Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — 1847 Issue (Scott 1-2)
5c Red Brown (1). Unused (no gum), stitch watermark, large margins to ample at top, intermediate impression and bright shade, completely soundVERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Hillmer as part of a pair. With copy of 1998 P.F. certificate for a pair--this the left stamp
5c Red Brown (1). Position 100R with enormous bottom right corner sheet margins, 8.5mm at right and 7mm at bottom, other two margins are large and even, bright shade with strong orange cast, cleaned-plate impression--this is closer to an Orange Brown than Red Brown--light strike of blue cancel, slight wrinkle and crease, faint manuscript ink offset on backEXTREMELY FINE GEM APPEARING CORNER SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE. ONE OF THE FINEST CORNER MARGIN EXAMPLES EXTANT.
Ex Boker and Gross.
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins, rich color and detailed early impression, tied on small piece by New York red square grid cancel, small toned spot in Franklin's forehead, Extremely Fine appearance, ex Knapp
5c Red Brown (1). Ample to large margins, deep rich color and early impression, tied on piece by blue Philadelphia 5c integral-rate circular datestamp, second strike at left, trivial age spot in margin at right, appears Very Fine, ex Knapp
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to ample at left, tied by red grid cancel with blurry strike of blue Baltimore Md. circular datestamp on greenish folded cover to Salem Va., Very Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Two horizontal pairs affixed at opposite sides of cover, top pair margins large to clear, bottom pair large margins to just in, intermediate impressions, tied by red grid cancels and by matching "New-York May 31" (1849) circular datestamp on folded cover to St. Catharines, Canada West, sender's endorsement "Paid to the lines", manuscript "9" pence due marking for distance under 60 miles, tiny cover tear at topVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE DOUBLE-RATE USE OF TWO PAIRS OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE FROM NEW YORK TO CANADA, PAID TO THE LINES WITH CANADIAN POSTAGE DUE.
Illustrated in Brookman pamphlet The 1847 Issue of United States Stamps (p. 42). Ex Knapp, Dr. Robertson, Hackmey and Gross
5c Red Brown (1). Vertical strip of three, large to huge margins all around with part of adjoining stamp at upper right, brilliant color and sharp First Printing impression, top pair uncancelled, tied by red "Montreal, Canada Paid AU 7, 1848" tombstone-style datestamp with matching "PAID" handstamp on blue folded letter to Burlington, Vermont, sender's endorsement "Money" with contents datelined at Montreal the same day and reading in part "I enclose $500 in your own money with the exception of $1.00. I should have waited and sent it by Express but thought that in all probability you might want to use it immediately, & the express does not go till Friday", manuscript "1/6" just below stamps and larger red manuscript "1/6" rate at rightEXTREMELY FINE STRIP AND A BEAUTIFUL COVER--A REMARKABLE USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE FROM CANADA, WITH A RARE VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE PAYING THE TRIPLE 5-CENT RATE FOR DISTANCE UNDER 300 MILES AND WEIGHT BETWEEN ONE AND 1.5 OUNCES. THIS FAMOUS COVER IS ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR EXAMPLES OF THE 1847 ISSUE USED FROM CANADA.
The distance from the border exchange office to Burlington was under 300 miles, so this was charged three times the normal rate due to weight. The Canadian postage was 1 shilling 6 pence, or 18 pence, which is four times the 4-1/2 pence rate for distances under 60 miles. Prior to March 15, 1849, United States rates progressed in half-ounce increments, while Canada's rates, following the British system, increased in full one-ounce increments after the first ounce.
Ex Sweet (exhibited at The Collectors Club of New York 1940 Centenary exhibition), Rust, Dr. Kapiloff, Craveri, Dr. Robertson, Hackmey and Gross. Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
5c Dark Brown (1a). Block of five, the fifth adjoining stamp was partly cut away (a complete similarly pen-cancelled stamp affixed underneath for cosmetic purposes), enormous left sheet margin and top margin showing parts of adjoining stamps, slightly in at right and bottom, dark rich color, tied by manuscript "X" cancels and affixed to flap of folded letter to Warrington, England, from the Stubbs correspondence, blue "Philada. Pa. Feb. 19" (1849) circular datestamp struck on front and back, matching "PAID" in oval handstamp, sender's ship-name directive "per Steam Ship Hermann", "America/Liverpool/MR 6 1849" arrival backstamp and red "1/-" shilling handstamp, blue Warrington receiving datestamps front and back (March 7)FINE AND REMARKABLE COVER. ONE OF ONLY THREE 5-CENT 1847 BLOCKS ON COVER AND THE ONLY BLOCK ON A TRANSATLANTIC COVER--CARRIED ON THE FIRST STEAMER TO ARRIVE IN ENGLAND UNDER THE NEW U.S.-GREAT BRITAIN TREATY.
