The 'Erivan' Collection of United and Confederate States Part X
Lot | 19th Century General Issues 1851-56 Issue | Estimate | |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Annapolis, Maryland, Eagle Handstamp, struck in blue on beautiful gold-design Valentine cover, with enclosure, cover further struck PAID 2 in blue, sent locally, as are all recorded uses of this handstamp in blue, light edge wear and the odd toning spot mentioned for strict accuracy, an exceptionally attractive example of this rare marking, which served as a model for the carmine Annapolis Postmaster Provisional of Martin Revell. | 2 | |
2 | Baltimore, Maryland, 5c blue on buff cover, with handstamp of "James M. Buchanan" in black, blue "Baltimore Md. / Sep / 23" c.d.s., to Delia M. Black in Washington D.C., small W.H.C. (Warren H. Colson) handstamp on front and back, blue manuscript check, a fresh and very fine cover, with Buchanan handstamps in black being used earlier than the blue, and of greater scarcity; ex Hind, Weill Brothers (Christies, October 12, 1989). (USPCS Census 20028.) | 2 | |
3 | Millbury, Massachuetts, 1846, 5c black on bluish paper, margins clear on three sides, barely touching at left, tied to 1846 folded letter by neatly-struck red PAID straight-line, red "5" rate handstamp, postmarked with crisp "Milbury Ms. / Sep / 6" c.d.s., to Boston, two small tears at left of adhesive, unobtrusive filing folds, an iconic rarity, offered at auction for the first time in over forty years. (USPCS Census 20235)Provenance:- Robert S. Emerson (reported acquired circa 1929), recorded as subsequently sold by Ezra Cole upon Emerson’s death. (The Judge Robert S. Emerson Sales, Stanley M. Biermann, The Chronicle, Vol 120, 1983).- H.R. Harmer, New York (4 June, 1980)Literature:- Illustrated in the Stamp Specialist (Vol. I, Part 4)- Illustrated in American Philatelic Miscellany, edited by Susan M McDonald, 1976.- Illustrated in “The Millbury Postmaster's Provisional Stamp - The Unused Copy”, The Chronicle, Vol 121, 1984.Distinctive for its omission of both the name of the issuing postmaster and the corresponding town, the stamp’s primitive yet charming depiction of George Washington has enthralled collectors since its discovery. Philip T. Wall, in an introduction to his analysis of the Millbury Provisional, recounts the early years of the professional career of the man who would become the town’s Postmaster, Asa Holman Waters. Waters had a privileged upbringing, attending both Yale University and Harvard Law School, before embarking on ventures in law, politics, banking, and, eventually, overseeing the family’s armory business. These diverse pursuits meant that, upon his appointment as Postmaster of Millbury on 18 January, 1836, he was kept preoccupied by his many other engagements. Wall notes that Henry Waterman, a local jeweller, ran the post office on Waters’ behalf, and was ultimately responsible for the issuing of the now renowned provisional.The USPCS Census records nine covers, three singles on piece, and five single stamps. Interestingly, the rate markings used on the various on-cover examples are quite diverse. The cover offered here is the unique example with a simple “5”, while others have varying types of “5” or “V” in circle. All are struck in red.An exceptional opportunity to acquire an iconic treasure of United States philately. | 2 | |
4 | New Haven, Connecticut, 1845, 5c dull blue on white, with blue "E. Mitchell" signature, manuscript "Due –" with "5" handstamp in red alongside, postmarked with "New Haven Ct / Apr / 17" c.d.s., to Dr. Sowell in Athens, Alabama, in the hand of famed Yale chemist Benjamin Silliman Jr., small piece torn from back from removal of seal, cover has been professionally cleaned to remove staining, a fine-appearing example of this rare Postmasters’ Provisional, one of only a handful believed extant; Philatelic Foundation certificate no longer accompanies. | 3 | |
