Lot 151
1856 (May 5) Philadelphia Pa. to Halifax, Nova Scotia, datelined folded letter bearing 5¢ red brown (12) large to huge margins, tied by "Philadelphia Pa May 5" c.d.s., endorsed "'Arabia' via Boston", actually carried overland, manuscript "10" and "Paid", blue St. Andrews N.B. transit backstamp with matching "6" handstamp, reverse with "H MY 15 1856 NS" receiver; vertical filing folds clear of stamp, Extremely Fine and choice. Illustrated in Frajola and Mayer, p. 92, fig. 7-7.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
ONE OF TWO RECORDED 1856 5¢ USAGES VIA THE LAND ROUTE TO NOVA SCOTIA.
Expertization: 1976 & 1988 P.F. Certificates.
Provenance: Grunin
Although endorsed to be carried via the Cunard Line steamer Arabia, which left Boston on May 7, 1856, the letter was apparently transmitted by the land route. It was mailed from Philadelphia on May 5, 1857 with enough time to make the sailing, but evidently missed the Arabia. It was marked "Paid" and "10" (cents) in manuscript (the land route rate). The cover bears a blue St. Andrews backstamp (confirming the land route) and matching "6" (pence) due handstamp. The 6 pence due reflects the charge for an unpaid letter carried by the land route. Partial payments were not recognized.
The other recorded example via the land route is an 1856 (Apr. 21) usage from Philadelphia to Halifax bearing a 5¢ single, Ex Krug, Gore, Gallagher.
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| Realized $5,750 |
