows of ten; while those of the other five values are composed of one hundred stamps each, in ten rows of ten. Designs: HALF CENT.—A plain upright shield, with ground of horizontal lines, shaded at either side; bears in the centre, the head of a Newfoundland dog enclosed within a pearled circle, surrounded by a circular band of solid colour, inscribed in white Roman capitals with the name of the Colony at the top, and the value “HALF CENT” at the bottom, the two last words being separated by a small upright tablet, with rounded top and pearl border, containing “½” in white Arabic numerals. TEN CENTS.—Brig in full sail, to right; curved label of solid colour above, inscribed with the name of the Colony; similar straight label below with the value in full, both inscriptions being in white Roman capitals; small scroll-like ornaments at either end of the bottom label; circle of solid colour, with Arabic numerals of value at each side of the stamp. Scroll-like ornaments complete the design, which is evidently copied to some extent from the Thirteen Cents of Issue IV. The One Cent, Two, Three, and Five Cents are the same designs as the preceding issue, but with the colours changed. Shapes: Small square for the Half Cent, upright rectangular for the One and Three Cents, oblong rectangular for the other three values. (_Illustrations 80, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81._)

½ c., rose-red.
1 c., bright green.
2 c., orange.
3 c., brown.
5 c., dark blue.
10 c., black.

POST CARDS.

Issue I. April 1st, 1873.

_One value._ Designed and printed by the American Bank Note Co., of New York, upon medium white card; size, 4⁹⁄₂₀ × 2⅕ inches. The left upper corner contains an irregular upright fancy label, with pendant. The label bears a large capital coloured Roman letter “N” upon ground of coloured horizontal lines. The pendant is broken in the centre by an ornamental circle, containing the word “TO” in coloured early English characters. At the top of the card, in the centre, is an ornamental scroll, the left end of which is wound round the right side of the label just described. The scroll bears “EWFOUNDLAND” in coloured fancy capitals. Below the scroll there is a straight ornamental label, inscribed “POST CARD” in white fancy capitals, upon ground of coloured horizontal lines. Beneath the label is “THE ADDRESS ONLY TO BE WRITTEN ON THIS SIDE,” in coloured slanting capitals, in a straight line; lower down three ruled lines for the address, each one of which is shorter than the one above it. The stamp is in the right upper corner of the card, and is of the same type as the One Cent adhesive, issue 1871. The groundwork of the card is filled in with innumerable interlaced circles, and crossing these are a number of straight lines which converge towards the left bottom corner. The design of the card is completed by an ornamental border, with rounded corners. The border is broken at the bottom, in the centre, by a small label with rounded ends inscribed “AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO., N.Y.,” in white Roman capitals, and the corners contain large fancy white crosses. Size of border, 4½ × 2½ inches. (_Illustration 82._)

1 c., green (shades).

Issue II. June, 1879.

_One value._ Designed and printed by the American Bank Note Co., of New York, upon thick white card. Size, 5¹⁄₁₀ × 3³⁄₂₀ inches. At the top of the card is the inscription in three lines: 1st, _Universal Postal Union_ in coloured fancy letters, the word _Universal_ being curved, with ornamental lines above and below; 2nd, “NEWFOUNDLAND. TERRE-NEUVE,” in coloured slanting block letters; 3rd, “POST CARD,” in white fancy capitals on a coloured ornamental label, the ground of which is filled in with horizontal lines. Lower down three ruled lines for the address, each one of which is slightly longer than the one above it. The stamp, which is similar in type to the Three Cents adhesive (issue July, 1870), but with the value changed to Two Cents, is in the right-upper corner. The design of the cards is completed by a fancy border, with large ornaments at the four corners. Size, 4⁹⁄₁₀ × 2⁹⁄₁₀ inches. Outside the border, at the bottom of the card, and in the centre, is the name of the makers in small coloured Roman capitals. (_Illustration 83._)

2 c., vermilion-red.

Issue III. January (?), 1880.

_One value._ Designed and printed by the British-American Bank Note Co., of Montreal, upon medium light buff card. Size, 4⁹⁄₁₀ × 3³⁄₁₀ inches. The inscription, which is at the top of the card, is in three lines: 1st, “_Universal Postal Union_,” in a curved line in coloured fancy letters; 2nd, “NEWFOUNDLAND TERRE NEUVE,” in coloured slanting block letters, also curved; 3rd, “POST CARD,” in white fancy capitals on a coloured ornamental label, with groundwork composed of horizontal lines. Below the label there are three dotted lines for the address, each one of which is shorter than the one above it. The stamp is in the right upper corner. Design: Three-quarter face portrait of Queen Victoria to left, in widow’s weeds, resting her head upon her right hand, on ground of horizontal lines, within a plain circular band, which is filled in with fine lines. The circle is surrounded by an ornamental frame, principally filled in with vertical lines. At the bottom there is a straight label of solid colour, bearing the value, “TWO CENTS,” in white Roman capitals. The design of the card is completed by a fancy border, measuring 4½ × 2⅘ inches. Inside the frame, at the bottom of the card, in the centre, is the name of the designers, in small coloured letters. (_Illustration 84._)

2 c., orange-vermilion (shades).

