Stamps auction boasts 'one of the greatest' Nova Scotian covers

The upcoming David Feldman British Commonwealth auction continues to attract considerable global interest.

While a Mauritian early Intermediate Impression 1d Dull Vermilion (Position 9) and 2d Deep Dull Blue (Position 6) is expected to star at the New York sale on March 4, a number of stamps from Canada and its Provinces are also set to have investors salivating.

The pick of the Canadian lots could well be a Nova Scotia one shilling purple quadrisect, which has a low end estimate of $60,000.

'One of the greatest covers in the postal history of Nova Scotia'

Touted as "one of the greatest covers in the postal history of Nova Scotia", it has a full margin tied on a blue folded cover by oval grill cancel. It is post marked February 5, 1858, nine years before Nova Scotia became a founding province of Canada. The letter, which was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia, has an indistinct mark on the reverse and a vertical file crease clear of adhesive. The specimen is rated as very fine and has a 1969 RPS certificate.

This item's provenance is sound, bearing the names of Dale-Lichtenstein, Kanai and Mayer.

According to N. Argenti, Nova Scotian one shilling quadrisects are rarer than the same denomination from neighbouring New Brunswick.

Indeed, this is one of only two known Nova Scotia quadrisects on cover. The other, a 6d yellow green is also at the auction and has a low end estimate of $50,000.

Another item of note is a strip of three New Brunswick one shilling reddish purple covers from 1853. It has a low end estimate of $100,000.

Commonwealth stamps are extremely popular with investors but it is still possible to find rare gems.