“SOME OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE FIRST ISSUE OF NOVA
SCOTIA STAMPS.
“The postal service of the British-American provinces, until
the year 1851, was directly under the control of the English
Post Office Department. This, with the high rate of postage,
the insufficient mail accommodation, and the stringent laws
against a private person carrying or delivering a Letter on the
post road, was the cause of innumerable complaints on the part
of the Colonies, and gave the English Post Office officials the
trouble of sending out long despatches.
“The Colonies complained that the English Post Office took
a large amount of revenue, derived from the postal service,
which the Colonies were not able to lose out of the country.
The English officials said that there was an annual deficit
in Nova Scotia alone of £2,000 per annum. This state of
things existed for years, and every annual report of the
Post Office Commissioners which was laid on the table of the
local Legislature was full of complaints under this head. To
give a specimen from one of the reports of these Post Office
Commissions, the following is extracted from their annual
report for the year 1844 in Nova Scotia. After speaking in
favour of a large reduction in postal rates, they say: ‘This,
with the use of post stamps from dies authorized by the proper
authorities, would render the transit of Letters and Papers
less complicated, and give the relief required by the people.’
“To this no answer was returned till some time in 1845, when a
long despatch was received from the Postmaster-General of Great
Britain, Lord Lonsdale, who thus gives his Department’s views
of the issue of postage stamps for Nova Scotia as follows: ‘The
suggestion that postage stamps for Letters should be introduced
into Nova Scotia is one which I cannot recommend your lordship
(Viscount Falkland, then Governor of Nova Scotia) to entertain,
as I cannot but consider that considerable objections exist
to such a measure, and particularly from the facility which
it would afford to the circulation of forged stamps, with but
little chance of detection; while it is believed that the
offence, if committed in the United Kingdom, could not be
punished in the Colony, while on the other hand if committed
in the Colony it could be visited with no penalty on parties
in the United Kingdom.’ This will give some idea of the
narrow-mindedness of the English postal administration of that
time.
“As a specimen of the postal accommodation of the province, see
this: From Halifax to Truro, by the coach road, was a distance
of eighty-three miles, and between those two points there were
only two post-offices for all the people between these places.
The mail couriers were not allowed to deliver mail on the way.
“At last by a united effort of all the Colonies (Canada, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and P. E. Island), the
English Government turned over the postal administration to the
different provincial governments. From this date (July 1st,
1851), the interesting part of the postal history of these
provinces commences.
“In the Post Office Department’s Letter Book the first
reference to postage stamps is in the following letter:
“‘HALIFAX, _April 21st, 1851_.
“‘SIR,—As the period is fast drawing near when the reduced
rate of postage is to take effect in Nova Scotia, and as I
perceive, by the Provincial Act that provincial stamps are to
be provided for the convenience of the public, and not being
aware that any steps have been taken by the Government to
obtain them, I request to be informed whether His Excellency
would authorize me to make application for a supply from the
authorities of the General Post Office.
“‘I would beg to suggest that a requisition for 5,000 sheets
or more be made, each sheet containing 240 heads, which, at
threepence, would be equal to £15,000, or £3 for each sheet.
“‘Also, £5,000 of Six Penny stamps for double Letters, or
Letters exceeding the half ounce; and also sixty “_defacing
stamps_,” for the use of the several postmasters throughout
the province.
“‘I would further suggest that the _head_ should be something
similar to that represented in the margin; the field to be
_blue_ instead of red, or any other colour His Excellency
would prefer.
“‘This supply would, I imagine, be sufficient for the
first introduction of this reduced rate, when, should His
Excellency think proper, other arrangements could be made for
keeping up the supply.
“‘Should the Lieutenant-Governor approve of this proposition,
I will apply to the Post Office in London by the next packet.
“‘I have, etc.,
“‘(Signed) A. WOODGATE.