Issue IV. July, 1880.

_One value._ Designed and printed by the British-American Bank Note Company, of Montreal, upon medium light buff card; size, 4¾ × 2⁹⁄₁₀ inches. The design is a somewhat poor copy of the first issued card. The scroll at the top with the name of the Colony is a little altered, and the word “TO” is in different type, upon a groundwork formed of diagonal lines. The stamp is replaced by the type of the One Cent, adhesive, issue 1880, and the groundwork of the card consists of interlaced circles and ovals only. The frame is altogether different, and the name of the makers is placed outside the bottom of it in the centre on a narrow label; size of frame, 4⅕ × 2¹¹⁄₂₀ inches. (_Illustration 85._)

1 c., green (shades).

Issue V. May (?), 1889.

_One value._ Issued provisionally, pending a fresh supply of Two Cents cards. It consists of the One Cent card of the preceding issue, with the stamp surcharged across the centre in black “2 CENTS,” with Arabic numeral and Roman capitals, two straight bars at the top obliterating the original value, and an Arabic numeral “2” over the figure “1” at each bottom corner of the stamp.

2 c., black surcharge, on 1 c., green.

NOVA SCOTIA.

PRELIMINARY NOTES.

_BY E. D. BACON._

Nova Scotia is a peninsula between 43° 46′ N. lat., and 61° 67′ W. long., connected with New Brunswick by an isthmus about 14 miles wide. Its length is about 300 miles, and its breadth about 100 at its widest, with much variation. The island of Cape Breton, separated by the Gut of Canso, forms part of the province. It contains an area of 20,907 square miles, about one-fifth part of which consists of lakes, rivers, and inlets of the sea.

Nova Scotia was discovered by John Cabot in 1497; it was colonized by the French in 1598, who gave it the name of _Acadia_. It was taken by the English, and a grant of it made to Sir W. Alexander by James I. in 1627; and it was this monarch who altered the name to Nova Scotia. In 1632 it was restored to France, with Quebec, by the Treaty of _St. Germain-en-Laye_, but again ceded to England at the Peace of Utrecht, in 1714. After the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748, a settlement of disbanded troops was formed there by Lord Halifax, and the city which now bears his name is the capital of the province. Cape Breton was not finally taken from the French until 1758. From 1784 to 1819 it formed a separate Colony.

Thanks to Mr. Donald A. King’s persevering assiduity in hunting up official notices, and other particulars connected with the stamps of this Colony, we have from him what may be considered almost a complete history of their introduction and use. His papers are most interesting and valuable, as they elucidate many previously obscure points in regard to these stamps, and I think the Society has acted wisely in republishing them as they originally appeared in _The Halifax Philatelist_. Amongst other information Mr. King gives from the Report of the Postmaster-General of Nova Scotia for the year 1852 occurs this sentence: “Postage stamps valued at One Shilling, Six Pence, and Three Pence have been procured from Trelayney Saunders, Esq., stationer, of London.” Trelawney (as the name should be spelt) Saunders is given in Kelly’s _Post Office London Directory_ of 1851 as a “mapseller, publisher, and stationer, agent by appointment for the ordnance maps and admiralty charts,” &c. &c.; and his address was 6, Charing Cross. He it was who evidently received the order from the Colony for a supply of postage stamps, which he must have entrusted to Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. to carry out, as it was this latter firm who engraved the stamps.

Mr. King gives an extract from one of the Reports, which authorizes the bisection of the Three Pence to allow the prepayment of the 7½d. rate to England; but the Report states distinctly the Three Penny stamp was alone to be used for that purpose. As in the case of New Brunswick, both the Six Pence and One Shilling are found bisected. The Nova Scotia varieties are probably due to the same causes as those I have given for the former Colony. The following particulars found in the Report of the Postmaster-General of Great Britain, published in 1857, will give us the early postal rates of Nova Scotia:

“In 1842, ’51, ’53, ’54, and ’56 measures were successively
adopted for the establishment of a low rate of postage.

On Letters not exceeding ½ oz. 3d.
Above ½ oz. and not exceeding 1 oz. 6d.
Above 1 oz. and not exceeding 1½ oz. 9d.

And so on in proportion.

“Letters posted and delivered in the same town are charged 1d.
only per ½ oz.

“Newspapers are conveyed free.

“On printed Circulars, Prices Current, Handbills, &c., the
postage is 1d. per oz.

“Books, &c., are allowed to pass free of charge when not
exceeding 2 ozs. in weight; but above that weight, and up to
48 ozs. (to which weight the Book privilege is limited), the
postage is ½d. per oz.”

