Sale 937 — 2007 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 16 June, 2007
Category — Postmasters
Baltimore Md., 5c Blue entire (3XU1). Clear strikes of provisional markings, matching "Baltimore Md. Jul. 7" circular datestamp on buff entire to Reading Pa., central toned spot from wax sealVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUE BALTIMORE PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
No. 30 in the Hayes census.
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 9 above 10, each has three large margins, clear at bottom, each cancelled by red "Paid" straightline, the stamp at top applied first and tied to lettersheet, the stamp below applied immediately after and struck hard with "Paid" -- the impression ties thru paper, and offset from the "Paid" above is on the back of the stamp -- matching strikes of "Paid" and "Brattleboro Vt. Feb. 17" circular datestamp on 1847 blue folded letter to James H. Wells at Hartford Conn., file fold clear of stamps and markingsEXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH TWO OF THE BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL STAMPS. THIS IS REGARDED WITHOUT EXCEPTION AS THE MOST IMPORTANT BRATTLEBORO COVER EXTANT, AND IT RANKS AMONG THE MOST OUTSTANDING COVERS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
This letter to James H. Wells states "I received the inclosed letter yesterday...", which substantiates the double 5c rate for weight exceeding a half ounce. It was discovered in 1936 along with two other folded letters to Wells in Hartford, each with a single Brattleboro stamp.
The unpublished Brattleboro census by Philip T. Wall lists a total of 52 stamps, including 20 stamps on 19 covers. There is no recorded multiple of any size, and this is the only multiple franking.
Illustrated in Lidman's Treasury of Stamps (p. 59) and Life magazine, "World's Rarest Stamps" (May 3, 1954). Ex Caspary, Weill, DuPuy and Wall.
With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott value for this cover is based on realization in the 2000 Rarities of the World sale ($100,000 hammer).
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 2, clear margins to just in, cancelled by red "Paid" straightline, second strike at right and matching "Brattleboro Vt. Apr. 5" circular datestamp on 1847 folded letter to Wareham Mass., stamp barely affected by vertical file foldVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE COVER BEARING THE RARE 5-CENT BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL STAMP.
Only 20 stamps on 19 covers are recorded by Philip T. Wall in his unpublished census.
Ex Hessel and Wall. With 1997 P.F. certificate
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 10, full margins all around, intense shade and impression, pen cancel at left, small thin spot at center, totally negligible considering the superb appearance and otherwise excellent condition of this stampEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. ONLY 32 COIPES ARE RECORDED OFF COVER, THIS BEING ONE OF THE FINEST.
This stamp comes from the sheet retained by the printer, Thomas Chubbuck, who sold three stamps to collectors before selling the remaining block of seven to L. H. Bragg in September 1870. Bragg, in turn, sold the block to John W. Scott. The stamps from the Chubbuck block were eventually cut apart and sold to different collectors. In the 1920's Raymond W. Lapham, with the professional help of Warren H. Colson, reconstructed the Brattleboro plate positions, including some stamps from the Chubbuck sheet. (Reference: "The Plating of the Brattleboros", Calvet M. Hahn, Collectors Club Philatelist, Mar.-Apr. 1988). The plate reconstruction with this stamp appeared at auction in the Christie's October 1989 sale of the Weill Brothers' stock.
Ex Ferrary, Lapham, Colson, Weill and Wall.
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 8, bottom sheet margin with part of imprint "Engd. by Thos. Chubbuck, Bratto.", large margins except where just into frameline at upper right corner, red "Paid" cancel, two faint vertical creases that are invisible on face of stampVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE BRATTLEBORO PROVISIONAL STAMP WITH IMPRINT -- THE ONLY UNITED STATES POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE WITH AN IMPRINT.
Only five of the 52 Brattleboro provisional stamps recorded by Wall (32 off cover and 20 stamps on 19 covers) are from Position 8, below which the imprint is engraved. Two of the five are off cover, and three are on covers (one of which is cut in at bottom).
Although faintly creased, this stamp is among the choicest Brattleboro provisionals. Only five off-cover Brattleboro stamps are sound, and many of the others are cut in or have serious faults. This is among the top tier of condition, and it has the added feature of an imprint.
Ex Wall. With 1984 P.F. certificate.
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 10, clear margins to just in, cancelled by red "Paid" straightline, small surface scrape at bottom right, small thin spotFINE APPEARANCE. AN ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL CANCELLED BY THE RED "PAID" HANDSTAMP.
With 1997 P.F. certificate