Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — Local Posts and Independent Mails: Overton thru Westtown, Balances
Overton & Co., (6c) Black on Greenish (113L1). Ample to large margins, uncancelled, affixed to undated folded cover to Elijah Fuller Jr. on Beaver Street in New York City, Overton & Co.'s black Boston oval and red New York oval handstamps, red crayon "2" local delivery rate and "64" street address location applied at New York, bottom refolded, Very Fine, ex Golden, with 2000 P.F. certificate declining opinion on whether the stamp originated
Price's City Express, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed (119L2). Cut to shape, manuscript "X" cancel (not tied), used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), Position 99R3 with bottom sheet margin, tied by "New-York Sep. 7" circular datestamp on buff cover to Belleville N.J., Very Fine, a genuine stamp that may have been used on this cover but 1999 P.F. certificate declines opinion, accompanied by second cover with "Price's City Letter Exp. 3 Everett House, Paid" red oval handstamp, partly clear strike with local street address, Fine strike of this very rare marking, probably three or four extant, ex Golden
Priest's Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black on Blue Wove (121L7). Margins mostly clear of frameline, deep shade on intense blue paper, uncancelled as usual, affixed to 3c Red Nesbitt entire to Port Gibson Miss., "Philadelphia Pa. Dec. 16" circular datestamp, receipt docketing "Ansd. 6 Jany 56" indicating appropriate December 1855 use of Priest's stamp though accompanying certificate declines opinion on whether stamp originated, Very Fine appearance, ex Golden, accompanied by Sloane note and by 1999 P.F. certificate
Putnam's Penny Post, Fitchburg, Mass. Clearly struck circular handstamp on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to Fitchburg, red "Salem Mass. Jun. 16, 1857" circular datestamp and segmented cork cancel, neat receipt docketing, minor edge tear at lower left, Very Fine, extremely rare, Putnam sold out to Ira Younglove in 1857 and Putnam's name was deleted from the handstamp (see Fitchburg, Golden Sale 817, lot 1058), only five or six examples are believed to exist, illustrated in Pat Paragraphs reprint, p. 455, ex Cowdrey and Golden
Putnam's Penny Post, Fitchburg, Mass. Mostly clear strike of circular handstamp on small cover to Fitchburg, 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A), cut into at left, tied by "Green Bay Wis. Dec. 30" circular datestamp, pencil 1856 year date at bottom, cleaned and minor edge improvements, Very Fine, rare with only five or six reported, ex Golden
Roche's City Dispatch. Large red circular handstamp on back of embossed Valentine cover locally addressed, ca. 1850, with hand-written love poem on embossed panel, Very Fine, we estimate that four or five covers bear Roche's large round handstamp, ex Golden
Roche's City Dispatch. Large red circular handstamp struck twice (one blurry, other mostly readable) on Oct. 10, 1850 folded letter to local addressee, Very Fine, we estimate that four or five covers bear Roche's large round handstamp, ex Golden
Roche's City Dispatch, Wilmington Del., (2c) Black on Green Glazed (129L1). Neatly cut to oval shape with margins all around, uncancelled as always, used on small cover to Boston street address, blue "Wilmington Del. Oct. 16" circular datestamp (1849-50) and matching large "10" due handstamp, pencil "Box" at left, small inconsequential stain in postmarkEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST OF THE SIX RECORDED GENUINE COVERS BEARING ROCHE'S CITY DISPATCH STAMP.
Wilmington city directory and post-office employment records for James L. Roche are provided by Elliott Perry in Pat Paragraphs (reprint, pp. 459-460). This information is also included with a census of 129L1 stamps and covers by Stephen Gronowski in the July 1995 Penny Post. Roche is linked to the Wilmington post office as far back as 1833 by a signed postage receipt. For much of the time between 1845 and 1858 he was a clerk in the post office. He left in 1849 following Zachary Taylor's election, but returned in 1852. During his hiatus from official postal duties, Roche ran a newspaper and periodical room advertised as "one door from the post office" and started the City Dispatch. The six recorded genuine Roche covers are dated from the third-quarter 1849 through the end of 1850. Roche died in 1859.
The Gronowski 1995 census with updated information contains six genuine covers, three of which have rectangular-cut stamps. There are approximately seven off-cover stamps (including two added to covers). This is probably the finest of the six covers in terms of quality.
Noted and illustrated by Elliott Perry in Pat Paragraphs (reprint, pp. 459-460). Ex Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate
Rogers' Penny Post, Newark N.J. Oval handstamp "Rogers' Penny Post Newark" with manuscript "Aug. 12" date neatly printed above and below "Penny Post", clear strike on cover to Brooklyn N.Y. street address with 3c Orange Red, Ty. I (11), 1855-56 shade, large margins to slightly in at top, tied by "Newark N.J. Aug. 12" circular datestamp (ca. 1856), opening tears at top and light stains, this unique artifact is deserving of a paper restorer's careTHE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ROGERS' PENNY POST HANDSTAMP ON A COVER. THIS MARKING WAS USED TO CREATE THE UNIQUE ADHESIVE STAMP ON GREEN PAPER, SCOTT 162L1. AN IMPORTANT LOCAL POST RARITY.
Elliott Perry located advertisements for Rogers' Penny Post in the Newark Daily Advertiser from April 10 through July 19, 1856. Alfred H. Rogers was identified in the ads as the proprietor of the post. Perry reported that Rogers was located at 194 Broad St. from 1851 to 1855, and at 99 Broad from 1856 until 1859-60. This cover is almost certainly an August 1856 use.
The unique adhesive stamp, on green glazed paper (Scott 162L1), was offered in our 2000 sale of the Hall collection (Sale 830, lot 752, realized $27,000 hammer). The impression was made from the handstamp device used on this cover. Only one example of each has been recorded.