“‘_The Honourable Joseph Howe._’”
“A copy of the design mentioned in this letter is on the margin
of the Letter Book. It is a large rectangular shape, in centre
the head of the Queen, of a type somewhat like the early
Mauritius, excepting that there is not any crown or wreath
on head. This is drawn on a square of red—at top, ‘POSTAGE;’
bottom, ‘Three Pence’ in small script writing; left side,
‘NOVA’ reading up, and at right side ‘SCOTIA’ reading down; in
each corner a small square, with figure ‘3’ in it. The whole
look of the design is much like the early Mauritius.
“The ‘defacing’ or cancelling stamp’s design was very much
like the one adopted, being the same oval shape; but the lines
on the face were perpendicular instead of horizontal, and the
space for inserting the office a diamond instead of circular
shape.
“This design for stamps did not likely go further than the
office of the Provincial Secretary, to whom it was written,
and it appears that stamps must have been ordered before
this, as there does not appear to be time enough between
this date and that when stamps were issued (September 1st,
1851) to have designs approved of and plates prepared. It is
more than probable that the Hon. Joseph Howe, the Provincial
Secretary, who, I am informed, was in London the winter
previous, had designs then submitted to him and approved of,
and ordered the necessary stamps without the knowledge of the
Postmaster-General. At the same time he apparently had the
power to decide on the design of the New Brunswick stamps, as
may be inferred from the following memorandum; or perhaps the
stamps of both Colonies were bought together for the sake of
economy. The memorandum is dated July 8th, 1851, and is copied
from the same letter-book:
“‘MEMO.
“‘When Mr. Howe made the application for stamps, it was
proposed that, after the first supply had arrived, the
plates could have been sent out, and impressions taken off
by engravers in Halifax. As Mr. Saunders, however, seems
to report against the proposition, I would beg to suggest,
for the consideration of the Government, that £10,000 worth
of stamps for Nova Scotia, and a similar amount for New
Brunswick; viz.—
3d. £5,000
6d. £2,500
1s. £2,500
be furnished for immediate use; or, should this amount be
considered too small, to double the above numbers.
“‘I would also recommend that 200 half-pound canisters of
obliterating ink be also provided—100 for the use of this
province, and 100 for New Brunswick—and directions for its
use.
“‘(Signed) A. W.
“‘W. H. KEATING, Esq., _July 8th, 1851_.’
“What amount of stamps was ordered could not be found out, nor
can any trace of further orders be found until 1857, when an
application letter was sent to the Provincial Secretary, and
which will be copied later on.
“It was mentioned in above letter that a proposal was made
that the plates should be sent out, and stamps wanted could be
printed from here. This seems to be the opinion among English
philatelists, as Mr. W. A. S. Westoby says in a letter to me of
February 6th, 1888, that he was informed by the makers of the
plates—Messrs. Perkins, Bacon, and Co.—that the plates of the
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick stamps were sent out here on the
same day—August 6th, 1851.
“On receipt of this, I wrote Mr. F. M. Passow, who was chief
clerk of the Nova Scotian Post Office Department, to enquire
whether the plates ever came here. He said, ‘I doubt if the
plates were ever sent out to Halifax; I never saw them.’ To
make this positive, we find, in the letter to the Provincial
Secretary above referred, indisputable evidence that the plates
were in England in 1857. The letter is as follows:
“‘GENERAL POST OFFICE, HALIFAX, _July 2nd, 1857_.
“‘SIR,—The stock of postage stamps procured from England
some time ago being nearly exhausted, I have the honour to
request that you will be good enough to issue the necessary
directions to Mr. Stanford, No. 6, Charing Cross, London, for
a further demand; viz.—
10,000 sheets of 3d. postage stamps, value £20,000
2,500 ” 6d. ” ” £10,000
1,250 ” 1s. ” ” £10,000
Each sheet to contain 160 labels of Three Penny, Six Penny,
and One Shilling stamps, making each sheet of the value of
£2, £4, and £8 respectively, and to be the colour of those
affixed on the margin.
“‘The last supply of stamps was furnished by Mr. Trelawney
Saunders, who has transferred his business to Mr. Stanford.
In applying for these postage labels, therefore, it will be
necessary you should furnish Mr. Stanford with your authority
to produce the key for opening the box containing the dies,
which are now in the possession of the engravers, Messrs.