The rates to England on May 1st, 1856, were—

Not above ½ oz. “direct” 7½d.
Ditto, by United States and British Packet 10d.
Ditto, by United States Packet 1s 5½d.

The present Inspector of Post-offices is Mr. C. J. Macdonald, and the Postmaster at Halifax Mr. H. W. Blackader. The stamps of this Colony became obsolete on May 27th, 1867, the date of the formation of the Dominion of Canada.

Before giving a detailed list of the stamps of Nova Scotia, the Society thinks it would be advisable to reproduce here the excellent articles upon the stamps of this Colony from the pen of Mr. Donald A. King, which were published in _The Halifax Philatelist_ for December, 1887, January and December, 1888. Most of the information Mr. King gives is entirely new to collectors, and he traces back the date of the first issue from 1857, the year it has previously been put down at in the catalogues, to September 1st, 1851.

“ISSUING OF THE FIRST POSTAGE STAMPS IN NOVA SCOTIA.

“In looking over any of the standard stamp catalogues, the
reader will see that the date for the issue of postage stamps
in Nova Scotia is 1857, and New Brunswick in 1851. It always
seemed to me as very peculiar, considering the nearness of the
two countries and the resemblance in their Governments, that
Nova Scotia should be so long behind New Brunswick in issuing
stamps.

“I determined to turn the matter up on the first possible
occasion, and see if the dates were in reality correct.

“On enquiring at the Provincial Secretary’s office in Halifax,
I found that all records of the Nova Scotian Post Office
Department had, at the confederation of the British North
American provinces, been transferred to Ottawa. However,
through the kindness of the Hon. W. S. Fielding, the Provincial
Secretary, I found in the legislative library the yearly
reports of the Postmaster-General of the province for the years
previous to confederation. Starting with 1857—the supposed date
of issue—I found that postage stamps were regularly mentioned
in all parts of the Departmental accounts.

“It was the same in 1856, 1855, and 1854. A person would
imagine from the way the accounts read that stamps had been
used for twenty years previous.

“In the Reports dated January 7th, 1854 (being the work for
1853), I found an item of information which is not given in any
catalogue. It is as follows:

“‘ONE PENNY postage stamps having recently been received from
London and put into circulation are now to be had in nearly
every Post-office in Nova Scotia.

“‘There are at present stamps for One Shilling, Six Pence,
Three Pence, and One Penny; and the public have thus every
facility afforded them to prepay their letters to any place
to which stamps can free them. His Excellency’s Government
having at considerable outlay introduced into the country
the system of prepayment by stamps, it is a subject of
gratulation that the public at large are beginning to feel
and appreciate their convenience and advantages, a much
larger amount having been issued from my office during the
past than the previous year, being an increase of over 25 per
cent., as will be seen by reference to Report I.’

“Thus finding that the One Penny had not been issued till some
time after the other values were, I then turned to the Report
dated January 2nd, 1853 (being the report for the year 1852),
in which he says:

“‘Postage stamps valued at One Shilling, Six Pence, and
Three Pence have been procured from Trelayney Saunders,
Esq., stationer, of London, and supplied to stationers,
postmasters, merchants, and others at a discount of 5 per
cent. allowed on sums of £5 and upwards. During the past year
there have been issued from my office postage stamps to the
value of £355 2s. 6d. This is a much smaller circulation than
was anticipated at the time of their introduction into the
provinces, the public generally, I apprehend, not yet clearly
understanding their use, nor appreciating their advantages.

“‘They are deposited with the Receiver-General for safe
keeping, from whom I procure them when a supply is needed.
Application has been made for One Penny stamps, which are
expected to arrive shortly.’

“Then taking the Report for January 5th, 1852, I find among the
accounts of the Post Office Department for the quarter ending
the 5th January, 1852, the following issues:

“‘By amount of postage stamps on hand £100
By amount due Receiver-General for postage stamps 100
Consisting of 3 penny to value of £52
” ” 6 ” ” 24
” ” 1 shilling ” 24’

“Also in same Report accounts for quarter ending 5th October,
1851.

“‘By amount of postage stamps £100
Cash paid to Hon. Jos. Howe, being amount remitted by
him to Trelayney Saunders, Esq., for postage stamps
for Nova Scotia £221 14s. 8d.’

“These extracts from Postmaster General’s Reports and from Post
Office Department Accounts will positively decide the question
as to date of issue.

“The Three Penny, Six Penny, and One Shilling were, I should
think, issued to the public in the second quarter of 1851; and
the One Penny were probably put out about the last part of 1853.

