“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.
Fred. Northrup, Port Jervis, N. Y.
“[The split stamps of New Brunswick are no doubt scarce, but they are not more so than any of the other B. N. A. Provinces. Canada seems to be the only one which did not do this, as split stamps from there are very scarce. The rate on a half-ounce Letter from Nova Scotia to Victoria was one shilling and threepence, and we presume it was the same from New Brunswick.—Editor of The Halifax Philatelist.]”
From the above letter, we can therefore add the following at the bottom of the issue of May 13th, 1860, on page 30 of the Catalogue:
Variety.—The Ten Cents is known cut in two diagonally, and also vertically.