Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — Postmasters Provisionals
Baltimore, Maryland, 5c Black on Bluish (3X3). Position 10 with right sheet margin, other margins ample showing frameline on two sides, manuscript cancel and tied by blue "Paid" handstamp with matching "Baltimore Md. May 14" circular datestamp on light blue 1846 folded letter to New York City, manuscript "Due 5" at top applied in Baltimore indicating letter was over the half-ounce weight limit for 5c rate, vertical file fold well clear of stampVERY FINE AND DESIRABLE SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BALTIMORE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON BLUISH PAPER TIED ON COVER.
The Baltimore provisional stamps were printed first on bluish and then on white paper (the Scott catalogue reverses the chronological order). Examples of the 5c on Bluish (3X3) on cover are rarely tied and in sound condition; this is one of the finest we have offered. The Scott value of $13,500.00 for 3X3 on cover is inexplicably $1,500.00 lower than the value for 3X1 (White paper).
No. 8 in the Hayes census and No. 20095 in the USPCS online census (where misidentified as No. 3X1 on White paper, based on earlier auction catalogue descriptions). Ex Haub. With 2016 P.F. certificate.
Baltimore, Maryland, 5c Blue on Buff entire (3XU1). Clear strikes of signature, "PAID" and "5" in oval provisional handstamps, neat blue "Baltimore Md. Jul. 26" (1846) circular datestamp on cover to Miss Susan Julia Mayer, care of Gen. Geo. M. Keim in Reading Pa., wax seal mark at center, some slight wear including wrinklingVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BALTIMORE 5-CENT HANDSTAMPED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
Hayes Census No. 34. USPCS Census No. 20053
Baltimore, Maryland, 5c Red on Manila entire (3XU2). Clear strikes of signature, "Paid" and "5" in oval provisional handstamps, which are usually very faint when struck in red, bold blue "Baltimore Md. May 5" (1846) circular datestamp on cover to Miss Susan Julia Mayer, care of Geo. M. Keim at Reading Pa., small faint stainsVERY FINE. ONE OF NINE EXAMPLES OF THE BALTIMORE 5-CENT PROVISIONAL ENVELOPE IN RED RECORDED IN THE SHEARER CENSUS.
The unpublished census by Don Shearer (1996) lists nine 5c envelopes struck in red ink, dated from March to May 1846, plus four 10c red-handstamp envelopes with dates from June to September 1846. The quality of the red strikes is generally weak. The envelope offered here has relatively clear strikes. The USPCS census lists seven 3XU2 entires.
Hayes Census No. 15 (date misidentified as May 7). USPCS Census No. 20074. With 1980 P.F. certificate
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "A.C.M." Initials (9X1b). Position 12 indicated on back, large margins including portion of adjoining stamp above, just touched at bottom left, tied by red Boulogne arrival datestamp, large "New-York 5 Paid Aug. 15" integral-rate circular datestamp (used only on foreign mail) on 1845 folded letter to Marseilles, France, red "COLONIES/&c ART. 12" Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, manuscript "21" decimes due, Great Britain and French transits, addressee's last name slightly alteredVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING USE OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "A.C.M." INITIALS ON COVER TO FRANCE.
This was carried on the Cunarder Cambria, which left Boston Aug. 16, 1845 and arrived Liverpool Aug. 28. The Anglo-French accountancy marking on this cover was only in use for six months while the New York Postmaster's Provisional Issue was current.
Ex Walske. With 1991 P.S.E. certificate
Providence, Rhode Island, 5c Gray Black (10X1). Ample to large margins all around, cancelled by manuscript "V", red "Providence R.I. Feb. 11" (1847) circular datestamp with matching "Paid" and "5" handstamps on folded letter to BostonVERY FINE AND CHOICE 5-CENT PROVIDENCE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER. VERY FEW ON-COVER EXAMPLES ARE SOUND WITH FOUR MARGINS.
A review using Power Search reveals how rare this issue is on cover in sound condition with four margins. Most examples we have encountered are either cut in on one side or with a small flaw.
USPCS Census No. 21054. With 1980 and 2016 P.F. certificates
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Greenish (11X2). Types I/II, Positions 2/4, vertical pair, ample to large margins all around, intense impression on deep greenish paper, tied to small piece by red "St. Louis Mo. Feb. 25" (1846) circular datestamp, without any pen cancellation, cut horizontally thru bottom stamp and expertly rejoinedTOP STAMP EXTREMELY FINE AND BOTTOM STAMP VERY FINE APPEARANCE -- BOTH COMPRISING A RARE VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER, WITH ONLY A HANDSTAMP CANCEL.
Fewer than a half-dozen pairs or strips of the 10c First Printing exist without the usual pen cancellation.
With 1976 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates