Sale 1291 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 25-26 July, 2023
Category — Carriers, Locals, Western Express
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(1c) Blue on Rose, Franklin Carrier, 1c Blue, Eagle Carrier, Reprints (LO3, LO5). Bottom sheet margin block of ten of first, without gum as issued, few light creases, otherwise Very Fine, right half-sheet of 50 of second with part imprint at bottom, without gum as issued, Very Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate, Scott value for blocks of four and singles
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1c Blue, Eagle Carrier, Perf 12 (LO6). Block of four with selvage at bottom, deep rich color on bright paper, Very Good, with 1987 P.F. certificate, accompanied by blocks of four of LO2 (original gum) and LO5 (without gum as issued), Very Fine
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U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (6LB1). Cancelled by lightly inked but strongly impressed orange-red "U.S." in frame (ties thru lettersheet), matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Sep. 19 1 O'Clock" (1842) Type I double-line circular datestamp on folded cover to local address, stamp has minor stains and wrinklesA FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONE OF ONLY NINETEEN RECORDED COVERS WITH GREIG'S 3-CENT STAMP USED FOR UNITED STATES CITY DESPATCH POST CARRIER SERVICE -- THE FIRST STAMP ACCEPTED AS GOVERNMENT POSTAGE.
In August 1842 the privately-owned City Despatch Post was bought out and re-established as the carrier department of the New York City post office. Stamps sold by Greig for the City Despatch Post remained valid for prepayment of carrier fees and were used months after the buyout. In the period before U.S. City Despatch Post stamps were issued, the use of Greig's stamps has provisional status among collectors. By September 1842, the mailing date of this cover, Greig's stamps in public hands were accepted concurrently with the government carrier issues (6LB3 and 6LB5, primarily). The carrier stamp, 6LB1, can be distinguished from 40L1 only when cancelled with the "U.S."-designated cancel or postmark. Such examples are very rare, with nineteen covers contained in the Lyons census, as well as ten off-cover stamps. Of the 19 6LB1 covers recorded by Lyons, only 15 are confirmed as genuine full covers (two are fronts or pieces, one is unconfirmed, and a fourth 6LB1 stamp is on an 1844 cover).
Ex Hind and Mirsky. With 1999 P.S.E. certificate
Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., (unstated value) Black on Claret, Newspaper (1LP1). Large margins, cancelled by blue "Adams & Co. Georgetown Jan. 14" oval datestamp, Extremely Fine, only four examples of this stamp are known to us -- some well-respected specialists in Local Posts have expressed the opinion that this is a fantasy issue and was never used by Adams & Co.; therefore, offered "as is" -- ex Mason, Ackerman and Hall, with clear 2001 P.F. certificate
Bentley's Dispatch, New York N.Y. Two items, first "Bentley's. Madison Square. 9 P.M. Apr. 16" double-circle datestamp boldly struck on cover to Conn., 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), straight edge at left, tied by "New-York Apr. 17" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, choice to-the-mails example of this very scarce marking, illustrated in Patton (p. 146), ex Jarrett and Born, second item blue-black double-circle handstamp partly struck on City Telegraph cover to local street address, roughly opened tearing away portion of top, second cover placed behind makes it appear complete (second without the Bentley's datestamp), a very rare example of Bentley's post used to convey a telegraph message, ex Golden and Born
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Bentley's Madison Square. Double-circle handstamp with "Paid" straightline (previously used by Swarts) on cover to local street address, slight creasing at right, still Very Fine and scarce, ex Golden and Born
California Penny Post Co., San Francisco, 7c Black on Buff entire (34LU11a; Frajola Type 3C). With uncancelled 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), large margins to in, trivial wrinkle, addressed to corner of Wash and East, "on board store ship", with clear strike of Pacific Express Co. San Francisco Jun. 30" double-circle datestamp at leftVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE CALIFORNIA PENNY POST PAYING THE 7-CENT FEE FOR SENDING BY EXPRESS AFTER THE MAILS WERE CLOSED.
The Frajola census records nine examples of this printed frank, all used with 3c stamps. Three are used with Penny Post datestamps (one from Sacramento). This is the only example used with the Pacific Express marking.