5 | New Haven Connecticut, 1874, 5c carmine on hard white paper, signed "E. Mitchell" in blue ink, reprint for Chief Clerk for Mitchell Cyrus B. Peets, trivial thin spot on lower margin, else very fine and scarce reprint, one of only thirty made, offered with 5c red and dull blue on hard white paper, two examples from the reprints of the New Haven Philatelic Society, with stamped signature of E. Mitchell and with "1932 FINAL RE-STRIKE" and numbered on reverse, 260 restrikes were made on this occasion before the handstamp was defaced, fresh and very fine, alongsisde a concocted cover purportedly with the 5c dull blue impression, to famed dealer Warren H. Colsen in Boston, a charming creation. | 4 | |
6 | New York, New York, 5c black, signed ACM, reconstructed plate of forty used examples (5 x 8), showing all positions, almost all with four ample to large margins all around, each stamp with a red cancellation, positions 2 and 7 showing the double transfer, positions 31 and 36 with doubled framelines at bottom and top respectively, the odd small flaw to be expected, a wonderful reconstruction of carefully-chosen examples, which would be an exceptional challenge to duplicate, chiefly very fine; ex Farrington. | 2 | |
7 | New York, New York, 5c black on bluish wove paper, signed ACM, AC connected, horizontal strip of four, positions 6-9, large margins on three sides, just clear at left, showing portion of three adjoining stamps at top, tied to cover by blue manuscript cancels, the left stamp further tied by red "New York / Mar / 17" c.d.s., "20" manuscript in blue and curved PAID handstamp in red, to Charles G. Folger in Geneva, New York, a few adhesive remnants on reverse, light stain to front, right stamp with diagonal wrinkle, yet a rare franking, one of four recorded; handstamped WHC (Warren H. Colson), ex Grunin, Zoellner, with 1998 Philatelic Foundation certificate. A rarity of exceptional quality, arguably the finest of the four recorded strips of four on cover. USPCS Census 20501. Illustrated and discussed in USPCS Chronicle Volume 32, No. 3, page 3, "The Five Most Outstanding New York Postmaster's Provisional Covers" by Philip T. Wall) | 3 | |
8 | New York, New York, 5c black, signed ACM connected, very good to large margins all around, cancelled with centrally-struck red square grid and tied to small piece by red PAID, attractive and very fine; with 1973 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 2 | |
9 | New York, New York, 5c black, signed RHM, rejoined vertical pair, large balanced margins on all sides, cancelled with blue manuscript, partially hinge reinforced in margin between stamps, trace of uniform toning, yet a scarce multiple of fine appearance; with 1973 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
10 | New York, New York, 5c black, signed A.C.M., four large margins, tied to folded cover by "New York 5cts. / Jul / 31" c.d.s. , to Hemer, p/Iserlohn, Germany, rated 1/8 (20p) in manuscript for routing via England and Rotterdam, (endorsed "p. Steamer Brittania, backstamped "England / over Rotterdam", red English c.d.s. (16 Aug), and Emmerich transits, blue oval backstamp of the forwarding agents A. Rolker & Mollmann of New York, light filing folds and traces of discoloration around edges, a rare transatlantic usage, with 1987 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex-Consul Klep van Velthoven, Krug, Sweet. | 3 | |
11 | Providence, Rhode Island, 5c gray black, four large to very large margins, cancelled in pen and tied to folded cover by neatly-struck "Providence R.I. / May / 29" c.d.s., handtamped "PAID" and "5c" in matching red, to New York, horizontal filing folds and two pressed vertical folds, all clear of adhesive, lightly cleaned at bottom, a rare tied example of this Postmasters’ Provisional, of which very few such are recorded; ex-Ferrary, with his trefoil at lower right, Caspary (H.R. Harmer, New York,November, 1955, lot 120). | 2 | |
