Sale 1179 — United States and Possessions
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 March, 2018
Category — Carriers and Locals: Local Posts
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, tied by blue grid, matching "Philada. Pa. 5cts. Dec. 6" integral-rate circular datestamp and used with Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., 1c Bronze on Black Glazed (15L13), ample margins to slightly in, acid cancel, on orange cover, slightly reduced at bottom and missing bottom flap, Fine
10c Black (2). Full to huge margins including left sheet margin which has a scissors cut well clear of design, tied by one of two strikes of blue "Philada. Pa. 10cts. Sep. 18" integral-rate circular datestamp, used with Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Bronze on Black Glazed (15L17), ample margins to slightly in at left, uncancelled, tiny hole, on blue 1848 folded letter to Pittsburgh Pa., cover with internal repaired tear below but not affecting the circular datestampVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND CHOICE QUALITY COMBINATION OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE AND BLOOD'S SMALL "POST OFFICE" STAMP.
With 1980 and 2011 P.F. certificates.
Boyce's City Express Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed (19L1). Full to large margins, very poor (late?) impression with only part of the design visible, uncancelled, affixed to buff cover to Saxton's River Vt., the sender's "Paid All" notation at bottom left is unusual and seems to support the stamp's use on this cover, trace of New York datestamp at upper right, but no regular postage, a Fine example of this rare stamp -- approximately 12-15 examples are known, ex Golden, Geisler and Stimmell, with 1999 P.F. certificate
Boyd's Dispatch, Mercury Series (20L37/20L42). Five listed imperforate trial color plate proofs, each on a different color paper, one with original gum, others no gum, a few faults, Very Fine appearing and rare group, with 2009 P.F. certificates for Nos. 20L37 and 20L41
Boyd's City Post, New York N.Y., Cut Squares (20LU). Group of more than 30 cut squares plus a few Importers' and Traders' National Bank notices (20LUX), most are used with some unused, wide range of Scott numbers identified by the owner on the stock page with some better such as 20LU12, 20LU26, 20LU29, 20LU30 and many more, some faults to be expected, overall a Fine group with catalog value which is multiples of our estimate
Brady & Co., New York N.Y., 1c Red on Yellow (22L1). Unused (traces of gum), large margins including sheet margin at left and portion of adjoining stamp at bottom, small corner crease and thin spots, Very Fine appearing example of this rare stamp, with 2000 P.F. certificate
Brainard & Co., (5c) Black, (5c) Blue (24L1-24L2). Black with large margins all around, uncancelled, trace of pen described by the P.F. as a faint stain at bottom left, faint thinning at top center, otherwise Extremely Fine, a rare stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Blue stamp with four margins, red and manuscript cancels, tiny tear at bottom, appears Very Fine, also a rare stamp, with 2010 P.F. certificate
Brigg's Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black on Buff (25L1). Cut to shape and affixed to white card, most of outer frame line present, small flaws, otherwise Fine, a very rare stamp with 10 or fewer known on any color paper, with 1995 P.S.E. certificate
Broadway Post Office, New York N.Y., (1c) Gold on Black Glazed, (1c) Black (26L1-26L2). First uncancelled, margins to touched at right, fresh and Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate for a cover on which it did not originate (subsequently removed, cover does not accompany), second with original gum, margins all around, small crease at top and slightly toned, appears Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
Browne's Easton Despatch, Easton Pa., 2c Black on Red (30L1). Manuscript cancel, mostly ample margins, heavy thin breaks paper, otherwise Fine and extremely rare, one of only six recorded examples of the Browne's Easton Despatch post 2c on Vermilion, of the six 30L1 stamps located in our records, there is some doubt about the genuineness of an uncancelled stamp affixed to a cover, leaving four pen-cancelled stamps and one uncancelled stamp, ex Kuphal
Browne's Easton Despatch, Easton Pa., 2c Black (30L3). Tight margins showing most of two framelines, cancelled by two manuscript strokes, faint corner crease at top right, Fine appearance and extremely rare, only four or five used examples are believed to exist and we have not offered another since our 1999 sale of the Golden Collection (that stamp had a similar cancel), the engraved stamp with a portrait of Washington, 30L3, was the subject of scholarly study by Larry Lyons (Penny Post, April 2006), in his article, he documents at least 37 examples and reconstructs the original plate layout
California Penny Post Co., San Francisco, 5c, 10c Blue (34L2-34L4). Unused (no gum), first two with four margins, 34L4 with margins to just in, 34L2 with thin spot, 34L4 with thins and tiny tear, otherwise Fine, ex Kuphal
G. Carter's Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., 2c Black, 2c Black on Ribbed (36L1, 36L1a). Three covers, No. 36L1a with large margins, huge at top and bottom, manuscript "X" cancel, used on Dec. 10, 1849 folded letter addressed in blue to Danville Pa., blue "Philada. Pa. 5 cts. Dec. 11" integral-rate circular datestamp, stamp has usual gum toning and also tiny tear, still Very Fine, ex Golden and Bowman, with 2003 P.F. certificate, other two are 36L1 uses, one is on most of a cover but missing a leaf and part of back, other with G. Carter's circular datestamp, latter stamp with some toning, Fine
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c, 2c Black (40L1-40L5c). Four stamps, 40L1 unused (no gum), fresh and Very Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate, 40L2 with large margins, red "Free" cancel, creases and small thin spot, otherwise Very Fine, 40L4 brown original gum, maybe a faint trace of a cancel (counted as used), slight soiling, appears Fine, 40L5c with "Paid" cancel, small faults, otherwise Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
(Cummings and Wright) City Despatch Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (40L3). Large margins, cancelled by black "Free" in frame, rebacked over small faults, still an Extremely Fine appearing example of this rare stamp, only approximately twelve are known and all have faults, as best we can determine, the 2c on Pink glazed paper (Scott 40L3) was first issued by Cummings & Wright (the earliest documented use is May 15, 1847 -- see Sale 830, lot 567), examples cancelled in red were probably used during the Cummings & Wright period, while the use of black ink probably signifies the change in ownership to Charles Cole (October-November 1847), with 1995 P.S.E. certificate
(Cole's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed, Hand-Etched Sideways "C" at Left (40L4b). Position 25 with lefthand "C" etched into plate by hand (so-called "Sideways C" variety), cancelled by one of three strikes of "Free" in frame in black (one on front, two on back with stamp; the strike on the stamp ties by impression thru paper), red "P.O. City Despatch Post Feb. 14 -- O'Clock" circular datestamp also on back of embossed Valentine cover to local street address, back cut open for display, faults on front, stamp has creases and chipped enamelA FINE AND EXHIBIT-WORTHY COVER. ONLY SIX EXAMPLES OF THE POST OFFICE CITY DESPATCH HAND-ETCHED SIDEWAYS "C" VARIETY ON GREEN PAPER ARE RECORDED ON COVERS. THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN VALENTINE.