Perkins, Bacon, and Petch, who also are in possession of a
key for the safe custody of the dies.
“‘It is particularly requested that the stamps may be
forwarded at as early a period as possible, those remaining
on hand being not only nearly expended, but much injured.
When making the requisition, it would be as well to caution
the engravers not to pack the parcels too close; for when
they are strictly confined they adhere, and become useless,
as was the case with some of the packages in the last supply
furnished.
“‘I have, &c. &c.
“‘(Signed) A. WOODGATE.
“‘The HON. C. H. TUPPER, M.D., M.P.T., _Halifax_.’
“Only two requisitions for stamps (those of July 8th, 1851 and
July 2nd, 1857) for Nova Scotia can be found, although no doubt
more than two supplies were sent.
“Of those the Three Pence, dark blue, Six Pence, yellow-green,
and the light shade of the One Shilling, are the earlier issue.
After examination of a large number of specimens of the two
lower values on the original cover, a dark blue Three Pence or
yellow-green Six Pence is seldom found after November, 1857.
From that date the light blue Three Pence and dark green Six
Pence is the rule. At the time the last supplies were sent
out, in 1857, some sheets of the Three Pence and Six Pence
were printed on an intensely blue paper, as I have in my
collection a Six Pence on this blue paper split and used as
Three Pence on original cover, postmarked ‘Lunenburg, Dec, 7,
1859,’ and an entire one, on envelope from same place, ‘Feb.
(date indistinct), 1860.’ The Three Pence is on a much bluer
paper than the ordinary dark shades of same on blue paper of
the earlier issue. Of the Six Pence on blue paper I have only
seen four specimens, and I have examined a large number of that
value.
“The later printing of the Three Pence was on a white
paper, which was tinted blue on face by the ink, or
insufficiently-cleaned plates. The Six Pence is on a paper
which shows a somewhat bluish shade in it.
“D. A. KING.”
“DATE OF ISSUE OF THE ONE PENNY NOVA SCOTIA.
“While the exact date of issue of the Three Pence, Six Pence,
and One Shilling Nova Scotia stamps has been discovered, that
of the One Penny has only been guessed at. Having lately been
fortunate enough to procure access to the letter-books of the
Nova Scotia Post Office Department, I have been enabled to make
the date almost exact, as will be seen by the following letter
of the Postmaster-General of Nova Scotia, and copied from the
letter book of that Department:
“‘HALIFAX, _May 12th, 1853_.
“‘SIR,—I have the honour to request that I may be furnished
with a supply of [A]200 sheets of One Penny stamps (amounting
to £100), for the use of the Post Office in this Province.
“‘(Signed) A. WOODGATE, _Postmaster-General_.
“‘_Receiver-General of Nova Scotia._’
[A] The sheet of the One Penny therefore contained 120
stamps, while those of the Three Pence, Six Pence, and One
Shilling, as we see from Mr. A. Woodgate’s letter of July
2nd, 1857, were each composed of 160 stamps.
“This is the first mention of the One Penny stamps in the
letter-book, and the date of issue should, I think, be taken
from that application. In the letter-book containing copies of
letters to deputies, the first requisition for One Penny stamps
is from the Postmaster of Amherst, the answer to which, here
given, is:
“‘HALIFAX, _June 30th, 1853_.
“‘SIR,—I beg to enclose herewith, agreeably to your request,
postage stamps to the amount of £2 5s.; viz., one sheet of
Three Pence and sixty labels of One Penny stamps. Also a
supply of the proper printed applications, one of which I
will thank you to fill up and return to this office with the
acknowledgment.
“‘I am, &c. &c.,
“‘(Signed) C. H. H.
“‘_Postmaster, Amherst._’
“Amherst was then one of the largest towns of this Province,
outside of the capital, and the amount of the One Penny
required shows the small use of this value outside Halifax. The
requisitions show that this was the usual number of One Penny
stamps asked for, sometimes a little more, and very often less,
and, being used as they were for a merely town or drop postage,
accounts for their scarcity.
“D. A. KING.”
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