“In the same Reports I also found the following:

“‘To remedy to some extent the serious inconvenience said
to be experienced by merchants and others in consequence
of there being no Seven and One Halfpenny currency postage
stamp, by which parties who feel desirous could thus prepay
their letters to England, and not wishing to put the province
to any further expense in having another ‘die’ prepared,
I considered it expedient to allow half stamps to be used
with those now in use, to obviate the want of accommodation
complained of; and a circular was accordingly forwarded to my
deputies, and a notice issued to the public, to the effect
that letters could be prepaid to England by stamps by parties
using a Six Pence or two Three Penny stamps together with
half a Three Penny stamp. The Three Penny stamp to be cut
diagonally, and the Half to be equivalent to 1½d. The Three
Penny stamp alone to be used for that purpose.’

“The Three Penny stamp I have never seen cut and used in that
manner. This order was issued after the reduction of the packet
postage to England from 1 shilling to 7½ pence.

“Major Evans in his Catalogue mentions the Three Penny
surcharged ‘PAID 5 CENTS,’ and also overprinted ‘5 CENTS.’
This I think can be easily explained, as will be seen by the
following: About 1854 (I think, but am not sure) an agreement
was entered into between the Postmasters-General of Nova Scotia
and the United States for the exchange of correspondence
between their respective countries. It was agreed upon that the
postage should be 5 cents, the Nova Scotian Three Penny stamp
to be equal to that value.

“All letters going to the United States from Nova Scotia, west,
to be stamped on the face, whether they were paid or not, by
the office which despatched the mail to the United States.
The stamp which was used for that purpose corresponds in all
particulars with the supposed surcharges. This stamping I have
no doubt has occasionally been done on the postage stamps, and
thus those so-called surcharges have become known.

“All the efforts that I made to find out who first proposed
the introduction of postage stamps in Nova Scotia were in
vain. But I presume, judging from the accounts of the Post
Office Department, that the Hon. Joseph Howe was instrumental
in doing so. This indeed was an act worthy of the liberal and
enlightened mind of one of Nova Scotia’s greatest sons.

“DONALD A. KING.”

“NOVA SCOTIA STAMPS.

“In the December number of this paper I had an article on the
proper date of issue of the Pence stamps of Nova Scotia. In it
I ventured to assert that they were issued in the middle of
1851. Since then, on further investigation, I have discovered
the exact date of issue. The proof is obtained in the following
extract from the _Chronicle_ of the 30th of August, 1851:

“‘NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.

“‘Postage stamps having been received from England, notice
is hereby given that stamps of Three Pence, Six Pence, and
One Shilling can be purchased at this office on and after
_Monday, the 1st day of September next_.

“‘NOTE.—Postage stamps before being used should be examined
to ascertain that they will firmly adhere (as in the event of
their falling off the letters become charged with postage),
they should then be placed on the front of the letter, _and
upon the right hand corner of the upper side_. Should this
direction not be attended to, from the rapidity with which
the duty must be performed, letters which bear stamps will
frequently be taxed, while the parties receiving them will
be put to much trouble in obtaining a return of the postage
improperly charged.

“‘In all cases of complaint, whether of any irregularity,
the covers of the letters (and contents in all practicable
cases) must invariably be kept and sent to the post-office as
affording the only means of investigating the complaint.

“‘A. WOODGATE, D.P.M.G.

“‘GENERAL POST OFFICE, HALIFAX, _August 25th, 1851_.’

“This will, I think, settle the matter as to the proper date of
issue.

“While on this subject it would be as well to give the same
information in regard to the Cent issue of Nova Scotia,
although there is no error in regard to the date of those as
there is to the first issue. The extract following is taken
from the Report of the Postmaster-General of Nova Scotia for
1860. He says:

“‘Postage stamps of a new design, and adapted to the decimal
system, were obtained, with the consent of the Governor
in Council, from the New York American Bank Note Co., and
circulated on the 1st of October last (1860). The design,
colour, and value of the stamps are as follows: One Cent,
black; Five Cent, blue; Eight and a Half Cent, green; Ten
Cent, scarlet; and Twelve and a Half Cent, black.

“‘A supply of 19,000 sheets, or 1,900,000 stamps, equal in
value to 132,000 dollars, has been obtained from the above
firm, costing for their manufacture and incidentals 901.50
dollars.’

“It will be seen that there is no mention made of the Two Cent
stamp. This value was not issued till some time after the other
stamps had been, for the reason that there was no use for it
until what was called the ‘County Postage Act’ came into force.
The following extract from the Postmaster-General’s Report is
self-explanatory:

“‘To enable me to carry out that part of the Act, passed
during the last session, in reference to the Post-office
reducing the postage to two cents on a letter posted in a
county for delivery within the said county, it was necessary
to procure for the public convenience a stamp for the
prepayment of this particular class of letters. Application
was accordingly made to the New York American Bank Note Co.
for a supply, and 5000 sheets were procured at a cost to the
Department, including die, of 226 dollars.

“‘The reduced rate came into operation on the 11th May
last, and has yielded for the first five months, ended 30th
September last (as far as I have been enabled to glean from
the returns in my possession) a revenue of 450 dollars, a
less amount, in my opinion, than would have been realized
under the higher rate for the same period.’