Ex Golden
J. A. Sparks Branch Post Office, New York N.Y. Greenish-blue "Branch Post Office, J. A. Sparks, 224 Bleecker St." oval handstamp and matching "Paid" boldly struck on May 29, 1848 folded letter to Bond Street, Very Fine and extremely rare (six known to us), ex Golden
Squier & Co. City Letter Dispatch, St. Louis Mo., 1c Green, Imperforate (132L1). Ample margins to slightly in, tied by manuscript, used with three 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), minor faults, tied by "Saint Louis Mo. Aug. 24, 1859" circular datestamps on legal-size cover to Rockford Ill., couple folds and creases clear of stamps, Fine and very scarce, ex Golden
Stringer & Morton's City Despatch, Baltimore Md. Two covers, first stampless with "Baltimore City Despatch & Express, Paid" circular handstamp, far better strike than usual on Nov. 1, 1850 blue folded letter to Philadelphia, manuscript "5" rates, appears to be a railroad way usage without handstamped markings, file folds, Very Fine and extremely rare, ex Kelly and Golden, second cover bears (1c) Gold on Black Glazed (134L1), usual dark impression, crease resulting in nearly severed corner, uncancelled, used on folded cover to Hagerstown Md., blue "Baltimore Md. Nov. 22" circular datestamp and red "5" handstamp, Fine, ex Golden, with 2000 P.F. certificate
Swarts' Branch Post Office, Chatham Square. Ornately-framed Eagle handstamp with "BRANCH POST OFFICE" straightline and manuscript "Chatham Square" in magenta ink, matching "2 Paid" on folded Valentine poem to local street address, pencil "near William" street location probably written by Swarts, docketed "Jan. 1847" -- the month Swarts opened his Chatham Square Branch Post Office -- waterstain affects magenta ink very slightlyFINE. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THE SWARTS "BRANCH POST OFFICE" HANDSTAMP ARE REPORTED TO EXIST -- THE EARLIEST MARKING USED BY ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NEW YORK CITY LOCAL POSTS.
Aaron Swarts' was employed by the Post Office Department at Chatham Square in 1845 and 1846. On January 5, 1847, the Chatham Square branch was discontinued, leaving area residents and businesses without a convenient nearby post office. Aaron Swarts saw his opportunity and on January 15th announced the opening of his local post at 6 Chatham Square, advertising it as the Branch Post Office, although there was no official connection at all to the government Post Office. The cover offered here is a folded Valentine poem, undated by the sender but docketed "Jan. 1847" upon receipt. The marking was made from a standard metal device with space at center for the insertion of type. The words "Branch Post Office" are set in type, and the "Chatham Square" notation is written in magenta ink, along with the rate "2 Paid". One other example is recorded, also with staining (Siegel 2005 Rarities sale, lot 546).
Ex Mason, Abt and Golden.
Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Gray Blue Wove, Bouton's, "Swarts" at Top (136L13). Large margins to just touching at top left, bold "Swarts" overprint, tied by red "Paid", second strike and matching "Post Office, Swarts, Chatham Square" oval handstamp on embossed Valentine cover addressed in blue to local street address, some faint stainsVERY FINE. THE BOUTON'S STAMP WITH MANUSCRIPT OVERPRINT IS THE FIRST SWARTS ISSUE AND IS EXTREMELY RARE. THERE ARE PERHAPS TEN COVERS EXTANT, DATED IN LATE JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY 1849, SOON AFTER SWARTS' ACQUISITION OF BOUTON'S CITY DISPATCH POST.
In our cursory survey of auction sales and other sources, we counted eight 136L13 covers. Allowing for covers not known to us, it is unlikely that more than ten covers exist.
Ex Hollowbush and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate
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Teese & Co. Penny Post, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Blue on Bluish (137L1). Complete sheet of 200 (two panes), includes 20 tete-beche pairs (137L1a), unused (no gum), "Bath" embossed stationer's mark at corner, large margins, a few horizontal creases, minor edge wrinkles and tiny tearsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE COMPLETE SHEET OF THE TEESE & CO. PENNY POST, CONTAINING 20 TETE-BECHE PAIRS.
Ex Golden. Scott value for blocks and 137L1a pairs
Teese & Co. Penny Post, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Blue on Bluish (137L1). Complete sheet of 200 (two panes), includes 20 tete-beche pairs (137L1a), unused (no gum), "Bath" embossed stationer's mark at corner, large margins, a few horizontal creases, minor edge wrinkles and tiny tearsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE COMPLETE SHEET OF THE TEESE & CO. PENNY POST, CONTAINING 20 TETE-BECHE PAIRS.
Ex Golden. Scott value for blocks and 137L1a pairs
Union Despatch, Chicago Ill., 20c Green, Rouletted (170L3). Unused (no gum), rouletted 14, perfs at top and left, scissors-trimmed at right and bottom, corner crease, Fine and extremely rare, this is the finer of only two examples of the 20c believed to exist, for background on this local see our Golden sale, lot 1553 (Siegel Sale 817) and Gordon Stimmell's article in the Penny Post (July, 1995), ex Abt and Golden, with 1999 P.F. certificate which declines opinion on what this stamp represents, listed but unpriced in Scott (this the illustrated example)
Westtown School, Westtown Pa., (2c) Gold, Tete-Beche Pair (145L2a). Type VII, vertical pair, appears to be tied by blurry Pa. town circular datestamp but the portion of the tying cancel is drawn in, matching target cancels 3c Ultramarine (114) on small cover to Elma L. Hayes in West Chester Pa., pair has small tear and margins slightly in, Fine appearance, ex Golden, with 1999 P.F. certificate, Scott value as off-cover
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