Sale 1144 — Smithsonian National Postal Museum Benefit Auction
Sale Date — Tuesday, 13 December, 2016
Category — 1851-56 Postal History: Carriers & Locals
1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Position 82L1E, large margins to just touched, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), margins to in, tied by grid cancels, "Baltimore Md. Aug. 25" circular datestamp on blue 1852 folded letter to New York City, 1c tiny surface scuff, otherwise Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
Baltimore Md., 1c Green (1LB4). Type 9, bottom sheet margin, other sides large to clear, deep shade, tied by two pen lines, used with 3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A), large margins, tied by blue "Baltimore Md. Dec. 17" circular datestamp on 1852 blue folded letter to New York City street addressEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW GENUINE COVERS KNOWN WITH THE BALTIMORE GREEN CARRIER STAMP USED WITH THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE. THIS IS ARGUABLY THE FINEST OF ALL 1LB4 COVERS.
Ex Caspary and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate
3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Large top left corner sheet margins, full at bottom, slightly rough at upper right, tied by light strike of "U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N. York Mar. 11" circular datestamp on yellow 1854 cover to street address in Boston, back with blue seal of Superintendent Office of the Central Railroad N.J., endorsed "Penny Post" at top right for local delivery in Boston, original letter datelined "March 11th, 1854, Elizabeth Port", backflap tear thru seal, otherwise Very Fine, a beautiful cover
1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Huge margins including bottom sheet margin, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to clear, tiny nick at right, tied by large blue Charleston S.C. Paid Oct. 15" circular datestamp on blue 1852 folded letter to South Santee S.C., Very Fine, rather than a "way" letter, this is more likely an example of the 1c 1851 used to pay the carrier fee to the post office in Charleston
Honour's Penny Post, Charleston S.C., (2c) Black on Bluish (4LB11). Three large margins, touched at top, tied by manuscript "2", used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), also with three large margins and touched at top, tied by "Charleston S.C. Paid Nov. 2" circular datestamp on small 1855 folded letter to Sumterville S.C.VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED COVERS WITH A FULLY-TIED COMBINATION OF THE RARE HONOUR'S "PENNY POST" STAMP AND 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
The Honour's "Penny Post" stamp is extremely rare, with only 13-15 covers believed to be genuine, including five on which the carrier is tied.
Ex Lichtenstein, Hollowbush and Golden. With 2000 P.F. certificate
Bishop's City Post, Cleveland O., (unstated value) Blue (10LB1). Large margins to clear, deep shade, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to clear, tied by "Cleveland O. Feb. 8" circular datestamp on orange cover to Yale College at New Haven Conn., from the Huntington correspondenceEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED COVERS WITH THE BISHOP'S BLUE CARRIER STAMP. AN OUTSTANDING CARRIER USAGE AND BEAUTIFUL 1851 COMBINATION COVER.
Henry S. Bishop was appointed to operate the Cleveland carrier department on December 21, 1853. Research by Elliott Perry shows that Bishop became an employee of the post office on July 1, 1854, but the city post continued to function, with or without his direct participation. Bishop issued two stamps: the 10LB1 Blue with blank oval, presumably designed to accommodate more than one denomination; and the 10LB2 Black with 2c value. Both are very rare. The census by Thomas F. Allen (19th Century Cleveland, Ohio, Postal Markings) is still current with seven 10LB1 covers recorded; of these, only one cover has the stamp tied by a cancel (Golden sale, lot 279, realized $13,500), and one cover has a pair paying the delivery fee (Golden sale, lot 278, realized $15,000).
Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Bronze on Lilac (15L14). Margins to in, tied by acid and "Blood's Despatch May 9 4-1/2 P.M. 1856" circular datestamp and used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to just in at top left, tied by well-struck "Philadelphia Pa. May 9" circular datestamp on lady's small embossed cover to Trenton N.Y., Very Fine, ex Watt White
Boyd's City Express, New York N.Y., 2c Gold (20L9). Three full margins, barely in at right, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), ample margins, both stamps tied by "New-York Feb. 14" Valentine's Day circular datestamp on cover to East Hartford Conn., faint corner mount stains, otherwise Very Fine
Boyd's City Express, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green (20L14). Large margins, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to in, tied by "New-York N.Y. Apr. 5" circular datestamp on Neptune Iron Works illustrated corner card cover to Fall River Mass., Very Fine
Brooklyn City Express Post, Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Dark Blue (28L5). Large margins to slightly in at bottom, tied by black ring cancel, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to touching at top, vertical crease, both stamps tied by bold "Brooklyn N-Y. Feb. 2" circular datestamp on small cover to Milwaukee Wis., neat docketing, Very Fine appearance, ex Hall
Broadway Post Office, New York N.Y., (1c) Black (26L2). Mostly full margins, slightly in at right, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), vertical pair, large margins to in, top stamp natural pre-printing crease at right, tied together by "New-York Mar 4" circular datestamp on double-rate 1854 folded letter to Constantia N.Y., pair light vertical crease, Fine and attractive, a very rare combination, ex Piller and Kuphal, with 2007 P.F. certificate
Bronson & Forbes' City Express Post, Chicago Ill., (unstated value) Black on Green (27L1). Large margins to barely touched at sides, uncancelled and used with 3c Dull Red Ty. I (11), large margins to in at left, on buff cover to Oriskany N.Y., tied by "Chicago Ill. Feb. 26" circular datestamp, Fine and rare, fewer than a dozen Bronson & Forbes' covers are known and all but two have uncancelled stamps (Scott Retail for tied stamp on cover $14,000.00)
Browne & Co.'s City Post Office, Cincinnati O., 1c Black (29L1). Large margins to clear, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), margins to clear, each stamp tied by blue "Cincinnati O. Jun. 15" circular datestamp, 1c also tied by "City Post" handstamp, to Pellsburg Pa., 1c pre-use horizontal crease, missing small part of top flap, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail $2,750.00
Browne & Co.'s City Post Office, Cincinnati O., 2c Black (29L2). Margins slightly in, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), ample margins to cut in, both stamps tied by dark blue "Cincinnati O. Dec. 17" circular datestamp on brown cover to Putnam Female Seminary in Ohio, minor edgewearFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF BROWNE & CO.'S 2-CENT STAMP AND 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
The Browne & Co. 1c stamp, Scott 29L1, was designed with the "Brown & Co." spelling error. The correct spelling with the "e" at the end appears on the 2c stamp and the markings used by the post.
Hopedale Penny Post, Milford Mass., (1c) Black on Yellow Wove (84L3). Cut square and with huge margins to clear, affixed at bottom left of cover and used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins and bright color, tied by "Milford Ms. Feb. 20" circular datestamp and used to Westminster Mass., local stamp with staining, cover with tear at top right not affecting stampVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE. PROBABLY FEWER THAN FOUR OR FIVE COVERS EXIST WITH THE HOPEDALE CIRCULAR STAMP ON YELLOW.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
Messenkope's Union Square Post Office, New York N.Y., (1c) Black on Green Glazed (106L1). Large margins to touched at bottom, manuscript line thru "Messenkope's", used with 3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A), close margins to touching, minute tear at lower left, both stamps tied by bold "New-York Jan. 19" circular datestamp on small white cover to Sault Ste. Marie Mich., Very Fine, rare combination and tied combination
Metropolitan Post Office, New York N.Y., 1c Blue on Wove (108L5). Cut to shape slightly into design, fine early impression on glazed paper (similar to 108L1-108L3A issues), cancelled by black smudge (not tied), used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), left sheet margin and other sides just touched, tied by "New-York Sep. 5" circular datestamp on "Analytical Physician's" blue corner card cover to Danby Vt., the woodcut styles of the corner card and Metropolitan stamp are quite similar, Very Fine and extremely scarce, probably Sep. 1857, the pattern of Metropolitan stamp usage and "Express to Mail" label on the last two issues indicate that the post primarily (or exclusively) delivered mail to the post office, ex Golden, with 2000 P.F. certificate
One Cent Despatch (Wiley), Baltimore Md., 1c Red (112L2). Type I, two ample margins, others touching to slightly in, bright color, tiny tear at bottom, tied by "City Despatch Oct. 15, 8 A.M." double-circle datestamp, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), margins close to just in, both stamps tied by blue "Baltimore Md. Oct. 15" circular datestamp on 1856 cover to Woodstown N.J., stamps have very faint gum toning, 3c small crease at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. VERY FEW BALTIMORE ONE CENT DESPATCH COVERS SHOW TO-THE-MAILS USAGE. A BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION AND FAR RARER THAN ITS WASHINGTON COUNTERPART.
