Sparks 56th Auctions Spring 2026 - Stamps & Postal History of the World

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Nova Scotia

Lot 7

100.00 CAD

Live

New Brunswick 1832 (July 20), London to St. Andrews, New Brunswick, via forwarding agent, with commercial contents datelined Queenhithe,

New Brunswick 1832 (July 20), London to St. Andrews, New Brunswick, via forwarding agent, with commercial contents datelined Queenhithe, London, rated 7-1/8, reverse with faint St. John fleuron, with clear manuscript notation on reverse "Forwarded by your obedient. serv. James T. Hanford / 8 Sept", some staining at left, else fine, and a scarce forwarding agent's letter.

Lot 19

225.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1795 (March 14), folded letter Halifax to Quebec City, with contents of military interest, rated 1/8 in manuscript, struck on

Nova Scotia 1795 (March 14), folded letter Halifax to Quebec City, with contents of military interest, rated 1/8 in manuscript, struck on reverse with segmented double-circle HALIFAX / N. SCOTIA c.d.s. (15 Mar), small adhesive repair to reverse, else a fine-very fine early letter. The letter includes interesting military and postal contents, the writer referring to packet arrivals from New England, the garrison and an officer of the 39th Regiment, together with remarks on fleet strength, shipping movements, and local prices.

Lot 20

325.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1802 (April 7), Guernsey to Annapolis Royal, folded letter rated "1/10" plus "2d" Captain's gratiuity and 9d inland postage,

Nova Scotia 1802 (April 7), Guernsey to Annapolis Royal, folded letter rated "1/10" plus "2d" Captain's gratiuity and 9d inland postage, for a total of 11d at foot, noted "to pay 2" at upper left, struck with curved GUERNSEY handstamp, endorsed "via Halifax", with bold two-line HALIFAX / JUN 3 1801 backstamp, the year incorrect, some light edge toning, a scarce origin for incoming mail. The contents consist of a long family letter, reporting the death of an elderly relation, conveying sympathies from an aunt in reduced circumstances owing to heavy taxes, enclosing a draft for Twenty Pounds Sterling for the sister's use and that of her children, the writer having sold out of the Army to become Barrack Master.

Lot 21

180.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1815 (November 29), St. John to Aberdeen, with DIGBY / DEC straight-line, folded letter datelined St. John, New Brunswick,

Nova Scotia 1815 (November 29), St. John to Aberdeen, with DIGBY / DEC straight-line, folded letter datelined St. John, New Brunswick, various manuscript rate markings totaling 2/5 for the journey from Halifax to Aberdeen via Falmouth, struck with framed "ADD 1/2" for the Scottish Wheel Tax, struck at upper left with DIGBY handstamp with manuscript '9 DEC', manuscript 'After Closing' deleted presumably after payment of 1d late fee, Halifax fleuron in transit (3 Feb), manuscript docket noting receipt 27 March, the letter detailing the estate of the late Mr. Arthur Dingwall of St. John, his real and personal property, the validity of his Will and codicil, and the competing claims of creditors, file fold, else quite fresh and fine; an elusive marking.

Lot 22

100.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1821 (August 21), military letter from Halifax to Fredericton, addressed to a Sergeant, "Late of 107th Foot", endorsed "On H.M.

Nova Scotia 1821 (August 21), military letter from Halifax to Fredericton, addressed to a Sergeant, "Late of 107th Foot", endorsed "On H.M. Service", rated 11 in red manuscript and signed by the Deputy Adjutant General, struck with rimless HALIFAX N.S. / PAID datestamp, light trivial toning, else very fine. The letter acknowledges the petition of a former sergeant in the King's New Brunswick Regiment (104th), the Deputy Adjutant General informing him that his memorial and original discharge papers had been transmitted to Head Quarters through Major General Smyth, with directions that Lieutenant General Sir James Kempt should, if he found sufficient grounds, recommend the memorialist's case to the favourable consideration of the Lords Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, the document signed by H.B. Harris, Lt. Col., Deputy Adjutant General's Office, Halifax, 20 August 1821.

