Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Domestic Covers, Advertising Covers
2c Black (73). Centered to bottom, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Jul. 13, 1863" circular datestamp, second strike at left, on unsealed buff cover to local street address, few cover stains not affecting stamp or marking, Fine, this is the earliest recorded drop-rate use of the Black Jack, ex Dr. Rorke and Faust, with 1973 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Cancelled by clear strike of Small Anvil fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno PO-Wt 14), "Slatersville R.I. Jan. 22" double-circle datestamp on cover addressed locally, some minor soiling in bottom perfs, slightly reduced at left, Very Fine strike of this rare fancy cancel, ex Faust
2c Black (73). Tied by Triangle fancy cancel, no other postmarks but probably originated in New York, on cover to Woonsocket R.I., Very Fine strike and cover
2c Black (73). Cancelled by paint red Checkerboard and "New-York City 17 ?" duplex datestamp on attorney corner card cover to Fulton Street address, teat at top from opening, otherwise Very Fine
2c Black (73). Horizontal strip of three, each cancelled by intersecting strikes of bold "Paid 3" handstamp with equally bold "Roxbury Pa. Aug. 12, 1865" double-circle datestamp on oatmeal cover to Newville Pa., Very Fine and striking, with 1980 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Horizontal strip of three, some tiny toned specks, cancelled by twice-struck "PAID" handstamp with wide spacing between "P" and "A", with "Johnsons Ranch Cal. Feb. 5" double-circle datestamp on cover to Barnesville O., slight cover soiling and barely reduced at left, still Very Fine, a scarce postmark, Johnson's Ranch was the place from which the first assistance reached the ill-fated Donner Party, ex Jessup and Allen, illustrated and described in Lane book (pp. 23-24)
2c Black (73). Block of ten and pair, several defective, the block straight edge at right, tied by grid cancels on cut-to-shape piece of heavy parcel wrapper addressed to Hartford Conn., manuscript "March 31/66", the piece has been affixed to an additional rectangular piece of a brown package label franked with Great Britain 21/2p and 5p stamps on the other side, this additional piece probably has nothing to do with the Black Jack franking which is unusual and impressive -- the largest recorded used multiple of the Black Jack is a block of twelve
2c Black (73). Tied by "Wilmington Del. Feb. 13" circular datestamp, second strike at right, on embossed Valentine to local address, with original hand-colored enclosure with wonderful satirical design in the style of Lewis Carroll, titled "Popping the Question", the printed verse includes her response "The question? Wretch you're surely mad, or think than I'm demented quite. I'd rather die a wrinkled maid than wed with such an ugly fright", cover reduced at left, Very Fine, ex Allen and Faust, illustrated Lane book on p. 17
3c Ultramarine (114). Used in a spectacular combination franking with 2c Black, F. Grill (93), 3c Rose, E. and F. Grills (88, 94), and 1870 2c Red Brown (146) on front only of registered 3c Green entire (U84) to Boston, all stamps tied by fancy cloverleaf cancels, "Las Cruces, N. Mex. Apr. 12" double-circle datestamp, faint Boston registry office receiving datestamp, neatly docketed with 1871 year date, one 2c Black Jack has straight edge and the other has nick at bottom, a few other minor stamp flaws, still Very Fine, a unique and amazing franking representing three stamp issues, two types of grills and postal stationery, ex Wolf and Coulter, with 1983 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (113). Three singles, used with six singles of 2c Black, F. Grill (93), seven stamps affixed to front and two on back, all tied by grid cancels, "New-York Registered May 7" circular datestamp on yellow registered cover to Springfield Ill., sent from the Custodian of the Lincoln Tomb to the Secretary of the Lincoln Monumental Association, docketing across front, opened for display, several stamps with faults, Fine appearance and an exceptional franking to pay the 3c rate plus 15c registration fee, with wonderful historical connection to Abraham Lincoln, surely a unique combination of elements, the Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States, his wife Mary Todd and three of their four sons, ex Dr. Rorke and Stephen Rose, with 1988 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Used with strip of three 3c Rose (65) and single 10c Green (68), tied together by target cancels with bold strike of "From Carbondale. Ill. C. R. R. May 20" railroad route agent's circular datestamp, on 1865 docketed turned cover to Jonesboro Ill., inside with printed "Adams Express Company Western Division", slightly reduced at sides, 2c stamp with tiny tears at top, still Very Fine and colorful turned use
2c Black (73). Block of four and a pair arranged as a block of six, affixed on back of carte-de-visite depicting stern young man with Col. Sanders-type beard, cancelled by pencil manuscript, also tied by some toning, light edgewear, Very Fine, ex Bechtel
2c Black (73). Two covers with single Black Jack stamp and additional 2c Blue, Bank Check, Perforated (R5c), first with both stamps tied on front of small cover by "Saint Charles Mo. Nov. 24" circular datestamp and small circular handstamp respectively, addressed to St. Louis with bold "Due 6" oval indicating rejection of the Revenue stamp and treatment as completely unpaid, slightly reduced at left, Fine use, second cover is a folded Dec. 1863 circular and letter with the Black Jack tied by "Boston Mass. Dec. 24" double-circle datestamp addressed locally 2c Revenue stamp affixed to circular side and cancelled by pen, Fine
2c Black (73). Couple short perfs, "Paid" cancel, "Melrose Mass. Jan. 4" circular datestamp on green overall advertising cover for Dr. E. R. Knight of Melrose Mass., wide array of patent medicine products described including hair restorer, pulmonic syrup and sarsaparilla compound, several press quotes with superlatives about the products, descriptions continued on backflap, small cut in cover below stamp, Very Fine, a fabulous patent medicine advertising cover, ex Faiman and Faust
2c Black (73). Tied by indistinct Rochester N.Y. circular datestamp on buff cover with illustrated train corner card for wholesale tree broker, to Westerly R.I., some light edgewear including small repair at bottom left corner, still Fine and attractive railroad design advertising cover
2c Black (73). Tied by partly clear strike of Providence R.I. duplex datestamp and quartered cork cancel on cover to Providence address, with elaborate Charter Oak Life Insurance Co. design depicting the iconic Connecticut tree, missing backflap, Very Fine, the Charter Oak was an enormous white oak in Hartford, originating from the 12th or 13th centuries until it fell during a storm in 1856, according to tradition the Connecticut Royal Charter was hidden within the tree's hollow to thwart its confiscation by the English governor-general, the oak symbolized American independence (source: Wikipedia)
2c Black (73). Tied by grid cancel on orange-buff cover with illustrated design for importer of Italian Queen Bees, to Springfield Vt., tiny cover corner nick and slight discoloration along top edge, still bright and Very Fine illustrated advertising design with the Black Jack, ex Metzger
2c Black (73). Used with 1c Blue (63), tied together by large open grid cancel, "Augusta Me. Feb. 22, 1864" double-circle datestamp on cover to Fryeburg Me., with State of Maine overall illustrated design, "Senate Chamber" at bottom, fresh and Very Fine combination on an illustrated cover
2c Black (73). Choice centering, cancelled by rosette, "Detroit Mich. Aug. 27" circular datestamp on yellow cover with commission merchant's oval corner card and used locally, "Returned to Writer" oval handstamp, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, unusual auxiliary marking on a drop-rate cover, with 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Black (73). Tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Jul. 27, 186?" double-circle datestamp, affixed over C. H. Garden & Co. "Hats, Caps, Furs" dealer oval handstamp on blue cover to Bedford Pa., listing several other products as well, small cover stain bottom left corner, Very Fine advertising Black Jack use