Based on a cursory review of our records, it appears that there are six or seven covers with this combination.
Ex Kelly, Golden and Hackmey. With 2000 P.F. certificate
Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y., (2c) Red on Wove (136L4). Large margins all around, tied by grid, used with 3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A), large margins to clear (left margin under 2c stamp so unable to determine size), both tied by "New-York Dec. 6" circular datestamp on cover to Ludlowville N.Y., some slight edgewear, missing part of top flap, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y., 1c Red (136L15). Full margins all around, used with 3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A), three full to large margins, slightly in at left, 1c tied by 5-point hollow star cancel used by Swarts, 3c tied by "New-York Nov. 1" circular datestamp on folded cover to Piffard N.Y., 1851 receipt docketing, heavy file fold clear of stamps, stamp with small internal hole which is barely noticeable (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)VERY FINE. PROBABLY FEWER THAN A HALF-DOZEN COVERS EXIST WITH THE SWARTS "FOR THE MAILS" STAMP IN RED. AN OUTSTANDING LOCAL AND 1851 ISSUE COMBINATION.
The Red "For the Mails" stamps were issued by Swarts in 1851 when the 1c rate was introduced. The Red stamps are far rarer than the Blue stamps of the same design, which followed sometime later. We have offered perhaps five different covers in the past 20 years, and this is one of the finest.
Ex Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate
Union Square Post Office, New York N.Y., 1c Black on Dark Green (141L1). Cut to shape, just in in a few spots, cancelled by manuscript, used with 1c Blue, Ty. II (7), Positions 31-32R1E, horizontal pair, sheet margin at left and in on other sides and 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), three large margins, in at left, 1c cancelled by grids, 3c tied by red "New-York Aug. 27" circular datestamp, second strike at center, on small cover to Paris, France, 1c tied by French transit and "19" decimes due marking, 1852 docketing, transit and receiving backstamps, some slight wear, Fine and desirable use to a foreign destination
Union Square Post Office, New York N.Y., 1c Black on Dark Green (141L1). Large margins to just touched at top left, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to just in, tied by "New-York Jan. 11" circular datestamp on cover to Charleston S.C., Very Fine
Westtown School, Westtown Pa., (2c) Gold (145L1). Enormous margins, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), margins to barely touched, tied together by "Westchester Pa. Jun. 14" circular datestamp on Quaker-dated 1854 folded letter to Philadelphia, 3c small gum spotsEXTREMELY FINE AND VERY FRESH. A MAGNIFICENT COVER WITH THE WESTTOWN LOCAL STAMP TIED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 1851 ISSUE ON THE FRONT OF THE COVER.
This local post operated between the Westtown Quaker school for girls and nearby post offices. Its small adhesive stamps were almost always affixed to the back flap of lady's envelopes. The use of this stamp on the address side, tied with the post office datestamp, is extremely unusual and possibly unique.
Ex Jarrett, Piller and Kuphal. With 2007 P.F. certificate.