Lot 23

325.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1825 (October 25), Post Office Pictou / Paid, folded letter to Halifax, folded letter, with contents including reference to

Nova Scotia 1825 (October 25), Post Office Pictou / Paid, folded letter to Halifax, folded letter, with contents including reference to charitable relief for the Mirimachi Fire, datelined Bailey's Brook, rated 7/Paid in manuscript and "Post Paid" at top, very fine strike of the POST OFFICE PICTOU / PAID handstamp, light filing folds, a choice example of this scarce marking. The letter refers to charitable efforts made to aid "the sufferers of Mirimachie, in consequence of the late conflagration with which they were visited...", describing the "benevolent response" of the people of Halifax, listing aid collected including bushes of biscuits, together with clothing and other necessities. An exceptional contemporary witness to a devastating natural disaster. The Great Miramichi Fire, one of North America's largest wildfires, occurred on October 7, 1825. It began on October 6 and swept through northeastern New Brunswick, Canada, on the 7th, burning nearly 16,000 square kilometers, roughly one fifth of the province and destroying communities.

Lot 24

100.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1826 (August 28), Post Office Annapolis, folded cover to Halifax, rated 9+1 / 10 in manuscript, denoting the postage plus local

Nova Scotia 1826 (August 28), Post Office Annapolis, folded cover to Halifax, rated 9+1 / 10 in manuscript, denoting the postage plus local delivery, handstamped with POST OFFICE / ANNAPOLIS double-circle (Type 42), with date in manuscript, file fold, with some light separation at top, else a fine-very fine example of this difficult postmark; ex Dr. Sandy Clark.

Lot 25

200.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1832 (September 8), Post Office Sydney double-circle, on folded commercial letter datelined St. John's, to Monmouth, New

Nova Scotia 1832 (September 8), Post Office Sydney double-circle, on folded commercial letter datelined St. John's, to Monmouth, New Brunswick, manuscript rates '1N6' and '1N6' totalling '3N', struck with the double circle POST OFFICE / SYDNEY handstamp (Type 53) with manuscript date (8 Oct 1832) filled in, faint Halifax fleuron in transit, usual filing folds, else fine-very fine and scarce; ex Dr. Sandy Clark.

Lot 26

900.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1842 (June 24), Hillsburgh to Halifax, folded letter from Israel Rice, addressed to Charles Wallace, Provincial Treasurer in

Nova Scotia 1842 (June 24), Hillsburgh to Halifax, folded letter from Israel Rice, addressed to Charles Wallace, Provincial Treasurer in Halifax, datelined Hillsburgh June 24, 1842, with bold strike of the BRIDGETOWN N.S. Crown double circle handstamp (Jephcott 64, MacDonald 71), light file folds clear of marking, otherwise very fine and rare, with only a small number of other examples thought to exist, this cover having graced several prominent collections of the past; ex John H.M. Young (Sissons, 1964), J. Grant Glassco (Robson Lowe, November, 1969) and Dr. Sandy Clark (Eastern Auctions, March 2011). The sender, Israel Rice (c. 1802–1866) was a United Empire Loyalist and a founder of the Bear River Baptist Church near Hillsburg (now Bear River), Digby County, Nova Scotia.

Lot 27

250.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia 1843 (January 6), "FREE" rated letter from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to Halifax, with contents sent by Samuel Fairbanks to the

Nova Scotia 1843 (January 6), "FREE" rated letter from Liverpool, Nova Scotia, to Halifax, with contents sent by Samuel Fairbanks to the Provincial Secretary's Office, concerning the impact of heavy snowfall on a road survey between Mills Village and La Have Bridge, endorsed "H.M.S." in manuscript, with small octagonal FREE handstamp (Type 273) at upper right, reverse with Liverpool (6 Jan) and Halifax (9 Jan) double split-ring backstamps, vertical filing folds, else fresh and very fine; a rare Free handstamp, with MacDonald recording only one further strike, ex "Halifax" (Christie's Robson Lowe, 1984) and Sandy Clark.