12 | St. Louis, Missouri, 5c black on greenish paper, four singles, three Type II, one Type I, each a four-margin example cancelled in manuscript, on folded cover, Charney & Whelen correspondence, manuscript "40" in black, postmarked with red "St. Louis Mo. / Nov 25" c.d.s., to Philadelphia, pressed filing folds clear of adhesives, small "WHC" (Warren H. Colson) backstamp, signed Jakubek, with his certificate, a beautiful and rare franking of this iconic Postmaster's Provisional; ex Caspary (H.R. Harmer, New York, November 15, 1955, lot 138).The St. Louis Bears is one of the most recognizable designs in philately. Issued in 1845-6 by Postmaster John Wimer, the stamps were printed in denominations of 5c, 10c, and 20c. The stamp, based on the Great Seal of Missouri, was printed on panes of six, two rows of three, with each position being engraved individually. Printed on wove paper, in shades of greenish to grayish lilac to bluish, with later printings being in thin, hard (pelure) paper. Sixty eight examples on cover are recorded in the USPCS Census, almost all being single frankings; ten bear two issues, two have three, one, the cover offered here, with four, and one, the largest known multiple, with five.An exceptional franking. | 3 | |
13 | 5c red brown, four large balanced margins, postmarked with ideal strike of Burlington, Vermont c.d.s. in red (Feb 16), a beautiful stamp in all respects, extremely fine. | 2 | |
14 | 10c Green, Type II, horizontal pair (pos 16-17R1), large margins on three sides, just clear at right, with 1851 1c Blue, Type IV, tied to folded letter to Paris, France, by light strikes of red grid cancels "Providence RI” (23 Jul) c.d.s. alongside, manuscript endorsement "Per Steamer 'Collins Line' via New York & Liverpool," lightly-struck red “PAID” and black Calais entry c.d.s. , "8" (decimes) due mark struck in black, backstamped with British transit (6 Aug) and next-day Paris receiver, 1c stamp with colored-in surface scrapes at left in red of grid, else a fine and scarce Collins Line usage to France; with 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex Drucker Family. | 3 | |
15 | 3c dull red, Type II, horizontal strip of seven, positions 11R3-17R3, margins clear to large, including sheet margin at left, fresh color, cancelled with large part strikes of Greensburg c.d.s., scissor cut in margin betwee 13-14 and 15-16, else a scarce and fine multiple; backstamped Brettl BPP, Alcuri, and Jakubek. | 3 | |
16 | 3c Dull red, 1851, Type II, three-margin single tied by Epping NH c.d.s. (12 Aug) on ornate ladies envelope with lovely hand-drawn border extending on to the backflap, featuring framed illustration of a castle on the front side and a lute-carrying minstrel and bird on the back, a most attractive and scarce cover. | 2 | |
17 | 5c red brown, used with 1c blue, and 12c black, tied together by magenta grid cancels, on 1859 Election Returns cover front, postmarked with "Hartford Ct. / Mar / 26 /1859" c.d.s., to the town clerk of Roxbury, Connecticut, the 12c with pulled perf, else a fine franking and rare late use of the 1856 5c; with 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
18 | 10c green, Type II, large margins on three sides, barely touching at foot, tied by San Francisco Oct 20 c.d.s. to exceptional "San Francisco News Letter" illustrated newspaper, with printed "P.M.S.S. / Per Sonora / Oct. 20" (1857) at upper left, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cover with lovely depiction of eagle, steamship, locomotive, etc, printed along top of internal masthead "The News Letter is sold by all Wells, Fargo & Co Agents throughout the State of California", light vertical filing fold, a rare and most attractive example of this infamous publication of Frederick Marriott; with 2017 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
19 | 10c green, Type III, horizontal strip of three, mostly large margins all around, touching at upper left, tied to cover by "Peace Dale R.I. / Feb / 20" c.d.s., to Berlin, Germany, endorsed "Via Prussian / Closed Mail" in manuscript, red "N York 7 Br. Pkt Paid / Feb 24" transit c.d.s. and boxed "Aachen 10/3 / Franco", c.d.s. arrival backstamp (12 Mar), moisture stain at left, a lovely franking and otherwise very fine, with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
20 | 12c gray black, horizontal strip of five, ample to large margins all around, cancelled with multiple neatly-struck Cincinnati c.d.s. in blue, trace of red cancellation at lower left, positions 2-3 with light wrinkles, not detracting from the exceptional visual appeal of this rare multiple; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