“The following list will give us the precise date of all except
the One Penny. Of it I can do no more than give the year, and
about the probable time, judging from the Postmaster-General’s
Report. The list is as follows:

3 pence }
6 ” } Issued 1st September, 1851.
1 shilling }
1 penny ” about 3rd quarter, 1853.
1 cent }
5 ” }
8½ ” } Issued 1st October, 1860.
10 ” }
12½ ” }
2 ” ” 11th May, 1863.

“Those extracts will, I think, finally settle the date of the
stamps of Nova Scotia.

“DONALD A. KING.”

“THE SURCHARGED AND PROVISIONAL STAMPS OF NOVA SCOTIA.

“The title of this is no doubt startling, but it is true
nevertheless. It is a well-known fact in Philately that nearly
every country has some stamps, provisional or error, that are
not found in catalogues, but which are nevertheless known to
exist, as the St. Pierre Miquelon P.D., the Bremen Marken
error, and so in Nova Scotia we have the so-called surcharges.
In February of this year I received a parcel of old Nova Scotia
stamps from a friend in Port Hastings, Cape Breton, and among
them I found three Three Penny stamps, with 5 c. in an oval
printed on them. They had all been cut out of the envelopes,
having a part of the paper as a margin, and as I had in writing
for them specified the dates between which the Pence issues
would be found, all the stamps had the respective dates of the
letters pencilled on the backs of them. Immediately taking
the three surcharged stamps I returned them, and asked if the
envelopes from which they were cut could be sent me, and I
was lucky enough to get them. I then thought I had a bonanza,
a regular surcharged stamp of Nova Scotia, overlooking the
fact that there were no other cancellation marks on them.
The three letters had all been mailed from the same office,
Baddeck, within a month—January 13th, 20th, the third the day
of the month does not show, 1860—and all addressed to the
same person. To make me more sure of the fact of their being
really a surcharge, I saw in No. 304 of _Le Timbre Poste_
an illustration of one which was in the collection of M. de
Ferrari, and which was precisely the same as the three I had.
Being informed that the postmaster who is now at Baddeck, was
the same as was there in 1860, I decided to write him for
information on the subject, and find out how those stamps came
to be surcharged. Imagine my disappointment when I received the
following answer:

“‘BADDECK, NOVA SCOTIA, _April 24th, 1888_.

“‘DEAR SIR,—Twenty-eight years ago I made my own stamps out
of wood, and had the 5 c. one that appears on envelopes
enclosed. Without any order I used the latter in manner
thereon as I do now in a hurry with ink or date stamp.
Enclosed paper shows stamps then in use, but I cannot find
the 5 c. one. I could tell you how the wind blew and the
temperature forty years ago, but I had a job to find the old
stamps.
“‘(Signed) ROBERT ELMSLY.’

“The stamps referred to in the letter were impressions from the
old hand stamps in his office. To understand the latter part
of this letter thoroughly, it must be understood that it was
a rule of the Nova Scotia Post Office Department (and is now
of the Canadian) that a stamp should not be cancelled with pen
and ink, or with date stamp, but with a cancellor, so that in
case the stamp should come off the postmark would be on the
envelope, and the origin of the letter could thus be found.
This of course could not be done if the postmark was on the
stamp. The objection to ink was that it could be cleaned, and
the stamp used again. This letter, of course, exploded the idea
of a surcharge. Not long after this Mr. J. N. Crane showed me
an envelope he had, which was mailed from Whycocomagh, C.B.,
February 29th, 1860, with a pair of Six Penny stamps with the
figure 10 surcharged on each; but, as in my own case, there
was no other cancellation on them. Mr. Crane’s theory is,
that as the currency was changed to dollars and cents in the
beginning of 1860, and that as 6d. was then worth only 10 c.,
that the postmaster at Whycocomagh put it on the Six Penny
stamps to show that he sold them for that price. If this was
the case I should think more would be found, and until then
I will continue to believe that this surcharge was only an
accidental cancellation, although in support of Mr. Crane’s
argument there is a figure five alongside of my own Three Penny
stamp, illustrated. It seems, however, a singular coincidence
that his and mine should be mailed at almost the same dates,
Mr. Crane’s being mailed at Whycocomagh, 1860. Another manner
in which those stamps are likely to be thus overprinted is
this: In 1854 there was a new postal treaty arranged between
the United States and Nova Scotia, one of the agreements of
which was that the rate should be 3d. per ½ ounce, and that
all prepaid letters sent by Nova Scotia to the United States
should be stamped on the face of them ‘PAID 5 CENTS,’ the
equal in United States currency to 3d., or 10 cents if it was
a double rate. This may have been occasionally struck on the
stamp accidentally, and would thus make a surcharge. I have
myself seen an envelope in which the edge of the paid stamp has
missed the Three Pence stamp by only a hair-breadth. Some of
the surcharges have no doubt originated in this manner.

“The provisional stamps of Nova Scotia are the split ones, of
which only one value, the Three Penny, was authorized to be so
used, and that for a specific purpose; viz., to allow the rate
of postage to Great Britain, 7½d., to be made up. This cutting
of the Three Penny was authorized by the Postmaster-General, as
in his report for 1853 he says, ‘To remedy to some extent the
serious inconvenience said to be experienced by merchants and
others in consequence of there being no Seven and One Halfpenny
currency postage stamps, by which parties who feel desirous
could thus prepay their letters to England, and not wishing
to put the province to any further expense in having another
“_die_” prepared, I considered it expedient to allow _half_
stamps to be used with those now in use to obviate the want of
accommodation complained of; and a circular was accordingly
forwarded to my deputies, and a notice issued to the public to
the effect that letters could be prepaid to England by stamps,
by parties using a Six Pence or two Three Penny stamps together
with _half a Three Penny stamp_. The Three Penny stamp to be
cut diagonally, and the half to be equivalent to 1½d. The Three
Penny stamp alone to be used for that purpose.’

“Of the authorised split stamps I have met with five varieties.
The Six Penny cut diagonally, and used as three pence; also Six
Penny, but cut perpendicularly, an extremely rare variety,
which is the only one I have ever seen cut in this manner. I
have also seen three other varieties; they are the Ten Cents,
cut diagonally and used as Five Cents, also cut perpendicularly
and used for same; and the Five Cents, cut diagonally and used
for the county postage of two cents.

“Another variety I have found is an oddity; it is a Six Penny
cut, and used for what? Under it is written in red pencil ‘5
CTS.’ I have two almost the same; the other has, however, only
the figure 5 in red under the half stamp. The stamps have
undoubtedly prepaid the letter, as the colour in which the ‘5
CTS.’ is written shows it, red being the paid colour. They
probably originated at some small post-office out of stamps,
and who marked them in red as paid letters, and sent them and
the money for stamps to the next post-office; or they were
given by some one on the road to a mail courier (as was the
practice then as now), with the money to prepay them, and he
marked them in red as prepaid, and had them stamped at the
nearest post-office.

“All the split stamps of Nova Scotia are very rare, and should
be greatly valued by collectors. Off the original envelope
they are valueless, and I have been sorely disappointed more
than once on receiving them in that condition. While in Nova
Scotia we have not got those varieties of types in stamps which
some other countries have; still, we can make up a number of
interesting varieties which are unknown to most collectors, and
in nearly every case have never been mentioned in catalogues.

“DONALD A. KING.”

POSTAGE RATES FROM NOVA SCOTIA IN THE YEAR 1854.

LIMIT OF WEIGHT ¼ OUNCE.

_s._ _d._
To Alexandria 2 3
Algeria 1 10
Austria 2 8
Bavaria 2 2
Belgium 2 3
China 2 10
France 2 3
Gibraltar 2 1
Holland 2 2
Hong Kong 2 10
India 2 10
Norway 2 7
Portugal 2 1
Prussia 2 2
Russia 2 6
Spain 2 2
Sweden 2 2
Turkey 3 0

LIMIT OF WEIGHT ½ OUNCE.

_s._ _d._
To Adelaide 2 0
Antigua 1 8
Australia 2 1
Bermuda 0 8
Brazil 3 9
Cape Verde 2 10
Cape of Good Hope 2 0
Chili 1 7
Cuba 1 3
Denmark 1 10

The following figures show the increase in the sale of postage stamps in Nova Scotia in the first four years after their introduction, viz.:

£ _s._ _d._
1852 Amount sold 325 2 6
1853 ” 473 4 8
1854 ” 898 0 6
1855 ” 1656 16 3

An increase of five hundred per cent.—_The Halifax Philatelist_, vol. ii., page 7.

REFERENCE LIST OF THE PHILATELIC SOCIETY, LONDON.

Issue I. September 1st, 1851.

_Three values._ Engraved and printed in _taille-douce_ by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co., of London, upon stoutish blue wove paper; yellowish gum, imperforate. Design: The design is almost exactly similar to that of the first issue of New Brunswick, but the lower star contains a mayflower, the heraldic emblem of the Colony, instead of a rose inverted. The name of the Colony is in block type on all three values; “POSTAGE” and the value in Roman capitals on the Three Pence, and block letters on the Six Pence and One Shilling. The word “SIXPENCE” has a coloured line down the centre of each letter. Shape, lozenge. (_Illustrations 86, 87, 88._) Upper left border, “NOVA;” upper right, “SCOTIA;” lower left border, “THREE PENCE,” “SIX PENCE,” “ONE SHILLING;” lower right, “POSTAGE.”

