Sale 1284 — The Yellowstone Collection of 1847 Issue Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 May, 2023
Category — 1847 5-cent and 10-cent: Varieties, Multiples and Rates
5c Brown Orange (1d). Horizontal strip of four, large margins to barely in, bright color and worn-plate impression--we think this very bright orange shade is more accurately described as Orange Brown, but the P.F. certificate states Brown Orange, Scott 1d--tied by red square grid cancels, matching "New-York Apl. 8" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp at right, on legal-size brown envelope to an attorney in Albany, New York, cover refolded all around to a more exhibitable size, third stamp small internal creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF A STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE BROWN ORANGE (OR ORANGE BROWN) SHADE, PAYING THE QUADRUPLE 5-CENT UNDER-300 MILES RATE FROM NEW YORK CITY TO ALBANY.
The USPCS census records eight covers with a 5c 1847 strip of four, of which two or three are the Brown Orange or Orange Brown shade (Scott 1b or 1d). In addition, there are two covers with blocks of four in shades of Orange Brown or Brown Orange: one is ex Gross (Sale 1211, lot 34, as Brown Orange), and the other is also ex Gross (Sale 1228, lot 92, classified as Red Brown for certification purposes, but which we think is Orange Brown).
Among the covers with four or more 5c 1847 stamps in the USPCS census, only one other is a quadruple under-300 miles rate. Considering the volume of mail originating at the New York City post office, this is a remarkably small survival number.
Ex Craveri, Hackmey, Gross and from our 1996 Rarities sale. With 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Brown, Crack in "T" Variety (1 var). Position 69R, full to large margins except touched at center left and bottom left corner, intermediate impression, cancelled by bold black grid, "Wilkes Barre Pa. Oct. 14" (1850) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Blounsburg Pa., interesting historical contents regarding local election fraud, fresh and Very Fine, the Crack in "T" plate flaw was first reported by Wade Saadi in the May 1994 Chronicle, where he identifies eleven copies, ex Mirsky, with 1997 P.F. certificate, Scott value $2,000.00 off cover
10c Black (2). Position 21R with double frameline at left, large to huge margins including left sheet margin, vivid red grid cancel, matching "St. Louis Mo. 10 May 3" (1851) integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Philadelphia, from the Charnley & Whelen correspondence, horizontal file fold well clear of stamp and postmarkEXTREMELY FINE GEM STAMP ON A BEAUTIFUL FRESH FOLDED COVER. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.
Ex Knapp (lot label affixed). With 2013 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Large even margins all around, detailed impression, tied by red "St. Louis Mo. 10 May 25" (1850) integral-rate circular datestamp with second strike to right on blue folded letter to Philadelphia, Extremely Fine stamp on a fresh cover, ex Golden
10c Black (2). Position 23L, large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, tied by bold red grid cancels, with blue "Baltimore Md. Jul. 10" circular datestamp on envelope to Boston, forwarded to Concord N.H. at 5c rate, red "Boston 5 cts. 13 Jul." integral-rate circular datestamp, inky fingerprint on cover from forwarding and some soiling from wax seal, still Very Fine, rare combination of 10c over-300 and 5c under-300 miles rates, ex Sweet and Mirsky
10c Black (2). Positions 16-20L, horizontal strip of five, three left stamps with huge margins all around including parts of three adjoining stamps at top, right two stamps large margins to in including right interpane margin, tied by red-orange grid cancels (with bars mostly filled in), matching "Mobile Ala. Nov. 4" (ca. 1847-48) circular datestamp on buff legal-size envelope to Joseph H. Bradley, an attorney in Washington D.C., missing part of top flapFINE-VERY FINE STRIP AND A SPECTACULAR 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLE ON COVER--THE ONLY RECORDED 1847 ISSUE COVER WITH A STRIP OF FIVE 10-CENT STAMPS PAYING THE FIVE-TIMES OVER-300 MILES RATE, AND THE FOURTH LARGEST MULTIPLE FRANKING.
In order of size, the largest 10c frankings on cover are as follows:
9 stamps on cover to Tepic, Mexico, via Panama (two strips of three, two singles and part of a third single)
8 stamps on cover to San Francisco (horizontal strips of five and three)
6 stamps each on three different covers--strip of five and single, strip of six from Mobile to N.Y., strip of six on the Rush cover to France
5 stamps on one cover, the strip offered here
This cover is specifically described in an article by Gordon Eubanks on covers with three or more 1847 stamps (Chronicle 254). He notes that the addressee, Joseph H. Bradley, was the attorney who successfully defended John Surratt against charges he was a conspirator in Lincoln's assassination. John Surratt fled to Canada, and his mother Mary was hanged for her part in the plot.
USPCS census no. 165. Ex C. F. Rothfuchs, Ackerman, Ishikawa, Hackmey and Gross. Source note on back "$1,250.00 Perry, May 20, 1929." Signed Ashbrook. With 1993 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). 5c three large margins and in at left, worn-plate impression and very pale shade, affixed slightly over 10c which appears to have clear to full margins, cancelled by red 4-ring target cancels, matching "Greenwich N.Y. Feb. 8" (1851) circular datestamp and "V" 5c Roman numeral rate handstamp on long folded letter to North Adams, Massachusetts, 5c small corner crease at bottom left, 10c pressed-out vertical crease at left, some splitting along folds is expertly reinforcedFINE AND VERY SCARCE COMBINATION OF 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE STAMPS WITH AN UNUSUAL FANCY TARGET CANCEL OF GREENWICH, NEW YORK.
The two stamps were intended to pay the triple 5c under-300 miles rate for 1.5 ounces, but the half-ounce rate increments were eliminated in March 1849, so this was handstamped with the "V" 5c rate marking, either to indicate additional postage paid or (more likely) due from the addressee.
Ex Gross and Eubanks. With 1989 P.F. certificate.