Sale 1075 — 2014 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 26 June, 2014
Category — Carriers and Locals, Western Express
1c Blue, Eagle Carrier (LO2). Horizontal strip of three, neat manuscript cancels, tied by red "Andalusia Penn. Sep. 12" double-line circular datestamp with day in manuscript on buff cover to Philadelphia, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), similarly cancelled, slightly reduced at top and missing part of top flap, barely reduced at upper rightVERY FINE. A RARE STRIP OF THREE OF THE ONE-CENT EAGLE CARRIER ON THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH THIS CARRIER ISSUE USED FROM ANDALUSIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
Andalusia is located in Buck's County and borders Philadelphia. It is home to a famous mansion owned by prominent financier Nicholas Biddle and is still owned by his family. This is the only example of the Eagle Carrier used from Andalusia.
Honour's City Post, Charleston S.C., (2c) Black on Bluish (4LB13). Large margins to just in at bottom, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), both stamps tied by "Charleston S.C. Nov. 29, 1858" circular datestamp on small cover to Pittsfield Mass., repaired tear at upper right corner not affecting stampsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY TWELVE GENUINE COVERS ARE RECORDED WITH THE BORDER-OF-LINKS STAMP ISSUED BY HONOUR'S POST IN 1857-58. ONLY FIVE COVERS ARE KNOWN TO US WITH 4LB13 TIED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 3-CENT 1851-57 ISSUE.
The border-of-links carrier stamp issued by Honour in late 1857 is extremely scarce. Evidence of 4LB13's rarity is the small number of examples contained in the Caspary, Boker, Hessel and Golden collections. Larry Lyons records twelve 4LB13 covers (The Penny Post, October 2007), but only five covers in our records have 3c 1851-57 stamps and the 4LB13 tied.
Ex Caspary and Kuphal. With 1993 Jakubek certificate. Scott Retail as tied by pen cancel $4,500.00
Brown & McGill's U.S.P.O. Despatch, Louisville Ky., (2c) Blue (5LB2). Large to huge margins showing dividing lines all around, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), both stamps tied by blue 6-bar grid cancel, matching "Louisville Ky. Aug. 4, 1860" circular datestamp on cover to Mt. Sterling O., 3c few short perfs, carrier stamp has tiny toned specks and minute scuff in top left marginA VERY FINE AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE BROWN & McGILL'S CARRIER STAMP TIED BY LOUISVILLE GRID CANCEL. ONLY SIX OR SEVEN ARE KNOWN TIED ON COVER IN THIS MANNER, THIS BEING ONE OF THE TWO FINEST.
Ex Piller and Kuphal.
Glen Haven Daily Mail, Glen Haven N.Y., 1c Black on Green Glazed, Ty. II (71L2). Large margins, few tiny flaked spots in enamel, used with 3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11) and both tied by "Scott N.Y. Oct. 15" circular datestamp on small white cover to Bonsack's Va.EXTREMELY FINE. A VERY RARE TIED COMBINATION OF THE GLEN HAVEN DAILY MAIL STAMP AND 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
The Glen Haven stamps are almost always uncancelled. This tied use of the early Type II adhesive is extremely rare and unlisted in Scott.
Ex Kuphal. This is the first we have offered on cover since 2006.
Hartford Conn. Mail Route, (5c) Black on Yellow Glazed (80L1). Two clear margins, just barely in to clear on other sides, manuscript "South" (applied before use), usual slight oxidation and tiny margin tear at right, still Very Fine, scarce and seldom offered example of the manuscript "South", ex Kuphal
Hartford Conn. Mail Route, (5c) Black on Yellow Glazed (80L1). Ample margins to just touching frameline, uncancelled, usual slight oxidation and small corner crease, used on Jan. 20, 1845 folded letter from Hartford to New York, manuscript "Single"VERY FINE STAMP ON AN ATTRACTIVE SOUTHBOUND COVER CARRIED BY THE HARTFORD MAIL ROUTE.
According to published research by Francis E. Stern (Collectors Club Philatelist, Vol. 41, No. 3), the Hartford Mail stamps were prepared by E. W. Parsons and a partner named Fuller. Parsons was a Hartford bookseller who later became the New England superintendent for Adams Express Company and then a prominent figure in the Hartford insurance business. Mr. Fuller was an agent for Thompson & Co.'s express in Springfield Mass. The apparent function of the Parsons-Fuller Hartford Mail was to carry mail between Hartford and other cities. They also linked with other inter-city expresses that served the region, such as Adams and Hale. The more than 60 surviving covers indicate that the Hartford Mail did not deliver mail between correspondents within the city. The operation commenced in 1844 -- the earliest known cover dates from August 1844 -- and it appears to have discontinued service on June 30, 1845, the latest recorded date and the point when inter-city letter expresses were outlawed.
Ex Kuphal. With 2007 P.F. certificate
Moody's Penny Dispatch, Chicago Ill., (1c) Black on Red Glazed (110L1). Type Ic with Comma, Position 7 according to our plating analysis, huge margins with sheet margin at left, tied by blue "Moody's Despatch Nov. 4, 5 - M. 1856" circular datestamp, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), ample margins to slightly in, tied by "Chicago Ill. Nov. 5, 1856" circular datestamp on light buff cover to Neillsburg Pa., cover slightly creased at bottomEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF FIVE RECORDED COVERS WITH THE MOODY'S PENNY DISPATCH STAMP TIED. A DESIRABLE AND COLORFUL LOCAL POST USE.
What little is known about Moody's Penny Dispatch comes from original research by Dr. Clarence Hennan and Henry E. Abt, with additional information provided by Elliott Perry. Abt's series on Chicago locals was published in the American Philatelist (June 1957-January 1958), and the discovery of the "Henny Dispatch" error with a plating analysis was published by Scott R. Trepel in Chronicle 164 (November 1994). City directories point to Robert J. Moody as the proprietor. Gager's directory for 1856-57 lists Moody at 30 Dearborn, at the corner of Lake Street. Dated examples establish a brief period of operation from September through December 1856 and possibly into January 1857.
A total of 19 stamps are recorded, including a strip of 3 and 16 singles on and off cover. Our records contain seven Moody's Penny Dispatch covers with stamps: 1) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, repaired, Nov. 15, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Deerfield Mass., ex Hennan, Golden; 2) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 7, Nov. 14, 1856 datestamp, tied with three 1c 1851's on cover to Middletown R.I., ex Caspary, Siegel Sale 773 and Kuphal (Siegel Sale 925, lot 1635); 3) 110L1b Ty. III "Henny Dispatch" error, Pos. 8, Sep. 18, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Voluntown Conn., ex Rohloff, Siegel Sale 773, and Kuphal (Siegel Sale 925, lot 1636); 4) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, Sep. 29, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Dover N.H., ex Brown, Knapp, Hall, Siegel Sale 830, lot 724; 5) reported 110L1 uncancelled on Oct. 9, 1856 cover, ex J. W. Kline, Abt article, no further details; 6) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, blue Moody's datestamp, not tied, with 3c 1851 tied by Chicago Jan. 5 datestamp, 1856 receipt docketing, uncertain use; and 7) 110L1 Ty. Ic, Pos. 7, Nov. 4, 1846 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Neillsburg Pa., ex Lake Shore (Siegel Sale 888, lot 223), the cover offered here. Reviewing the list, it is obvious that there are only three 110L1 covers with the stamps tied in combination with the 3c 1851. Two of the four remaining covers are not tied, one is a combination with the 1c 1851, and the last is the 110L1b "Henny" error, which is in a class of its own.
One Cent Despatch (Wiley), Baltimore Md., 1c Red (112L2). Mostly large margins, tied by perfect "City Despatch Oct. 23 4-1/2 P.M. 1856" circular datestamp, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), gorgeous shade (possibly an 1856 Orange Brown), creased by wax wafer adhesive, tied by blue "Baltimore Md. Oct. 24" circular datestamp on cover to naval hospital at Portsmouth Va., cover lightly toned, otherwise Fine, extremely scarce, ex Piller and Kuphal
Wells, Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Green (143L2). Position 19, clear margins to touched at bottom right, rich color, cancelled by rim and "SA" of blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp, small thin spotsFRESH AND FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 GREEN HORSE & RIDER FIRST ISSUE. PERHAPS A HALF-DOZEN EXIST IN USED CONDITION.