3d., blue, dark blue (shades).
6d., dark green, yellow-green ( ” ).
1s., lilac-mauve, dull violet ( ” ).

_Varieties._—All three stamps are found cut in two and used for half the nominal values, although, as we see from Mr. King’s paper, the Three Pence was alone authorized to be mutilated in this manner.

_Remarks._—The colour of the paper varies considerably, from deep blue to almost white.

All the surcharges catalogued on the stamps of this issue may be put down to obliterations, or as due to fraud. (_Vide_ Mr. King’s papers.)

Issue II. May 1st(?), 1853.

_One value._ Engraved and printed in _taille-douce_ by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co., upon stoutish blue wove paper; yellowish gum, imperforate. Design: Diademed almost full-face portrait of Queen Victoria looking to left, within a single plain-lined lozenge-shaped frame with engine-turned background. The spandrels are filled in with arabesque ornamentation, in which four eight-rayed stars, that are cut in half by the lozenge-shaped frame, figure prominently. At the top, bottom, and two sides there are narrow coloured bands, composed of diagonal crossed lines, containing inscriptions in plain Roman capitals. Plain square blocks in the four corners, with coloured Roman numeral of value. Shape, square. (_Illustration 89._)

T. “NOVA.” B. “SCOTIA.” R. “POSTAGE.” L. “ONE PENNY”—both the latter
reading downwards.

1d., reddish-brown (shades).

_Remarks._—Specimens of this stamp are known upon white paper, but, like the Three Pence of New Brunswick, the variety is only due to the discharge of the blue colouring matter from the paper.

This is the only stamp of Nova Scotia Mr. King is unable to give the exact day of issue of. A note in _The Philatelic Record_, vol. x. page 48, states that the first supply was sent over to the Colony by Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co. in April, 1853; so the issue most likely took place on or about May 1st in that year.

Issue III. October 1st, 1860.

_Five values._ Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., of New York, on yellowish or white wove paper; yellowish gum, machine-perforated, 12. Designs: ONE CENT and FIVE CENTS.—Diademed profile of Queen Victoria to left, upon a background of horizontal lines, crossed by diagonal lines behind the head, within a circle composed of a plain white and a fine coloured line, arched scrolls of diagonal lines, crossed above and below, following the shape of the circle; curved labels of solid colour in the centre of the scrolls on the Five Cents value only. The scrolls of the One Cent and labels of the Five Cents are inscribed, in white Roman capitals, with the name of the Colony above and the value in words below. The remainder of the design is completed by arabesques and foliate ornamentation, which encompasses the two scrolls and the circle. EIGHT AND A HALF, TEN, and TWELVE AND A HALF CENTS.—Diademed full-face portrait of Queen Victoria on background of horizontal and diagonal crossed lines, within an upright oval. Vertically-lined arched scrolls above and below, for the two lower values, inscribed with the name of the Colony above and the value in words below in white Roman capitals. The Twelve and a Half Cents has the upper inscription upon a curved label of solid colour, placed in the centre of the scroll. The lower inscription is in block letters, upon a straight octagonal label of solid colour. The remainder of the designs are filled in with arabesques and foliate ornamentation, which differ for each of the three values. Shape, upright rectangular. (_Illustrations 90, 91, 92, 93, 94._)

T. “NOVA SCOTIA.” B. “ONE CENT,” “FIVE,” “EIGHT & ½,” “TEN,”
AND “TWELVE & ½ CENTS.”

(A) _On yellowish paper._

1 c., black.
5 c., dark blue.
8½ c., yellow-green, dark yellow-green.
10 c., vermilion.
12½ c., black.

(B) _On white paper._

1 c., black.
5 c., dark blue.
8½ c., yellow-green.
10 c., vermilion.
12½ c., black.

_Varieties._—(A) The Five Cents is known cut in two diagonally, and used for the County Postage of Two Cents.

2 c. (half 5 c.), dark blue.

(B) The Ten Cents exists cut diagonally, and is also found cut perpendicularly, each half serving as Five Cents.

5 c. (half 10 c.), vermilion.

_Remarks._—The bisected varieties are unknown to the Society, but they may be found described in Mr. King’s last paper.

Issue IV. May 11th, 1863.

_One value._ Engraved and printed by the American Bank Note Co., on white wove paper; yellowish gum, machine-perforated 12. The design is exactly the same as that of the One Cent of the last issue, excepting the value. Shape, upright rectangular. (_Illustration 95._)

T. “NOVA SCOTIA.” B. “TWO CENTS.”

2 c., lilac, brownish-lilac (shades).

_Remarks._—Some very dangerous and well-executed forgeries of this and the previous set of stamps exist. They are quite as well engraved as the real stamps, and were it not that the designs are of somewhat smaller dimensions, they would be most difficult to detect.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

PRELIMINARY NOTES.