This is one of only three 5c 1847 blocks known on cover (one is a front only), and it is the only one of the three carried in the transatlantic mails. The full history of the Retaliatory Rate period is told in our sale catalogue for the famous 1847 Rush cover, available at https://siegelauctions.com/2006/912/912.pdf , and is summarized in lot 34. The treaty between the United States and Great Britain, ending the Retaliatory Rate period, was signed on December 15, 1848. It was ratified in January 1849, and the treaty terms commenced on February 15, 1849, four days before this cover was mailed. The treaty stipulated a reciprocal 24c (or one shilling) rate and specified that packet postage would be retained by or credited to the packet's country of origin. This cover was directed by the sender for carriage on the Ocean Line Hermann, which departed New York on February 20, 1848. However, it was actually carried on the next day's sailing of the Cunarder Niagara from Boston, which arrived at Liverpool on March 6 (matching the Liverpool backstamp)--the first transatlantic steamer to arrive with mail that could be prepaid under the new treaty. The "1/-" shilling handstamp struck on arrival at Liverpool is enigmatic, as the sea postage was completely prepaid, according to the treaty terms. The use of red ink is extremely unusual, and might explain the anomalous rating.
Blocks of the 1847 Issue are exceedingly rare on cover. This transatlantic use of a block was originally discovered in the Peter Stubbs correspondence and is the only such example recorded. The other two recorded blocks are a block of four on a domestic cover from Fredonia to Albany, New York (ex Gross, Sale 1211, lot 34) and a block of four on a rebacked cover front from New York to Montreal, Canada.
Ex Bechtel, Craveri, Gross, and from our 1993 Rarities of the World sale.
10c Black, Double Transfer Type A (2-A). Position 1R, original gum, typically of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson the gum is thinly applied, but it covers the entire surface (described on accompanying certificate as "part original gum"), full to large margins, intense shade and impression clearly showing the double transfer lines in top and bottom portions of design to a much greater degree of clarity than usual--particularly in the right "X" and lettering at top, unusually fresh and completely soundEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH ORIGINAL GUM. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE PROMINENT TYPE A DOUBLE TRANSFER. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND OUTSTANDING SINGLE STAMPS OF THE 1847 ISSUE.
This extraordinary stamp was described in the 1956 H. R. Harmer sale of the Alfred H. Caspary collection (Sale 2, lot 124) as "showing more details of the doubling and all clear and sharp." In concordance with our observation, the eminent expert Herbert J. Bloch also described the gum as "Full o.g." (and he mentioned a few toned specks present on the gum, which do not affect the paper). The Scott value for a 10c 1847 in 1956 was $250.00 (without premium for the double transfer variety), and this stamp sold for twice the Scott value at $500 hammer. The current Scott value of $50,000.00 reflects the significant premium for the Type A Double transfer versus a regular unused copy with original gum (priced at $35,000.00).
Ex Caspary and Gross. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
10c Black (2). Unused (no gum), huge margins to merely large at bottom, intense shade and impression, small filled thin spot at bottom leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of 10 cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors in a hobby that did not yet exist. The small fault on this example is not readily visible and so does not detract from its appearance, but will make it more affordable.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Positions 79-80L, horizontal pair, original gum, huge margins to just touched at bottom left including right interpane margin and portion of Position 90L below, intense shade and impression, few small faults with creases and cuts in both stamps and trivial staining on right stampFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE SHEET MARGIN.
To underscore the rarity of any original-gum multiple of the 10c 1847, there are only three unused blocks recorded (two with original gum), one of which is contained in the Hirzel collection at the Swiss Museum of Communications. Only four pairs and a strip of three could be located in our computerized sale records using Power Search.
