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FINE. AN IMMENSELY RARE (IF NOT UNIQUE) CERTIFIED UNUSED PAIR OF "1" AND "2" CENT 1899 PORT HOOD PROVISIONALS.
On December 29, 1898, the postage rate was lowered from 3c to 2c, effective as of January 1, 1899. This created a shortage of 2c stamps. Boggs quotes from the postmaster of Port Hood regarding the shortage:
"When the change in Canadian postage was made -- of which we got notice by wire -- I had only a very few two cent stamps in stock so that before I got my supply from Ottawa I completely ran out out of them, and, to keep my account straight, was compelled to cut threes...about 200 "2" and 100 "1" were used. Those stamps I put on letters for delivery within the county as much as possible..."
Nearly all of the bisects were used on covers dated January 4 or January 5, 1899. Certified unused copies are almost non-existent. In fact, we are unaware of any other unused "set" of the Port Hood Provisionals that has been properly certified as genuine. The Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation has no record of any other unused examples having been certified by them.
Ex Dale-Lichtenstein, "Mount Royal" and "Montclair". Each with Stanley Gibbon guarantee backstamp. 2002 Brandon certificate for the pair. Each with a clear 2014 Greene Foundation certificate. Not priced unused in Scott. Unitrade value (Image)
View PDF of certificate