Lot | Carriers’ And Local Stamps Carriers’ Stamps Cincinnati, Oh | Estimate | |
21 | 12c black with 3c dull red vertical pair, uprating 3c Nesbitt entire to Madrid, Spain, cancelled with neatly-struck PAID straight-lines, clear "Brunswick Me / Jul / 16 / 1860" c.d.s. also overstruck PAID, adjacent "New York Am. Pkt / Jul / 21" c.d.s. in red, endorsed "via London / Am Packet" and "By Ocean Steamers / to the care of the American Minister" in manuscript, blue Spanish "8Rs" due marking, London (2 Aug) transit and Madrid (5 Aug) c.d.s. arrival backstamps, refolded along top, just clear of perforations, a beautiful example of the 21-cent American Packet rate to Spain, with 2001 and 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificates; ex Piller, Sevenoaks. | 3 | |
22 | 12c black and 10c green, Type III, tied to cover to Wurttemberg by "Indianapolis Ind / Jul / 19 / 1858" c.d.s., paying the 22c rate to Germany by Hamburg Packet via Bremen, red "N. York 8 U.S. Pkt Paid / Aug / 7" exchange datestamp, blue "America / Uber Bremen / Franco" three-line transit, further endorsed "via Bremen" in manuscript at top, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and further indistinct German c.d.s. backstamps, tears to back flap and some light cover stains, a fine usage; ex Ishikawa. | 2 | |
23 | 24c brown lilac, in conjunction with 1c blue, two 3c rose, and 10c yellow green vertical pair, all tied by black circle of wedges fancy cancel to folded cover to Genova, Italy, multiple script due markings, red "N. York Am Pkt Paid / May / 28" c.d.s. transit on front, London (9 Dec) and Genoa (12 Dec) backstamps, hinge remnants on reverse, light transit wear to front, a charming franking; with 2004 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
24 | 3c lake, imperforate on stamp paper, trial color block of eight, large even margins all around, showing complete "Engraved by the National Bank Note Company City of New York / No. 52 Plate" inscription in lower margin, never hinged, natural vertical paper crease through two stamps, a fresh and rare inscription proof block; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
25 | 12c black vertical pair, with 3c ultramarine horizontal pair, postmarked with black grid cancellations, "Wellesborough Pa / Jul / 26" double-circle c.d.s., to Paris, France, red "New York Paid 6 / Jul / 27" credit datestamp and boxed "P.P.", blue "Cherbourg" 1869 c.d.s. ties 12c pair, filing fold just clear of adhesives, a fine and desirable double-rate cover. | 2 | |
26 | 24c brown lilac vertical pair and 5c brown, tied to cover to Shanghai, China, with circular black grid cancels, faint red "N.York Br. Pkt Paid / SP 29" c.d.s., red "32" manuscript and "1d" red handstamped credit markings, red "London / Paid" split-ring transit, endorsed "via Marseilles" in red, partial "Hong Kong / NO 17 / 63" transit and "Shanghai / NO 24" c.d.s. backstamps, back flap mostly removed, trivial edge wrinkles, a lovely franking to a sought-after destination; signed Jakubek BPP, with his 1987 certificate. | 3 | |
27 | 30c orange on folded cover, two singles, tied by red circular grid cancels and NEW YORK PAID c.d.s. (17 Jan), to Lyon, France, endorsed “Steamship New York”, red French entry c.d.s. on front, Paris (31 Jan) and Lyon (1 Feb) backstamps, wrinkling and filing folds, yet an uncommon quadruple rate cover from the Payen correspondence, signed A. Diena. | 2 | |
28 | 1c blue, F Grill, tied to locally-addressed cover by ornate “Hinman & Titus / Dealers in / Groceries / and / Provisions / Moravia, N.Y. / Return if not called for in 10 days” commercial handstamp, a fresh and most unusual illustration of the 1c circular rate, very fine; ex Ishikawa. | 2 | |
