Sale 1075 — 2014 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 26 June, 2014
Category — Postal Stationey
2c Vermilion on Manila, Die 51, Full Corner (W138; UPSS 317). Unused, 51 x 56mm, intense color and impression, faint horizontal creases at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT DIE 51 VERMILION ON MANILA.
Porter Venn notes that one entire is known, but that it is a Specimen. He records only two cut squares and one full corner.
Ex Dr. Summers. With 1987 and 2000 P.F. certificates
6c Orange on Blue entire, Die 3, Without Border, Error of Paper Color (UC6a; UPSS AM28). Size 13, knife 78, watermark 39, unused, distinctive blue paper color, a few very slight vertical creases (really inconsequential)VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AIR MAIL POSTAL STATIONERY PAPER COLOR ERROR. ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE 6-CENT ORANGE ON BLUE PAPER ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST -- THIS IS THE DISCOVERY COPY.
This particular example of the rare 6c Air Post Color Error has never been sold in the philatelic marketplace. The current owner purchased this item for 7c from the Madison, New Jersey, post office in 1944 when he was 12 years old. This was the first example discovered, and it was certified by The Philatelic Foundation in 1947. The updated Philatelic Foundation certificate mentions "some light vertical creases" which the owner jokingly answers occurred by "putting the item in his rear pants pocket" while riding his bicycle home after purchasing it.
We have been unable to find another example sold at auction since our 1986 Rarities of the World Sale. This rarity has been missing from all of the prominent collections of Postal Stationery formed in recent memory, including Floyd, Saddleback, Wanamaker, Schiller and Scarsdale. The story of this item was featured in the January-February 2011 Postal Stationery journal.
With 1947 and 2013 P.F. certificates
1c Brown on Buff, Postal Card, Large "USPOD" in Monogram Watermark (UX1, USPCC S1). Cancelled by "New York May 13, 1:30 PM" First Day circular datestamp and negative "3" cork, addressed to Jersey City N.J., with message datelined May 13, 1873, "My Dear -- accept compliments and sample of postal card from C.E.M.", small corner crease at top rightVERY FINE. A RARE NEW YORK FIRST DAY USE OF THE FIRST POSTAL CARD ISSUE.
According to the United States Postal Card Catalogue, for at least the first 50 years of postal card use, little attention was paid to observance of "first-day use" as we now know it. Even if an official first day of issue was announced, few cards, if any, were actually made available to the public on that day. In the case of the UX1, this was issued in Springfield Mass. on May 12, 1873 (one is known used on that day). Supplies reached Boston, Hartford, New York and Washington on the following day, which is the earliest known use from those cities. Fewer than ten are known to exist cancelled on May 13.
With 2014 P.F. certificate as genuine First Day use but declining opinion on the origin of the notation at bottom left "1873. May 13th"
1c Brown on Buff, Postal Card (UX1; USPCC S1). Cancelled by partly clear strike of Boston May 13, 1873 First Day circular datestamp, matching segmented cork, notation at lower left "May 13th '73",VERY FINE. A RARE BOSTON FIRST DAY USE OF THE FIRST POSTAL CARD ISSUE.
Fewer than ten cards are known to exist cancelled on May 13. They were postmarked in Boston, New York and Washington D.C. One is known cancelled on May 12 in Springfield Mass. (sent by an official of the Morgan Envelope Co.) but has never reached the market.
With 1992 P.F. certificate with the opinion "genuine usage of a postal card docketed May 13, 1873, with an undecipherable postmark" -- obviously it is May 13
1c Brown on Buff, Postal Card (UX3). Cancelled by neat star in circle with "Westfield N.J. Nov. 3, 1873" circular datestamp on card addressed to Canaan Conn. with Stephen S. Mapes "Santa Claus Depot" red illustrated design, depicts Santa entering a snowy chimney with a bag of presents, titled "The Best Place to Buy Your Holiday Toys and Fancy Goods," with 37 Maiden Lane N.Y. addressVERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL PIONEER POSTAL CARD ADVERTISEMENT WITH A SANTA CLAUS DESIGN.
Accompanied by an article from the Postcard Collector (Dec. 1990) discussing another example of this design (dated Nov. 7), which was reported to be the earliest known example of a Christmas/Santa image on a First Issue postal card