Sale 1230 — U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 15-18 December, 2020
Category — Fancy Cancellations
3c Rose (65). Perfs trimmed at right, tied by beautifully bold strike of Devil & Pitchfork fancy cancel, matching "West Meriden Conn. Aug. 22" (1866) circular datestamp on buff cover to Hartford Conn. with F. Wheeler Photographer fancy corner card, slightly reduced at rightEXTREMELY FINE STRIKE. ONE OF THE FINEST STRIKES OF THE FAMOUS WEST MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, DEVIL & PITCHFORK FANCY CANCEL, ON A PHOTOGRAPHER'S ORNATE CORNER CARD COVER.
For a history of this fancy cancel, go to http://www.ctpostalhistory.com/CtPP/Postal_Markings_files/D%26PArticleJan2016XXXLR.pdf . A fascinating article on this subject by William Duffney also appeared in the 2017 Congress Book.
Ex Newbury and from our 1978 Rarities sale
3c Rose (65). Tied by perfect strike of Fox Running to the Right fancy cancel, "Hockanum Con. Aug. 3" (circa 1866) circular datestamp on cover to Brooklyn N.Y., top left corner of cover clipped, minor edgewearVERY FINE STRIKE OF THE RARE HOCKANUM FOX FANCY CANCEL. FROM A NEWLY-DISCOVERED CORRESPONDENCE.
A history of the fascinating Hockanum Running Fox cancel, written by Connecticut postal historian William J. Duffney, can be downloaded as a PDF file at http://ctpostalhistory.com/CtPP/Postal_Markings_files/Dudley%27sFoxStory2015LR.pdf . The Running Fox cancel was carved by postmaster Dudley Fox, who was also a silversmith, giving him the skills to carve an intricate fancy cancel. The author records seven covers and ten off-cover in total with four different border types. This cover is from a recent discovery along with three others, adding four to the census
3c Rose (65). Bright color, tied by clear strike of Uncle Sam Thumbing Nose fancy cancel, matching "Brattleboro Vt. Oct. 22" circular datestamp on cover to Boston, 1866 docketing, stamp with trivial corner perf crease at lower leftVERY FINE STRIKE OF THE FAMOUS BRATTLEBORO "UNCLE SAM THUMBING NOSE" CIVIL WAR ERA FANCY CANCEL.
There are two, possibly three examples of this extraordinary fancy cancellation known on cover.
3c Rose (65). Tied by well-struck Charter Oak fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno PP-T3), with "Thomaston Conn. Sep. 14" circular datestamp on cover to Boston Mass., cover slightly reduced at right which trims a few perfs at upper right, Very Fine strike of this distinctive and rare fancy cancel, the iconic Connecticut Charter Oak, a symbol of American independence and the supposed hiding place of the Connecticut Royal Charter of 1662, lived from around the 12th or 13th century until falling during a storm in 1856, it was also the symbol of the Hartford Insurance Company, with 2000 P.F. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Cancelled by fancy Heart within Circle (Skinner-Eno PH-H 13), "Rockville Ct. May 24" circular datestamp on buff cover to Charlestown Mass., carrier backstamp, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine strike of this rare Connecticut fancy cancel
3c Rose (65). Two covers bearing singles, each stamp tied by fancy "1867" handstamp cancel, one is positive (Skinner-Eno ND-Y7) and one is negative (Skinner-Eno unlisted), "Stafford Springs Conn." circular datestamps, negative strike cover with albino embossed hardware dealer corner card (with small nick at bottom of cover), Very Fine strikes and quite rare, as a pair these were believed to be unique by the late Hubert Skinner (with this the only recorded example of the negative strike), whether or not that is true this is a wonderful matched pair, each with 2011 P.F. certificate
3c Pink on White entire (U58). Cancelled by perfect strike of Negative Cross in Heart fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno CR-C 18), "Guilford Ct. Jan. 29" circular datestamp on cover to Frederick City Md., missing small part of top flap, Extremely Fine and easily one of the finest strikes known, 2015 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies
3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by Woman in Headdress fancy cancel with "Corry Pa. Jun. 2" (1870) circular datestamp on buff cover to Youngsville Pa. with M. O. Olds wood pump manufacturer's illustrated corner card, enclosure from South Erie Iron Works, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, a beautifully carved depiction of a woman's bust in profile, with her hair pulled back in classic Victorian-era style, which rivals the cancels produced by the master carver of Waterbury Conn.
6c Carmine (148). Bright color, tied by New York Foreign Mail Shield cancel (Weiss RE-E2), blurry strike of red New York Jul. 6 (1871) exchange office circular datestamp on cover to London, England, red London datestamps front and back, blue merchant's handstamp, Very Fine strike and cover, with 2009 P.F. certificate
3c Green entire (U163). Beautiful bold strike of Shield fancy cancel of Waterbury Conn., (Rohloff Q-7), "Waterbury Conn. Mar. 25 10AM" circular datestamp on Blake & Johnson (machine manufacturers) corner card cover to Princeton N.J., 1878 docketing at top, Extremely Fine strike on an immaculate cover, wonderful quality
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