Sale 1129 — 2016 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 31 May, 2016
Category — Postmasters Provisionals
Baltimore Md., 5c Black on Bluish (3X3). Large margins showing all of three framelines, cancelled by manuscript "X"'s and tied by blue "Paid" handstamp, matching "Baltimore Md. May 1" circular datestamp on 1846 folded letter to Winchester Va., faint vertical file fold well clear of stampVERY FINE. AN ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BALTIMORE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON BLUISH PAPER. A GREAT RARITY IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Unlisted in the Hayes census, which does list one used to the same recipient on April 22. With 2010 P.F. certificate
Baltimore Md., 5c Blue on Manila entire (3XU1). Sharp strikes of provisional markings, blue "Baltimore Md. Jul. 12" (1846) circular datestamp on entire addressed to Miss Susan Julia Mayer in Reading Pa., negligible wax seal stain at centerEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUE BALTIMORE PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
No. 31 in the Hayes census. From the Weill sale. Ex "Concord," "Laila" and "Hampshire". With 2002 P.F. certificate.
Baltimore Md., 10c Red on Manila entire (3XU4). Readable strike of provisional markings, bold blue "Baltimore Md. Jun. 12" (1846) circular datestamp on cover to Huntsville Ala., expertly restored, staining removed from left sideVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE 10-CENT RED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE ON MANILA, OF WHICH ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED. A GREAT POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONAL RARITY.
No. 18 in the Hayes Census. This rare provisional entire realized $3,250 hammer in our 1974 Rarities sale.
Ex Hansen. With 1969 P.F. certificate.
Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 7, large margins to in, repaired tear at bottom left where stamp was affected by file fold (since lifted and moved to the right), cancelled by red "Paid" handstamp, second strike at left, matching "Brattleboro Vt. Apr. 19" circular datestamp on 1847 folded letter to Greenfield Mass.FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY BRATTLEBORO FROM POSITION 7 KNOWN ON COVER, AND THE ONLY STAMP FROM THIS POSITION CANCELLED BY THE RED "PAID" HANDSTAMP.
The unpublished Brattleboro census by Philip T. Wall lists a total of 52 stamps, including 20 stamps on 19 covers.
Ex Allen and Hansen. With 2004 P.F. certificate
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Greenish (11X1). Type I, Position 1, large margins to full, cancelled by neat pen strokes at bottom, thinned at upper left mostly in marginVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GREENISH PAPER.
An attractive example as the entire design is clearly visible.
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Greenish (11X2). Type II, Position 4, large margins all around, without pen cancellation, tied by red "St. Louis Mo. Nov. 29" circular datestamp on small piece (couple creases and thin in piece only, the stamp is sound)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.
With 1993 and 2008 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail $8,000.00 for normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover -- Scott pricing note states: "Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp cancelled copies sell for much more."
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Gray Lilac (11X4). Type III, Position 5, large margins to barely touched at lower left, bright shade, neat penstroke cancelFRESH AND FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GRAY LILAC PAPER. ONLY ONE POSITION ON THIS STATE OF THE PLATE IS A 5-CENT STAMP.
The St. Louis "Bears" stamps were printed from a single plate of six subjects (two horizontal by three vertical) that was modified twice to change the denominations of two positions. The original plate contained three 5c stamps at left and three 10c stamps at right. All stamps from the first state of the plate were printed on Greenish paper. The plate was then altered by burnishing out the "5" on Positions 1 and 3 and engraving a new "20" denomination. A small printing on Greenish paper was made from this altered plate. 5c stamps (Position 5) and 10c stamps (Positions 2/4/6) on Greenish Paper cannot usually be identified as original or altered plate impressions (the 20c on Greenish paper is a great rarity). The larger portion of stamps from the altered plate are on Gray Lilac paper. However, because only one of six subjects was a 5c value, the 5c on Gray Lilac is an extremely rare stamp -- perhaps even rarer than the 20c on Gray Lilac. The plate was modified again by burnishing out each "20" and engraving the old "5" denomination (third state). At the time of this second alteration, a large ball was engraved inside the end curl of the numeral "5" on Position 5. As far as we know, all stamps from the third state of the plate were printed on a very thin pelure paper. These were the last stamps used before the 1847 Issue was placed on sale in St. Louis.
Sound examples of this issue are rare, and this stamp has margins almost all around. With 2012 P.F. certificate
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type II, Position 4, clear margins all around, intense shade and impression, cancelled solely by red St. Louis circular datestamp, tiny scissors-cut mostly in margin at bottom left where also small crease of little consequenceVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.
With 1961 and 2012 P.F. certificates. Scott value is for a normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover (footnote states: "Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp cancelled copies sell for much more.")
St. Louis Mo., 20c Black on Gray Lilac (11X6). Type II, Position 3, large margins to just into frameline at left where margin slightly uneven, detailed impression, neat pen cancel leaves entire design clearly visibleFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT GRAY LILAC ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
The census of 20c St. Louis Bears published in the Faiman catalogue (Bennett, Oct. 31, 2003) contains twelve off-cover singles.
Ex Earl of Crawford and Hind. With 2012 P.F. certificate
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on Bluish (11X7). Type II retouched, Position 3, full margins to barely touched, cancelled by neat penstrokes, faint vertical crease at centerFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON PELURE PAPER.
A survey of our Levi records and auction catalogues produced a tally of approximately 35 examples of the 5c Pelure off and on cover. The vast majority of these stamps has faults or margins cutting into the design.
Ex T. Cullen Davis ("Texas Collector", Siegel Sale 278). From our 1975 Rarities sale where offered as part of a complete plate reconstruction. Blue backstamp shows thru at bottom. With 2012 P.F. certificate