The $4.00 Green was used briefly during Rate Period 3 to pay the double $2.00 per half-ounce rate. Only one cover is recorded (FKW Census No. E105), and we have seen four or five genuinely cancelled stamps off cover.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail at $1,250.00 fails to account for the sale of another used copy at $6,000 hammer in 2009 and the resale of the same stamp in 2013 for $13,000 hammer
Wells, Fargo & Co., Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Position 6, clear margins to just in at bottom right corner, rich color, light strike of blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp, faint horizontal crease at upper leftFINE APPEARANCE. FEWER THAN TEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE $2.00 HORSE & RIDER SECOND ISSUE ARE REPORTED.
The $2.00 Green Second Issue is extremely scarce in used condition. Only two covers are recorded, and we have seen approximately eight genuinely cancelled stamps off cover.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate
Washburn's Express & News Agency, Camptonville. Bold strike of large blue double-line oval handstamp with "News Agency" in ribbon, 3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11) tied by clear strike of "Petaluma Cal. 25 Mar." (1857) circular datestamp on small glazed cover with embossed flaps to Camptonville Cal., original letter datelined "Russian River, March 22d/ -57" and directed to Young's Hill Cal., nice content related to mining incl. "It makes me a little uneasy for fear that you would get worse hurt than you already have, do be careful won't you for my sake, do not go into any of those tunnels or shafts unless it is really necessary...", minor edge toningVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE WASHBURN'S EXPRESS COVER FRANKED WITH THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE.
Washburn's Express operated briefly from 1856 to 1857, between Camptonville, Marysville and the mining camps along the forks of the Yuba River. The enclosed letter is datelined "Russian River", which became known as Healdsburg in 1857 and is located approximately 30 miles from Petaluma, where this cover entered the mails.
Ex Dale-Lichtenstein. With 2004 P.F. certificate
Paid, Everts, Wilson & Co.'s Daily Express, Overland Via Los Angeles. Red printed frank with route crossed out on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16) to Newport Ky., cancelled by large blue rectangle of squares, matching "Marysville Cal. Paid by Stamps Nov. 4" circular datestamp, slightly reduced at rightVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND SCARCE COVER CARRIED BY EVERTS WILSON & CO. FROM THE MINING CAMPS TO MARYSVILLE WHERE IT ENTERED THE MAILS TO THE EAST COAST.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate
VICTORIA/PAID/V.I. Blue handstamped frank on 10c Green on Buff Nesbitt entire (U16) with red Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, addressed to New London Conn., Stark correspondence, carried privately to New York where bold "New-York Mar. 17" circular datestamp was struck over embossed stamp, some edgewear, small filing hole, still Very Fine, very scarce example of mail from Vancouver Island with handstamped British Columbia & Vancouver Island frank, carried by Wells, Fargo outside of the mails from Victoria to New York
5c Brown, 10c Yellow Green (68, 76). Tied by cogwheel cancels, "San Francisco Cal. Sep. 1" (1866) double-circle datestamp on cover from Vancouver Island to New Brunswick via San Francisco, Panama and New York, blue "Post Office, Paid, Victoria Vancouver Island" oval handstamp indicating postage paid, transit and receiving backstamps, slight edgewear just affects 10c stampVERY FINE. A RARE BRITISH COLUMBIA AND VANCOUVER ISLAND COVER TO CANADA VIA THE UNITED STATES AND PANAMA.
Ex Wilkinson.
Wells, Fargo & Co. Printed frank on 10c Yellow Green on White entire (U40) from Vancouver Island to Portland, Oregon, with British Columbia, 1869, 5c on 3c Bright Red (9), tied by blue "35" in barred oval cancel, blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Victoria, Dec. 3" oval datestamp, expertly repaired tear at top not affecting indiciaVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MIXED FRANKING COVER FROM BRITISH COLUMBIA TO OREGON.
Ex Wilkinson.