Ex Middendorf. With 1992 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value $90,000.00
10c Black (2). Large margins to clear, bright shade, unusual brown grid cancel struck in ink which is usually seen used in manuscript, light horizontal crease, Very Fine appearance, an unusual cancel, Scott value as normal red cancel
10c Black (2). Position 55R, short transfer at top, ample to large margins, bright shade, cancelled by vivid magenta grid, matching "Chicago Ill. Oct. 10" (1849) circular datestamp on folded letter to Xenia O., vertical and horizontal file folds (some edge splitting), Very Fine, ex Wunderlich, Rose and "Lake Shore"
10c Black (2). Horizontal strip of three, huge top margin with parts of three adjoining stamps, large to clear at sides, bottom margin just barely in, deep shade, tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "U.S. Express Mail N. York N.Y. Oct. 31" (1848) route agent's datestamp on blue folded cover from New York City to Sheffield, England, sender's ship-name directive "P. R.S. Steam Ship Niagara"--carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston on November 1, 1848, and arriving at Liverpool November 13--"America/Liverpool NO 13 1848" backstamp, "1/-" shilling due handstamp, Sheffield receiving backstamp (November 14), addressee's name "Jessup & Sons" has been altered with pen squiggle linesVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE RETALIATORY RATE COVER TO ENGLAND WITH A 10-CENT 1847 STRIP OF THREE, PREPAID FOR UNITED STATES INLAND AND PACKET POSTAGE BUT DUE FULL TRANSATLANTIC POSTAGE UPON ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.
The history of the Retaliatory Rate period is told in our catalogue for the famous Rush cover, available at https://siegelauctions.com/2006/912/912.pdf . The so-called Retaliatory Period resulted from Great Britain's effort to maintain its monopoly on transatlantic mail carriage through the subsidized Cunard steamship line, which operated without competition from 1840 through 1846. In response to the emergence of subsidized American packets in 1847 (the Ocean Line), the British issued an order (effective June 9, 1847) authorizing its receiving offices to collect the usual British packet postage on letters carried to England by American subsidized steamers. This effectively allowed England to collect 24c packet charges for every inbound letter, whether or not any service had been performed.
The United States vehemently protested the British order through diplomatic channels, but efforts to persuade the government to rescind the anti-American postal tariff were unsuccessful. In December 1847, U.S. Postmaster General Cave Johnson petitioned Congress for power to levy like charges on mail carried by British steamers to or from the U.S., but he was not authorized to do so until June 1848. On all inbound and outbound Cunard sailings from June 24, 1848, through December 31, 1848, American packet postage was required, whether or not an American vessel was used, creating the so-called Retaliatory Rate. Beginning with the departure of the Europa on January 10, 1849, earlier rates were restored.
This cover to England reflects the dispute between the U.S. and Great Britain. The sender paid 5c for U.S. postage from New York to Boston and the 24c sea postage (1c overpayment). The letter was carried on the Cunarder Niagara from Boston to Liverpool. At the Liverpool office, the 24c prepayment was ignored and the "1/-" shilling due marking indicated the amount owed for sea postage. Only ten 1847 Issue covers are known with Retaliatory Rate charges.
Ex Dr. LeBow, Hackmey and Gross. With 2005 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Single 5c, deep rich color from the First Printing, large margins to just in at lower right, 10c pair with three large margins, in at top, tied together and right 10c tied to cover by red grid cancels, matching "Batavia N.Y. Mar. 3" (1848) circular datestamp on slightly oversized folded letter regarding legal matters to Lockport, New York, originally contained additional court papersVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING COMBINATION FRANKING OF THE 5-CENT AND A PAIR OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON COVER, PAYING FIVE TIMES THE 5-CENT UNDER-300 MILES RATE.
The USPCS census lists only three domestic 1847 covers with this combination of a single 5c and pair of 10c stamps. This cover is in the finest condition of the three by far. The half-ounce rate increments were eliminated in March 1849. For this and other reasons, examples of 5c and 10c 1847 combinations for the half-ounce increment are rare.
Illustrated in The United States 1847 Issue: A Cover Census (p. 849). Ex Dick, Rohloff, Garrett, Dr. Kapiloff, Craveri, Hackmey and Gross. Also from our 1988 Rarities of the World sale. Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook. With 1992 P.F. certificate.