This stamp comes from Position 25, one of seven subjects on the plate that have the "Sideways C" variety, which occurred when a failed attempt was made to hand-etch the letter "C" into the plate (Positions 1, 2, 3, 7, 13, 19 and 25 show this distinctive variety). There are six recorded covers with the "Sideways C" on Green paper (40L4b). This is the only Valentine cover.
The black "Free" in frame cancel was applied by Cole during the early stages of his operation of the post after Cummings and Wright. This is the only recorded city-delivery cover showing use of the "CC" stamp with black "Free" cancel (the others are to-the-mails covers; see The City Despatch Post 1842-1852 Issues, page 17, this cover was not known to the author).
Ex Eno, Kuphal and "New Amsterdam".
(Cole's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Grayish, "CC" at Sides (40L5). Position 37, ample to huge margins, cancelled by brownish-red "Free" in frame and "City Despatch Post P.O." circular datestamp, faint yellowing caused by red ink (not mentioned on certificate), Very Fine, extremely rare, especially with red datestamp used as a cancel (four 40L4 covers and this one 40L5 stamp are recorded with these brownish-red markings), ex Mason, Hall and "New Amsterdam", with 2001 P.F. certificate
(Cole's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Vermilion Glazed, "CC" at Sides (40L6). Position 40, large margins to close at bottom left, bright color without oxidation, black cancel (not tied), "P.O. City Despatch Post Oct. 3 -- O'Clock" circular datestamp on Young Bachelors' Society printed circular with letter datelined Oct. 2, 1848, to local street address, slight wrinkling, Extremely Fine stamp and attractive cover, ex Norvin Green and "New Amsterdam", with 1997 P.F. certificate
Clark & Co., New York N.Y., 1c Red on Yellow (48L1). Large margins to clear at upper left, tied on piece by part strike of blue "Brady & Co. City Despatch Post, 97 Duane St." oval handstamp, Fine, Abner S. Brady bought out Clark & Co. in July or August 1857 and issued his own identical letter-box stamps; however, here we have the old Clark & Co. stamps accepted by Brady and cancelled with his unique oval marking -- to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time the Brady cancel on a Clark stamp has been noticed, ex Golden and Kuphal, Scott Retail as used and without premium for on piece
Cook's Dispatch, Baltimore Md., (1c) Green (51L1). Large margins to clear at top, rich color, cancelled by single manuscript line, toning including spot at left, tiny thin at top, Fine appearance, an extremely rare local issue with only six recorded, this example is new to our records
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
Cummings' City Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Rose Glazed (55L1). Enormous margins all around -- possibly a left sheet-margin position -- manuscript "#" cancel, faint trace of red cancel at bottom right, minor abraded spot in top margin, otherwise Extremely Fine, the paper used for this stamp and the Post Office City Despatch 40L3 issued by Cummings & Wright are identical, the distinctive Cummings stamps picturing Cupid (55L4-55L5) and a letter sealed by a heart (55L1-55L3) tie the post's activities to the Valentine season, all are very scarce, but the Rose 55L1 is the rarest of the Cummings "Letter & Heart" series -- Caspary had only one, and Middendorf the same -- ex Hall and "New Amsterdam", with 2001 P.F. certificate not mentioning any faults and showing stamp on cover on which it did not originate
Cummings' City Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow Glazed (55L3). Large margins to just in, cancelled by "Free" in frame, second strike to right of stamp, used on folded letter to local street address, red "P.O. City Despatch Post Mar. 25, 4 O'Clock" circular datestamp, stamp with surface rubsVERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS SHOWING USE OF THE CUMMINGS' CITY POST STAMP IN CONJUNCTION WITH POST OFFICE CITY DESPATCH MARKINGS, WHICH OCCURRED AFTER CUMMINGS AND WRIGHT TOOK OVER THE CITY DESPATCH FROM ABRAHAM MEAD.
Abraham B. Mead operated the "Post Office City Despatch" only briefly after buying it from the New York carrier department on November 30, 1846. A "P.O. City Despatch" receipt dated May 15, 1847, is signed by "Cummings & Wright, Proprietors", so we know for certain that Alfred H. Cummings and Robert Wright bought out Mead by that date. The cover offered here, with the Cummings' City Post stamp used with Post Office City Despatch markings dated in March 1847, is evidence that Cummings and Wright took over by then.
Ex Geisler and "New Amsterdam". With 2009 P.F. certificate
