Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — Postmasters Provisionals
Baltimore Md., 5c Black (3X1). Position 6, large margins to just in, cancelled by three neat manuscript X's, blue "Baltimore Md. May 10" (1846) circular datestamp with matching "Paid" and "5" in circle handstamp on buff cover to "Messrs. Colt & Robinson, New York & Offing Telegraph Office, New York City", most of address crossed out and directed to "S Colt", docketed "Rogers & Black", accompanying certificate notes stamp has been removed and replaced on this cover of origin which has been cleaned, the only "cleaning" was the removal of mucilage around the stampVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON WHITE PAPER USED ON COVER.
The addressees were Colt & Robinson, who formed the New York & Offing Telegraph Company in 1845 ("Offing" is not a location, but is the furthest point on the Atlantic horizon visible with a telescope). Samuel Colt, to whom the cover is redirected, was an inventor who became famous for his small arms manufacturing firm, which produced the legendary Colt 45.
For a history of the Baltimore provisionals: http://siegelauctions.com/enc/pdf/Baltimore.pdf
No. 7 in Hayes census. With 1986 P.F. certificate.
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Positions 16-17, horizontal pair, unused (part original gum), margins to touched, left stamp two tiny tears at bottom, right stamp small tear at upper right, Fine appearance and a very rare unused pair with original gum, with 2012 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail without gum
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Positions 3-4, horizontal pair, large margins all around, detailed impression on bright paper, neat blue pen stroke cancel and trace of red New York handstamp at right, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Positions 14-15, horizontal pair, blue pen cancel, left stamp tiny tear, right stamp large even margins and Extremely Fine
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Two four-margin pairs with handstamp cancels, Positions 7-8 and 37-38, red grid and "Paid" cancels respectively, both with small flaws incl. first with tiny tear, small thin and light crease, second with small thin, Fine appearance showing both types of New York handstamp cancels used on 9X1's
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Three horizontal pairs, Positions 19-20, 34-35 and 39-40, each with pen cancels incl. one in magenta, five stamps with four margins incl. one pair with large bottom margin, small flaws, Fine-Very Fine appearance
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Position 34, full to large margins all around, tied by boldly struck red square grid without pen cancel, matching "New-York 9 Feb. 5cts" (1847) integral-rate circular datestamp and "Paid" arc handstamp on small white envelope to Lakeville Conn., sender's routing "Via Bridgeport", light central toned spot from wax seal, Extremely Fine, a fresh and choice use of the New York Postmaster's Provisional, scarce tied by the red square grid without pen cancel, ex Mirsky, with 1998 P.F. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Horizontal pair, large margins to just touching at top right, cancelled by blue pen strokes, red "New-York 10 cts. 24 May" integral-rate circular datestamp with matching "Paid" arc handstamp on folded letter to Natchez Miss. made from the May 23, 1846 issue of the Shipping and Commercial List newspaper, back of paper used for the letter, minor tears and some small pieces out of the bottom of the newspaper when unfolded, all text is present, Very Fine, a rare use of the New York Postmaster's Provisional to pay the over-300 miles rate and the only example used to Natchez we have encountered, with 1998 Brettl certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Se-Tenant Pair, "ACM" and "AC M" Initials (9X1-9X1a). Positions 33-34, horizontal pair with the right stamp No. 9X1a, unused (no gum), large margins, faults incl. both stamps with sealed tears, right stamp also with diagonal creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE UNUSED PAIR OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH A COMBINATION OF "ACM" AND "AC M" INITIALS.
This is the only unused example of this signature combination we have encountered. With 2012 P.F. certificate. Unpriced in Scott as unused. Scott Retail as used $4,750.00.
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials (9X1a). Positions 17-18, horizontal pair, unused (no gum), choice large margins three sides, just clear at top left, bright and freshFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE SOUND UNUSED PAIR OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "AC" CONNECTED.
With 2012 P.F. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials (9X1a). Unused (no gum), full margins to just in at bottom right, strong impression, Fine
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials (9X1a). Positions 13-14, horizontal pair, unused (no gum), large margins to full at bottom and left, left stamp tiny tear at top, right stamp central thin spot and light crease, still Fine appearing and collectable unused pair, with 2012 P.F. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials and Without Signature (9X1a, 9X1e). Six horizontal pairs, five of 9X1a (Positions 8-9, 12-13, 26-27, 27-28, 28-29) and one of 9X1e (Positions 22-23), all with pen cancels incl. one 9X1a cancelled in black, small flaws or slightly in on one side but at least six four-margin stamps are present, Fine appearance
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "A.C.M." Initials (9X1b). Positions 35/40, vertical pair, large margins all around, neat black pen stroke cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH SMALL "A.C.M" INITIALS WITH PERIODS.
A number of factors makes this item rare. Vertical pairs are much scarcer than horizontal. Philip T. Wall estimated that only 25 of the former exist versus 150 of the latter (he was of course unaware of the Frelinghuysen collection, which added to that supply). The black pen cancel is also scarcer than the blue pen normally seen. Combining these factors with the scarcer "A.C.M." initials and choice condition makes this a very desirable pair.
Ex Frelinghuysen. With 2012 P.F. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "A.C.M." Initials (9X1b). Type A with the additional roll in the letter "C", Position 21, margins tight to slightly in, tied by pen strokes, red "New-York 5 cts. 17 Jul." (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp and two strikes of matching straightline "Paid" handstamp on cover front only to Albany N.Y., manuscript "Pd 5" at top, file fold thru the stamp breaks the paper, still Fine appearance, the use of the straightline "Paid" handstamp indicates that this was postmarked on July 17 in 1845, just two days after the earliest known use of the unsigned stamp and the earliest recorded use of a stamp with validating initials (see Piller book, p. 61, for an "RHM" cover with the same markings), with 1990 and 2011 P.F. certificates
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Unlisted Small "RHM" Initials (9X1d var). Small magenta initials reading almost horizontally, Position 2 with major double transfer, two horizontal blue pen strokes, defective and expertly repaired at right with small portion of design painted in, Fine appearance, the unique small lettering "RHM" example, with 1974 and 2011 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as the normal top-to-bottom "RHM" signature
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature (9X1e). Positions 11-12, horizontal pair, margins to clear all around, three-line blue pen cancel, scissors-cut between pair at bottom, fresh and Fine
Providence R.I., 5c Gray Blue, Trial Color Plate Proof on Thick Card (10X1TC4). Block of four, Positions 8-9/11-12, large margins, bright shade, minor thinning on card, Very Fine, ex Finkelburg, Scott Retail as singles