Lot 394

1,100.00 CAD

Live

Atlantic Packets, Cunard Line, 1862 (February), "A97" mail boat cancel, cover franked with 6d lilac, tied by good strike of the "A97"

Atlantic Packets, Cunard Line, 1862 (February), "A97" mail boat cancel, cover franked with 6d lilac, tied by good strike of the "A97" barred numeral cancel, used by ocean mail clerks on board the Cunard Line's "Europa", which departed Halifax on February 2, the cover traveling to Tunbridge Wells, England, via Queenstown (17 Feb) and Liverpool (18 Feb), with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, seal cut from reverse, a rare usage.

Lot 395

500.00 CAD

Live

Atlantic Packets, Cunard Line, 1863 (December), "A92" mail boat cancel, sailor’s rebacked cover front from Halifax to London, endorsed

Atlantic Packets, Cunard Line, 1863 (December), "A92" mail boat cancel, sailor’s rebacked cover front from Halifax to London, endorsed “From G.H. Oaten, Seaman H.M. Ship Phaeton,” countersigned by the Commanding Officer, franked with 1856–58 1d, tied by bold “A92” barred numeral, at the time assigned to the Cunard "Arabia", with London Paid (Dec) arrival c.d.s. alongside, tear at top, else fine, a scarce Nova Scotia naval usage.

Lot 396

Unitrade 2

60.00 CAD

Live

1857, 3d blue Heraldic, a fresh used single, large to very large margins all around, centrally-struck with light grid cancel, bright shade,

Lot 397

Unitrade 4

150.00 CAD

Live

1851, 6d yellow green Heraldic, ample to full margins all around, cancelled by light strike of oval grid in black, and showing trace of red

1851, 6d yellow green Heraldic, ample to full margins all around, cancelled by light strike of oval grid in black, and showing trace of red "Packet Letter Paid" transit mark at right, fresh bright shade, attractive and very fine.

Lot 398

Unitrade 4

150.00 CAD

Live

1851, 6d yellow green Heraldic, full balanced margins on all sides, tied to small piece by neatly-struck oval grid cancel, bright fresh

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Offical reprints

Nova Scotia

Lot 399

Unitrade 7

850.00 CAD

Live

1851-57, 1sh dull violet Heraldic, clear to large margins all around, a lightly-cancelled example of good colour, a difficult stamp, fine

Nova Scotia Offical reprints

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Offical reprints

Lot 400

Unitrade 1R/6R

60.00 CAD

Live

1851, 1d/1sh Heraldics & Queen Victoria, Official Reprints, on thin hard white paper, bright and fresh, very fine; these were printed

1851, 1d/1sh Heraldics & Queen Victoria, Official Reprints, on thin hard white paper, bright and fresh, very fine; these were printed in 1890 on the authority of Postmaster General John Graham Haggart, and the plate subsequently destroyed.

Nova Scotia

Lot 1048

Scott 1-6,8-1...

600.00 CAD

Live

Nova Scotia, 1851–1863, grouping of 13 stamps, imperforate issues used and perforated issues mint hinged excepting a used 5c, together

Nova Scotia, 1851–1863, grouping of 13 stamps, imperforate issues used and perforated issues mint hinged excepting a used 5c, together with a 2c Victoria plate proof overprinted Specimen, and an 1857 cover franked with 3p bright blue Heraldic, most imperforates with at least one tight or touching margin, the key 1sh with nearly four margins, save for at lower left, and with somewhat washed-out appearance, the perforated issues with typical centring, overall a fresh and pleasing near-complete grouping, generally fine or better; with 2000 Greene Foundation certificate (for Scott #6)