29 | 2c brown, block of ten, pair, and single, cancelled in manuscript, the single and pair tied by double-circle "Hiogo / Japan" c.d.s. to cover to Siegen, Rheinish Prussia, endorsed "via S. Francisco", where the block was cancelled with Nov 18 c.d.s., red "New York Paid All / Br. Transit / Nov 26" c.d.s., German c.d.s. receiver (8 Dec) on reverse, cover opened for display, one adhesive creased from being affixed over bottom edge, some edge flaws, but a remarkable and rare franking; with 1997 Philatelic Foundation certificate.This cover, being undated, leaves the rate open to some conjecture. If sent in 1869, it is a 1c overpayment of the 25c rate, being 10c per 1/2oz from the United States to Prussia via New York, and 15c for Prussian closed mail via England. If sent in 1870, it is a six cent overpayment of the 10c transpacific and 10c transatlantic rate. If the latter, one would assume the sender would have simply used the block of ten, unless the earlier rate was still in mind. | 2 | |
30 | 1c blue green to 5 dark green, tied to 2c Washington entire by oval "New York USA / Foreign / 9-23 / 1904" c.d.s., registered to Lucerne, Switzerland, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, two adhesion remnants on reverse, stamps chiefly fine, a rare and colourful franking. | 2 | |
31 | 1c-10c "Kans." Overprints, set of eleven, tied to Nickels first day cover by "Washington D.C. / May 1 / 5 PM / 1929" duplex, fresh and very fine. | 2 | |
32 | 65c - 2.60 Graf Zeppelin, set of three on 2c Sesquicentennial Exhibition entire, tied by "Washington D.C. / Apr 19 / 5PM / 1930" duplex, dual United States and Germany flight cachets, with small circular "This Article Made the Complete Round Trip / Via Graf Zeppelin" handstamp, with Friedrichshafen (6.6.30) and New York (Jun 8) backstamps, light uniform toning, a rare flown Graf Zeppelin first day cover; with 1996 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
33 | Italo Balbo Return Flight Cover, 1933, 1 violet black, three singles, with 10c orange and 50c lilac, tied to cover from New York City to Rome, Italy, struck with partial New York City Hall duplex, purple United States "Italian Air Cruise / New York – Roma" and blue Italian "crociera Aerea del Decennale / Italia – Nord Amerika" handstamped flight cachets, manuscript "By Italian Air Cruise / to / Europe", Rome c.d.s. arrival backstamps, to Paris, France, crossed-out and forwarded to Interlaken, Switzerland, with indistinct c.d.s. arrival backstamp (17.VIII.33), light soiling in places, a fine and scarce flight cover; ex Ainsworth.(AAMC "1184f) | 2 | |
34 | 2c-2, Offices in China, tied to registered cover by "U.S. Pos. Service Shanghai China / Mar 7 / 11AM / 1922" duplex, printed address of New York crossed-out and re-addressed Shanghai, filing folds clear of adhesives, adhesives chiefly fine-very fine, a scarce franking of the complete set of Shanghai overprints; with 1984 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
35 | 13c blue, "H.I. & U.S. Postage," 1852, large margins all around, showing trace of "kiss print" of upper letters, fresh and bright appearance, tied to folded letter by crisp red "Honolulu / US Postage Paid / Jul / 24" c.d.s., black "PAID" handstamp alongside, postmarked with ideal San Francisco c.d.s. (1 Sep) in black, adjacent circular "8" in black from San Francisco, from Maria Whitney Pogue, with extensive letter datelined at Lahainaluna, to Miss Fidelia Fiske in "Ooromiah" (Oroomiah), Persia, endorsed in manuscript at lower left "care of H. Hill Esq., 33 Pemberton Sq., Boston Mass", an astounding and sound entire, the finer of two recorded Missionary covers to Persia, and the unique example with only a Hawaiian franking, a rarity of the utmost quality, with 1995 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex Champion, Lichtenstein, Ostheimer III, Honolulu Advertiser. The first issues of Hawaii are known as the Missionary stamps. Printed by letterpress at the Government Printing Office, the first three stamps made available on 1 October, 1851 in Honolulu and Lahaina. The design and production was overseen by Henry Whitney, Honolulu’s first postmaster, and brother of the sender of the letter offered here. An exceptional overview of the production and history of the Hawaiian Missionary stamps by Fred Gregory may be found at Post Office in Paradise (www.hawaiianstamps.com) The 13c adhesive paid the Hawaiian and United States postage, as well as the 2c ship’s fee. The crossed-out endorsement “care of H. Hill…”, indicates that once received in Boston, the cover was conveyed to Oroomiah privately. Both the sender, Maria Whitney Pogue, and recipient, Fidelia Fiske, are well-known. Pogue was born on 19 October, 1820, at Waimea, Kauai, and her passing in May, 1900, was recorded by the Aloha Aina newspaper, noting “This morning Mrs. Maria Whitney Pogue, the first haole [non-native] girl to be born in the Hawaiian archipelago, died after a long illness. She was eighty years old. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Whitney, missionaries who arrived first with other missionaries for the islands.” Her brother, Henry Martyn Whitney, served as Hawaii’s first Postmaster, and was a prominent figure in both Hawaiian publishing and politics. Like her correspondent Fiske, Whitney would be educated in the United States at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, among the most prominent institutions at the time for educating women missionaries. While Whitney would return to Hawaii to continue the missionary work of her family, Fiske, while maintaining a life-long connection to Mount Holyoke, would find her calling further afield. Fiske is remembered today for her extensive work among the Nestorian (Christian Assyrian) community of present-day Umria, Iran. The Assyrian Church, desiring encourage the education of girls in the region, called upon Fiske to lead this project, which she did, as a teacher and principal at the Urmia Seminary, later renamed in her honour. Extensive collections of Fiske’s correspondence are today held in several institutional collections. Of note, the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum holds in its collection Fiske’s document box, which they note “was likely used in her travels, and contained letters and writing materials.”An exceptional piece of Hawaiian history. | 5 | |
36 | 6c carmine, 1874, two singles, with single Hawaii 2c rose vermilion, 5c blue, and 6c arranged, arranged in overlapping fashion and tied together on cover from Honolulu, Hawaii, to East Hatley, Quebec, Canada, postmarked with Hawaii double-circle "G.P.O. Honolulu / Sep / 21 / Paid All" and violet "San Francisco Cal / Oct / 17 / Paid All" c.d.s., reverse with Montreal transit (24 Oct) and Hatley split-ring receiver, cover reduced at left, a few small wormholes including through 6c, and light overall soiling, but a rare and most likely unique franking, signed Ashbrook; ex Ainsworth. Ashbrook surmises that this is an overpaid, double rate letter, the 2c, 5c, and 6c Hawaiian adhesives overpaying the double rate to the United States by 1c, the two 6c carmine paying the correct double rate to Canada. | 2 | |
37 | Baltimore, Maryland, 1c blue on bluish paper, good impression, margins touching on three sides, cancelled with manuscript "x" and tied to cover by circular blue "1", postmarked with "Baltimore Md / Aug / 1" c.d.s. with enclosed letter, a scarce usage; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
38 | Baltimore, Maryland, 1c red, ample to large margins all around, tied by blue "Baltimore MD” c.d.s. (9 Jan), Heim Nicodemus & Co advertising cover, multiple hinge remnants on reverse from prior mounting, a scarce and attractive usage on an illustrated cover. | 2 | |
39 | Charleston, South Carolina, Steinmeyer's City Post, 2c black on pink paper, sheet of 10, large sheet margins, hinged original gum, partially disturbed in places, the odd small tone spot, signed "J.F. Steinmeyer Jr." at foot, lower left corner slightly trimmed and small corner crease at lower right, else a fine and scarce sheet. | 2 | |
40 | Cincinnati, Ohio, Williams' City Post, 2c brown on wove paper, margins just touching to ample, tied to locally-addressed cover by partial blue "City Post" c.d.s., manuscript dated 1854, a rare cover; ex-Knapp. | 2 | |
Lot | Carriers’ And Local Stamps Local Stamps | Estimate | |
