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.