Auction # 70 - The “Skywalk” Collection of Nova Scotia Stamps and Postal History

1751 (Feb. 12) Annapolis Royal N.S. to Boston Mass. Datelined folded letter to Thomas Hancock carried privately by ship, sender was merchants Daniel and George Dyson promising prompt payment after "many disappointments" to Hancock, the famous Boston merchant whose nephew was founding father John Hancock, Very Fine, ex-Steinhart, Rathbun.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

THE SECOND EARLIEST LETTER IN PRIVATE HANDS FROM THE BRITISH PART OF NOVA SCOTIA.

This letter was datelined "Annapolis Royal Feb. 12th 1750 / 1", the double year notations appearing before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, moving the date eleven days ahead on September 2, 1752 (followed by Sep. 14, 1752, indicating the previous year in January to March of a subsequent year. If this letter had been written on the Gregorian calendar, the date would have read "Feb. 23, 1751".