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Positions 13-14/19-20, left sheet margin block of four, original gum, huge margins all around including full framelines at bottom and right, couple tiny translucencies in left margin far from printed design, fresh and Extremely Fine, a choice block of the first adhesive stamp issued in the Western Hemisphere, ex Mirsky
Cornwell's Madison Square Post Office, New York N.Y., (1c) Red on Blue, (1c) Red on White (52L1-52L2). One of each, first unused (no gum), margins to in at left, tiny tear, otherwise Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate, second with large margins to touched at right, cancelled by "Cornwall's Madison Square Post Office" oval handstamp, small thins, appears Fine, very rare in used condition (only two covers are recorded with any type Cornwell's stamp), with 2010 P.F. certificate
Wells Fargo & Co. Virginia City Pony Express, 10c Brown (143L7). Positions 1-2/3-4/5-6/7-8, vertical block of eight, unused (no gum), ample to large margins, top right stamp with small toned spot at upper right almost entirely in margin, still fresh and Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith and Amb. Middendorf, with 2020 P.F. certificate
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Wells, Fargo & Co., (unstated value) Black, "To Be Dropped in New York Post Office" (143LP1). Two huge margins, other sides clear to touching, tied by manuscript "4" due marking on piece with two 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) tied by bold "N. York Steamship" in dateless circle, part of address "Gray...Plymouth" indicates destination outside New York City, small thin in piece onlyVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TIED EXAMPLE OF THE WELLS, FARGO & COMPANY'S "DROPPED IN NEW YORK POST OFFICE" STAMP IN COMBINATION WITH THE 1857 ISSUE.
The purpose of 143LP1 was not to prepay the newspaper rate, but to prepay the express fee on letters carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. from California to New York. These are now properly listed in Scott as "Steamship Express" stamps. In this case, the letter entered the New York Post Office and was marked 4c due (plus the 6c postage) to make up 10c rate.
Ex Caspary and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott as used off-cover. Scott value as on-cover $6,000.00
Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, (unstated value) Blue, Newspaper (143LP2). Unused (no gum), deep rich color, ample even margins, small thin spots and very slight soiling, appears Very Fine, a rare stamp, we have offered only one other in 30 years, with 2006 P.F. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, (unstated value) Blue, Newspaper (143LP2). Bright color in a much lighter shade and poorer impression than the stamp in the previous lot, margins to just in at top, thin spot at top, appears Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co., (unstated value) Blue, Newspaper Stamp, Perf 11 (143LP9). Attractive centering, tied by blue "Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, San Diego, Cal." oval handstamp on wrapper addressed to Poway Cal., wrapper with some edge faults, Very Fine example of this rare use
Wells, Fargo & Co. Express, (unstated value) Blue, Perforated, Newspaper (143LP9). Cancelled by square cork and affixed to purple wrapper with printed bilingual address to "Coult Vaeles" Cal., pencil "Coulterville" correction written above, stamp is affixed off the edge but is sound, Very Fine and attractive example of this rare California inter-city express Newspaper stamp, with 2013 P.F. certificate
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Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co., Denver City, Nov. 17, 1859. Perfect strike of circular datestamp on cover with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by "Leavenworth K.T. Nov. 26 1859" circular datestamp to Mrs. Angeline Twitchell in Rosiclare Ill., from her husband Lafayette Twitchell, accompanied by original letter from Twitchell's second western prospecting trip, Extremely Fine, Jones & Russell operated the express that was absorbed into the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, of Pony Express fame, see lot 147 for the Twitchell Gold Rush correspondence and details of his life
Jones & Russell's Pike's Peak Express Co., Denver City, Mar. 29,. 1860. Clear strike of circular datestamp on cover with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) with part captured imprint, tied by "Leavenworth K.T. Apr. 6, 1860" circular datestamp to Mrs. Angeline Twitchell in Rosiclare Ill., from her husband Lafayette Twitchell, accompanied by original letter from Twitchell's second western prospecting trip, Very Fine, Jones & Russell operated the express that was absorbed into the Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, of Pony Express fame, see lot 147 for the Twitchell Gold Rush correspondence and details of his life
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