“COMMENTS ON THE SPLIT STAMPS OF NEW BRUNSWICK.
“(_To the Editor of ‘The Halifax Philatelist.’_)
“Having examined your plate of Nova Scotia split stamps and
oddities, I would like to mention a few notes on the split or
provincial stamps of New Brunswick. In the catalogue list of
the Nova Scotia Philatelic Association I find that there are
but two of these split or provisional stamps offered, both Nova
Scotia Six Pence, cut diagonally and used as Three Pence, and
not one split New Brunswick.
“To all appearances, and from what I can learn, I think there
were very few of these provisional stamps of New Brunswick
used, and therefore they are very rare. I have never seen but
three or four on the original envelopes, and have but two in
my collection—a Ten Cent, vermilion, New Brunswick, cut in
half vertically, and used as a Five Cent stamp. It is on the
original envelope, and is postmarked ‘St. John, Nov. 5, 1860,’
and ‘Kingston, Nov. 6, 1860.’ I have also heard of the Ten
Cent, vermilion, being cut _diagonally_ instead of vertically,
but have not seen any so used.
“As the second issue of New Brunswick first came into use in
1860, I presume the supply of Five Cent stamps ran short, and
thus suggested the splitting of the Ten Cent, vermilion, stamps.
“I have also heard of the Six Penny stamps being cut both
diagonally and horizontally, and used as Three Penny, but have
not seen but one so used.
“Can any of my brother collectors tell what rate was charged
for single or double letters to Australia in 1860? On the 9th
of this month I received from New Brunswick an envelope which
had been sent out to Melbourne, Australia, in 1860. It was
mailed at Kingston, N.B., in May, 1860, and went _viâ_ London.
On the envelope, which is yellow, are a One Shilling, violet,
and one half of a Six Pence, yellow, cut in half diagonally,
and presumably used as Three Pence, making a total of fifteen
pence, quite a high rate for a single letter, as such I presume
it to be. The Six Penny stamp is very bright, but the One
Shilling is somewhat faded.
“I would like to know if any of the readers of _The Halifax
Philatelist_ have ever seen any of the high values thus
combined, as I think they are very rare, and should occupy a
prominent place in the representation of New Brunswick stamps
in all collections.