_BY E. D. BACON._

This island is situated between 46° and 47° N. lat., and between 62° and 64° W. long. Its area is about 1,380,000 acres; it is about 140 miles long, and 34 its greatest breadth. It was discovered by Sebastian Cabot, 1497; it was first settled by the French, but was taken from them in 1758. It was annexed to Nova Scotia in 1763, but, on the petition of its inhabitants, was constituted a separate colony in 1770. By an Act passed in 1798, which came into operation 1st February, 1799, the island received its present name from Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

The introduction of postage stamps into the Colony took place on January 1st, 1861, as the following notice from _The Royal Gazette_ of that date, published at Charlottetown, proves:

“POSTAGE STAMPS.

“The Public are hereby informed that stamps for the prepayment
of Letters and Packets to be sent by the Post will, on the 1st
January, 1861, be ready for circulation. The design, colour,
and value of each class of stamps are as follows:

The Queen’s Head, profile _green_, Six Pence.
” ” ” ” _blue_, Three Pence.
” ” ” ” _red_, Two Pence.

“The _blue_ or _red_ stamp will be received for payment of half
the sum it indicates, if cut in two diagonally.

“These stamps can be had at the General Post Office,
Charlottetown, and of all Postmasters on the island.

“(Signed) L. C. OWEN, _Postmaster-General_.

“GENERAL POST OFFICE, _December 26th, 1860_.”

We see from this notice the first issue consisted of three stamps, forming five values with the two provisionals. Those first issued were evidently the Two Pence, Three Pence, and Six Pence, perforated 9, as they are the only values found with this large perforation. With regard to the two provisionals, Mr. T. K. Tapling’s collection contains a specimen of the Three Halfpenny, but I have never seen the bisected Two Pence. The latter probably could only be employed for the prepayment of books, &c., and consequently the stamps would get destroyed. It may be also this provisional was soon replaced by the One Penny, orange-yellow, when there would be no further call for its use. The disappearance of the variety, although in this case we know the stamp was so used, naturally strengthens the suggestions I have thrown out as regards the bisection of the Two Pence Halfpenny and Three Penny stamps of British Columbia for the prepayment of newspapers.

I am unable to give the date of issue of the One Penny and Nine Pence, as I have found no mention of these two stamps in _The Royal Gazette_; but the file I have had access to is a very incomplete one, several years being missing altogether from the series. The Nine Pence currency stamp, equal to 6d. sterling, was evidently issued for the prepayment of letters to England, as the ½ oz. rate for letters between the two countries at that time was 6d. sterling. Here let me remark that the currency of the island was apparently more depreciated than that of the other North American Colonies, where we have seen 7½d. currency was equal to 6d. sterling.

The next notice, taken from _The Royal Gazette_ for October 22nd, 1868, shows us the reason for the issue of the Four Penny stamp, which came into use at this date or shortly afterwards.

“NOTICE.

“His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor in Council has been pleased
to approve of the following modifications in the Postal
Arrangement between the United States and this Island; viz.:

“On and after the first day of November next, the postage on a
single Letter shall be FOUR PENCE, if prepaid at the mailing
office, and Ten Cents (equal to Six Pence) if posted unpaid;
and for other than single Letters the same charge shall be made
for each additional half ounce, or fraction thereof. Letters
for British Columbia, California, and Oregon shall be Six
Pence, if prepaid, per half ounce.

“(Signed) THOMAS OWEN, _Postmaster-General_.

“GENERAL POST OFFICE, CH’TOWN, P. E. ISLAND, _October 21st,
1868_.”

Mr. Thomas Owen became Postmaster-General on April 30th, 1867, in place of Mr. Peter Des Brisay, who succeeded Mr. L. C. Owen. Mr. John Andrew McDonald was appointed to the office on January 15th, 1869, in place of Mr. Thomas Owen, deceased.

_The Royal Gazette_ for May 27th, 1870, contains the following:

“REDUCTION OF POSTAGE TO GREAT BRITAIN.

“On and after the first June next, the postage on paid Letters
for Great Britain will be Three Pence sterling per half ounce,
instead of Six Pence sterling, as at present.

“(Signed) JOHN A. MCDONALD, _Postmaster-General_.

“GENERAL POST OFFICE, CH’TOWN, _May 20th, 1870_.”

And in the issue of _The Royal Gazette_ of June 10th, 1870, this notice is found:

“MAILS, 1870. ARRANGEMENTS.

...

“Postage on Letters for the Dominion of Canada, 3d. cy. each
rate; for the United States, 4d. cy.; for Great Britain, 4½d.
cy.

“Newspapers for Newfoundland and West Indies, 1d. stg. each;
for Australia, New Zealand, &c., 2d. stg. each. Newspapers
for Great Britain, United States, and the Dominion of Canada
forwarded free.

“(Signed) JOHN A. MACDONALD, _Postmaster-General_.

“GENERAL POST OFFICE, CHARLOTTETOWN, _30th May, 1870_.”