Sale 996 — The Wagshal Collection, Part 3:
3c 1851-57 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 21 October, 2010
Category — 3c Dull Red - Carrier & Local Combinations
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Large margins with "& Cincinnati" of imprint at top, tied by the same oval handstamp used to produce the 7LB18 stamp and used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), tied by bold strike of "Philadelphia Pa. Nov. 14" circular datestamp on immaculate cover to Wilmington Del.VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS REMARKABLE CARRIER STAMP. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE WHICH IS TIED BY THE SAME PHILADELPHIA OVAL CARRIER HANDSTAMP USED TO PRODUCE THE CARRIER STAMP.
The Philadelphia carrier stamps printed on the sheet selvage of imperforate 1c 1851 stamps hold a unique position in United States philately. Elsewhere in the world there are very few instances in which sheet selvage was used to produce adhesive stamps --- the early stamps of Zanzibar from a much later period immediately come to mind. Two handstamps were used to produce the Philadelphia carrier stamps, this being the larger version, which is usually found partly or weakly struck. This example, a bold strike with rectangular margins showing a large part of the imprint, is among the two or three finest known stamps, and the usage on cover is extremely rare, especially tied by the same marking used to produce the carrier stamp.
With 1990 note from Robert B. Meyersburg.
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB13). Large margins to just touched, tied by red star handstamp and used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to barely touched, tied by "Baton Rouge La. Nov. 9" circular datestamp on blue cover to Philadelphia street address, trivial edgewearVERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY REPORTED USE OF THE ONE-CENT BLACK CARRIER STAMP USED FOR THE DELIVERY OF INCOMING MAIL. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
The normal use of the carrier stamp was to indicate payment for delivery to the post office. The cover offered here has the stamp paying for delivery to a street address.
Illustrated in Chronicle No. 117, Feb. 1983, p. 20. With 1985 P.F. certificate and with note from same year by Robert B. Meyersburg
One Cent Despatch (Wiley), Washington D.C., 1c Violet (112L1). Large margins all around, tied by "City Despatch Oct. 30 9 P.M." circular datestamp, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), full margins to just in, tied by "Washington D.C. Oct. 31, 1856" circular datestamp on cover to Philadelphia, Very Fine usage and quite scarce, with 1985 P.F. certificate
Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y., (1c) Red on Wove (136L9). Large margins, bright color, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), both tied by "New-York Mar. 22" circular datestamp on buff cover to Macedon N.J., 3c with small margin nick, some cover staining on back, otherwise Very Fine, attractive usage