Lot
1045 
Nova Scotia, "A Regimental Court Martial in Sr. Wm. Pepperrells Regiment, Louisbourg, May 23rd 1748", letter describing court martial signed by Capt. Wooster as President concerning "Robert White of Capt. Woosters Compy confin'd by Sergt. Hotchkiss for Striking and abusing him" and goes on in detail concerning the event and a second "Corpl. Morrison of Capt. Boyles Compy confin'd by the Governors Order for disobedience of Orders, both were found guilty and given 50 and 100 lashes respectively; file folds, Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
William Pepperrell was one of several people who proposed an expedition against the French Fortress of Louisbourg. He gathered volunteers, financed and trained the land forces in that campaign. When they sailed in April 1745, he was commander-in-chief, supported by a British naval squadron under Captain Peter Warren, appointed Commodore on a temporary basis. They besieged Louisbourg, then the strongest coastal fortification in North America and captured it on June 16th after a six-week siege.
Lot
1046
Nova Scotia, 1763 (Aug. 18) Groton Mass. to Annapolis Royal N.S., datelined folded letter carried privately by ship, Oliver Prescott writes: "I should have wrote to you much oftener if I could have found a conveyance", some toning and significant edge splitting, Fine, ex-MacDonald. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
POSSIBLY THE EARLIEST CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COLONY IN PRIVATE HANDS.
Oliver Prescott (1731-1804) was a colonial-era physician, soldier and judge. The letter is addressed to Henry Evans who had led a group of 47 people from Massachusetts to settle on land in the Annapolis Valley that was vacant after the Acadians were expelled in 1755.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
1047
Nova Scotia, 1766 (Sep. 4) Halifax N.S. to London, England, folded cover docketed "No. Nova Scotia, A Letter from Revd. Mr. Breynton Missry at Halifax dated Halifax Sept. 4. 1766", sent as a ship letter, entered the mails with "Portsmouth / Ship Lre" two-line handstamp and manuscript "7" pence rating for 6d inland as double-weight letter plus 1d ship fee, London "19/NO" Bishop mark backstamp, Very Fine, ex-Clark. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lot
1048
Nova Scotia, 1772 (Apr. 3) Eglinton N.S. to Kellelaga, Scotland via Boston and New York, folded letter with "Eglinton, April 3, 1772" dateline and instructions for directing a return letter to "the Windsor road 24 miles from Halifax", sent by private ship to Boston where faint magenta "BOSTON" straightline and Franklin mark struck, manuscript "To pay 10d" for mailing to New York, flap with "NEW / YORK" two-line handstamp, carried to London by New York-Falmouth packet, reverse with London "20/IY" Bishop mark and front with "IND. AND PACT./ POSTAGE" two-line handstamp and "1N10" rating, forwarded to Scotland with "In All 2N4" total due; edge wear and splits along folds reinforced with hinges, Very Fine, A rare Canadian routing through the United States to Scotland. ex-Steinhart, Siskin, Robertson. Estimate $6,000 - 8,000.
AN OUTSTANDING NOVA SCOTIA TO SCOTLAND CROSS-BORDER COVER THROUGH BOSTON AND NEW YORK WITH THE RARE "IND. AND PACT. POSTAGE" STRAIGHTLINE HANDSTAMP.
The letter was carried by private ship to Boston, entered the post to New York with the rating "To Pay 10d Stg" for 200-300 miles, carried to London by the Falmouth packet, London "IND. AND PACT. POSTAGE" handstamp and 1 shilling 10 pence rating for the combined British 1 shilling packet rate plus 10 pence American internal postage, forwarded to Scotland and re-rated 2 shillings 4 pence collect. One of Only a few recorded examples of this style "Ind. and Pact. Postage" handstamp and, most likely, the only cross border usage.
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Lot
1049
Nova Scotia, 1787 (Aug. 15) London, England to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, carried as ship letter by "Cap Murphy" to Halifax, reverse with "HALIFAX. N.S." boxed postmark and "OC 25" dating handstamp, front with matching rectangular "SHIP LRE" framed handstamp and manuscript "6" pence rating, probably carried by ship to Shelburne; inside docketing, Very Fine, ex-John E. Young, MacDonald, Clark. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
At Shelburne, the second Post Office in the Colony was opened on November 5th 1783. It served the largest community in British North America at the time, larger than Quebec and Montreal together. The boxed Halifax postmark was used 1786 to 1895, and the matching ship letter marking used 1788 to Mar. 20th 1820.
Lot
1050
Nova Scotia, 1788 (Dec. 26th) Yarmouth, N.S. to North Yarmouth, Mass., datelined folded letter originally enclosing a second letter carried privately, endorsed "pr favor of Captain Rufus Utley" at bottom right, some aging, Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
1051
Nova Scotia, 1801 (Mar. 14) London, England to Tatamagouche, N.S. via Halifax, datelined folded letter by private ship with "Ship Letter, Halifax" oval crown handstamp and matching "HALIFAX / MAY 16 801" backstamp with manuscript "2½" pence ship rating; some toning, Fine. Estimate $150 - 300.
Lot
1052
Nova Scotia, 1811 (Jan. 21) Halifax, N.S. to Dublin, Ireland, folded letter "Halifax / Jan 21" two-line backstamp and bold "POST / PAID" in circle handstamp, London red "Paid, 5 MA" tombstone and manuscript "2/4" due rating for 1s1d packet plus 1s3d to Ireland (2d for the Holyhead-Dublin packet), May 8th arrival backstamp; edge faults and wear, Fine. Estimate $100 - 200.
Realized: $90
Lot
1053
Nova Scotia, 1812 (Sep. 2) Grantown on Spey, Scotland to Rawdon, Canada via Halifax, datelined folded letter with Grantown origin backstamp, red Edinburgh "SE / 5 PAID 1812" oval datestamp and manuscript "Pd 2/8" rating for 1s3d packet rate plus 1s5d inland postage, reverse with "Halifax / Jan 25" backstamp, manuscript "4½" pence cy. due rating; some edge flaws light aging, Fine, ex-MacDonald. Estimate $400 - 600.
This letter was delayed due to the War of 1812.
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Realized: $375
Lot
1054
Nova Scotia, 1814 (Nov. 5) London, England to St. John N.B. via Halifax, datelined folded letter with London (11.5) backstamp and manuscript "2/2" 2s2d rating, carried by Packet Osborne to Halifax, manuscript "Packet 2N5" 2s5d cy. rating plus "9" pence cy. totalled to "3N19", pencil "3/2" 3s2d notation at top left, F.-V.F. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $240