Nov. 15 Siegel auction to feature Allen collection of Canada and BNA postal history

By Charles Snee

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries will offer the James A. Allen collection of Canada and British North America (BNA) postal history during a sale to be held Nov. 15 at the firm’s headquarters in New York City.

The 145 lots in the collection will be offered during a single session commencing at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Among the BNA items that will be up for bids is a handsome folded drop letter franked with the first issue from Nova Scotia: the 1853 1-penny red brown Queen Victoria stamp (Scott 1).

The stamp features large margins on all four sides and is neatly tied to the letter by a crisp strike of a barred oval cancel.

According to Siegel, the letter is datelined April 23, 1857, from Cape John, Nova Scotia, and was sent to Pictou, Nova Scotia.

A backstamp (not shown) indicates the letter arrived in Pictou on April 25.

The letter is one of just two recorded drop letters franked with the 1853 1d Queen Victoria.

“Several other single franking 1p covers are recorded but are generally circular rates or military related,” Siegel said.

The letter has been expertized twice.

In 1966, the British Philatelic Association issued a certificate stating, “Nova Scotia 1857 entire bearing 1d red-brown (SG [Stanley Gibbons] 1) is genuine.”

Enzo Diena issued a similar opinion on his certificate issued in 1980.

Both of those expertizing certificates accompany the letter and are available for viewing on the Siegel website.

On cover, the Nova Scotia 1853 1-penny red brown Queen Victoria stamp is valued at $2,000 in the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940.

Siegel is offering this drop letter bearing an exceptional example of the Nova Scotia 1853 1-penny red brown Queen Victoria stamp with an estimate of $3,000 to $4,000.

Full details of the auction of the James A. Allen collection of Canada and British North America postal history, including the paperless (online only) catalog and online bidding options, are available on the Siegel website at www.siegelauctions.com.

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