Nova Scotia #3a & #4 Very fine used bisect on cover. Across the Minas Basin 1857 (May 20) folded cover mailed from Parrsborough to Liverpool England, bearing 6P yellow green (just in to large margins) and a choice diagonal bisect of the 3p dark blue used as 1.5P to make up 7.5P rate to England, file fold affects the 6P (a trait of all covers from the Ratchford correspondence). Parrsborough, Windsor and Halifax MY 20 transit backstamps and tombstone Liverpool Paid MY 31 1857 receiver in red on front. Unlisted in the Arfken & Firby census "The Pence Covers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick 1851 - 1860" but the fourth earliest dated example of this particular franking to England, very scarce and fine - very fine. Comes with certificate.