Sale 993 — The Wagshal Collection, Part 1: 1845-69 Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 29 September, 2010
Category — New York Postmasters Provisional
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature (9X1e). Large margins to clear including part of adjoining stamp at left, tied by penstrokes which were carefully applied to avoid Washington's portrait, also tied by red "Paid" arc handstamp, second strike at right with matching "New-York 5cts. 15 Jul." (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter to John Cadwalader in Philadelphia, datelined July 14, 1845, light file fold does not affect stampVERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE, AND IT IS BY FAR THE FINER OF THE TWO KNOWN DOMESTIC COVERS POSTMARKED ON JULY 15, 1845. AN IMPORTANT UNITED STATES POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT, BEING THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE FIRST POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONAL ISSUE.
According to the Piller book, it is believed that the first delivery of the New York provisionals was on Saturday, July 12, 1845. The post office was open for only a short time on Sunday, and so it is believed that the stamps were not placed on sale until Monday, July 14. Ten covers are recorded used on Tuesday, July 15, including three to France, two to Germany, three to England and two addressed to other U.S. post offices. The other domestic cover is flawed by a sharp vertical filing crease through the stamp. All ten July 15 covers have stamps without the control initials. The earliest recorded cover with the control initials is postmarked on July 17.
With 1991 P.F. certificate stating that it is "genuinely used on cover on the first day of issue". Also accompanied by 1987 note from Philip T. Wall.
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Unused (no gum), three large margins, clear at left, detailed impression, fresh and Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Two, Positions 4 and 23, both show prominent double transfers, first large margins to just touched at top right and with blue manuscript cancel, tiny corner crease at bottom left, second large margins to clear and with blue manuscript cancel, thinned, Fine-Very Fine appearance, accompanied by diagrams showing the double transfers
Rawdon, Wright and Hatch Correspondence. Three folded letters used from New York in 1844 or 1846, each is a part-printed form, 1844 signed by Freeman Rawdon, 1846 forms signed separately by Wright and Hatch, Very Fine, excellent collateral items for the New York Postmaster's Provisional or 1847 Issue collector (or Canada First Issue)