41 | Cleveland, Ohio, Bishop’s City Post, (1c) blue, mostly large to very large margins, close at upper left, fresh and deep color, tied to cover by red "Cleveland O / Paid / Feb / 9" c.d.s. with "10" in manuscript written overtop of 9, on cover to Conrad Armstrong, Attorney at Law on South 4th Street, with enclosed letter, adhesive with tear at left, just touching frameline, cover with some pressed creases, portion torn from back flap, and multiple adhesion remnants on reverse, nevertheless a rare on-cover example of this City Post, one of only seven recorded in the Allen census, and the only one with the stamp tied to cover, signed Costales, Jakubek; ex Golden, Boker. | 2 | |
42 | Louisville, Kentucky, Brown & McGill's USPO Despatch, 2c blue, unused block of four, without gum, large margins all around showing complete framelines, pleasing light shade, hinge thin to bottom pair, yet a rare block, this carrier’s stamps being infrequently seen in multiples, fresh and very fine appearance. | 2 | |
43 | New York, New York, United States City Despatch Post, 3c black on blue-green glazed paper, large margins on all sides, cancelled with centrally-struck octagonal "US" in red, postmarked "New York / 10 Cts / 7 / Sep" c.d.s., to Saginaw, Michigan, small tear to back flap, scarce and fine; with clear 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
44 | New York, New York, United States City Despatch Post, 3c black on blue glazed paper, large margins on all sides, with sheet margin at foot, affixed to folded letter and cancelled with red octagonal "U.S.", postmarked with red "City Despatch Post" c.d.s. (1 Jun), locally-addressed to the corner of Grove and Bleeker Streets, light filing folds, attractive and fine; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 | |
45 | New York, New York, U.S. Mail, 1c black on rose wove paper, two 1c black on yellow, and two 1c black on buff, margins chiefly clear to large, each being tied to cover by red New York c.d.s. or PAID handstamp, one 6LB11 addressed to Washington, D.C., another franking being a striking sheet margin single, a few adhesives with discoloration as often seen, else a chiefly fine group. | 3 | |
46 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Mail, 1c black on rose, with "L.P.", large portion of frameline present on three sides, not cancelled but affixed to small cover, with floral embossing at upper left, dated "9 May" in manuscript, H.C. Gibson owner's backstamp, scarce, a fine and charming cover, one of only 12-15 examples recorded in the Lyons census, signed Jakubek. | 2 | |
47 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Mail, 1c gold on black on glazed paper, large even margins on all sides, tied to cover by red star cancellation, 3c orange brown affixed at left and tied by blue "Philadelphia PA / Oct / 4" c.d.s., a late usage thus, to Boston, Massachusetts, the carrier adhesive with some imperfections typical of this printing, else fine. | 2 | |
48 | St. Louis, Missouri, 2c blue, tied to locally-addressed cover by boxed "1CT" handstamp, with free strike alongside, manuscript "Valentine" notation at left, adhesive with various faults and repaired, yet a great rarity, this being one of only five covers recorded; with 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate.Provenance: Ambassador J. William Middendorf II, Frajola Net Price Sale 4, 1990. | 3 | |
49 | Allen's Dispatch, Chicago, Illinois, (undenominated) red on yellow, tied to cover by violet eagle, alongside oval "Allen's City Dispatch / 125 Clark Street / Feb 3 1883", with lovely illustrated advertisement for I.N.W. Sherman, carriage and wagon manufacturers, depicting the company's factory, to Empire Warehouse Co. at Market & Quincy Streets, adhesive with some light soiling from use, a scarce franking, particularly desirable on an advertising cover; ex Kuphal. | 2 | |
50 | Boyd's City Express, New York, 2c black on green, glazed surface paper, serrated perforations, affixed to folded letter, internally dated May 6, 1846, cancelled with black handstamp, red 'PAID" below and oval "Boyd's City / Express Post" (6 May) adjacent, some light toning, yet a rare example of this privately prepared perforated stamp; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. | 3 |