Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). Even margins, cancelled by red outline "3" handstamp, matching faint "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp on small folded cover containing a May 9, 1844 letter to Philadelphia street address, interesting content related to being armed and patrolling against "disturbances", stamp with corner crease and small indentation at top right

VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP ON A SMALL COVER -- THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL STAMP.

This letter coincides with the Philadelphia Nativist riots of May 6-8 (and July), 1844. The writer was clearly referring to them in his letter. The riots were the result of rising anti-Catholic sentiment and the May incident resulted in the destruction of churches and the loss of at least 14 lives. Further rioting followed in July.

Ex Schwartz and Stimmell With 2015 P.F. certificate

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D. O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Margins all around, small "X" cancel on Apr. 12, 1847 datelined folded letter to local address, Very Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate

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D. O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L6). Large margins to just touched at lower left, small dots cancel, used on diminutive lady's envelope addressed locally, stamp with a hint of toning (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), still Very Fine, this issue is scarce on cover, ex Stimmell, with 2015 P.F. certificate

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D. O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Black, "For the Post Office" (15L9). Huge margins all around, tied by blue "Philda Pa. 5 cts. Jun. 3" integral-rate circular datestamp on undated folded letter to Hancock Md., probably 1848, file fold, stamp has small tear in bottom margin and faint natural gum toning, still Extremely Fine, this issue was usually left uncancelled and is rarely seen tied by a marking -- this is one of the finest tied examples extant -- ex Emerson, Hall and D.K. Collection, with 2001 P.F. certificate

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10c Black (2). Large margins to clear, tied by part strikes of blue "Philada. Pa. 10cts. Sep. ?" integral-rate circular datestamp, full strike of datestamp at center, used with Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Bronze on Black Glazed (15L17), huge margin at right to touched at bottom, small diagonal crease at bottom right, acid tied on blue 1849 folded letter to Albion Ill.

VERY FINE. A RARE AND HIGH QUALITY COVER COMBINING THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE AND BLOOD'S SMALL "POST OFFICE" STAMP.

From our 1985 Rarities sale and ex Dr. Morris. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $5,000.00

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(Greig) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge margins all around including frameline of stamp above, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful example of the first stamp issued in the Western Hemisphere, with 1993 P.F. certificate

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(Greig) City Despatch Post, N.Y, 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Large even margins, canceled by red "Free" in frame, matching "City Despatch Post N.Y. 20 Apr 1 O'Clock" Ty. I double-line circular datestamp on folded locally addressed cover with 1842 docketing on inside panel, manuscript note "Worth $12.00" might indicate contents but probably is a later philatelic appraisal, Extremely Fine stamp on an attractive cover, ex Koppersmith, with 1988 P.F. certificate

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(Cummings & Wright) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed (40L2). Large to full margins, light creasing, tied by red "New-York 10 cts. 13 Oct." (1847) integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter to Philadelphia, Very Fine, this falls into the period when the City Despatch Post Office was owned by Cummings and Wright, tied examples of the 2c Green 40L2 stamp are very scarce, with 2015 P.F. certificate

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(Mead's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed (40L2). Large margins all around, bright color, cancelled by light strike of red "Free" in frame on 1847 folded letter to South Hardwick Vt., red "New York Apr. 3 5cts" integral-rate circular datestamp uprated with manuscript "10", small toned spot at bottom of cover, otherwise Very Fine, used before Cummings and Wright took over from Mead, with 2015 P.F. certificate

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(Cole's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed, "CC" at Sides (40L4). Position 26, cancelled by "Free" in frame (used previously by Greig) on 1848 folded cover to Boston, overlapping red New York (Feb. 5) and City Despatch circular datestamps, stamp with some usual creasing, otherwise Very Fine, the earliest "CC" stamps are found on Green paper (earliest documented use is Jan. 27, 1848), ex Geisler, "New Amsterdam" and Fekete, with 2009 P.F. certificate

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(Cole's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed, Hand-Etched Sideways "C" at Left (40L4b). Position 3 with lefthand "C" etched into plate by hand (so-called "Sideways C" variety), worn impression with barest trace of hand-entered "C" at left -- previously described in Middendorf collection as "C" at Right Only variety (40L4c) and with 1991 P.F. certificate as such -- large margins to slightly in, cancelled by brownish-red "Free" in frame (not tied), matching strike with faint "P.O. City Despatch Post Apr. 30 -- O'Clock" (1850) circular datestamp on large part of folded letter to local street address, stamp and cover have faults, still exhibitable, one of six recorded covers with the Hand-Etched "C" at Left on Green paper, this city-delivery cover shows the revived use of the old "P.O. City Despatch Post" circular datestamp and "Free" during the period in 1849-50 when the "CC" stamps were typically used on covers taken to the post office for regular mail (see The City Despatch Post 1842-1852 Issues, pages 23-24), there are four such covers recorded and they bear a striking similarity to the 40L2 covers from the Cummings & Wright period (with double strike of "Free"), ex Golden, "New Amsterdam" and Stimmell, with 1991 P.F. certificate as No 40L4c and 2000 P.F. certificate as No. 40L4b (correct), listed but unpriced in Scott

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(Cole's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Grayish, "CC" at Sides, Manuscript "C" Control Mark (40L5c). Position 31, small "C" initial between "Two" and "Cents", huge even margins, black "Paid" straightline cancel (not tied), used on small embossed Valentine cover to Syosset, Long Island, N.Y., red "New-York 5 cts. 13 Feb." (1848) integral-rate circular datestamp and "Paid" arc, red crayon "5" at upper left indicating prepayment of postage, long tear in cover at left not immediately noticeable

EXTREMELY FINE GEM STAMP ON A BEAUTIFUL VALENTINE COVER. ONE OF NINE RECORDED COVERS WITH THE POST OFFICE CITY DESPATCH 2-CENT "CC" STAMP BEARING THE "C" CONTROL MARK. THE STAMP ITSELF IS ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN.

The Manuscript "C" Control Mark was applied exclusively to the 2c "CC" stamps on Grayish paper. The initial comes in two styles: a small simple "C" between the words "Two" and "Cent", and a large cursive "C" at the center of the stamp. We record approximately 15 examples with the Manuscript "C", including two from positions showing the Hand-Etched "C" at Left and one from Position 36, the "Inverted C" at Right plate variety. The basic 40L5c stamps with the Manuscript "C" Control Mark include eight on covers.

Ex Golden and "New Amsterdam". Signed Sloane. With 2000 P.F. certificate

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Hussey's Post, New York N.Y., (unstated value) Black, Handstamped Wrapper (87LUP1). Two covers, first clear strike with "Free" handstamp on blue Nov. 27, 1856 folded printed notice to local street address, file fold, Extremely Fine, very rare early Hussey's marking, illustrated in Byways of Philately (p. 93) and Perry book (p. 12), ex Golden, with 1991 P.S.E. certificate, second cover with mostly clear strike with "Paid G. Hussey" two-line handstamp on Nov. 16, 1857 printed notice to local address, inside with elaborately illustrated building design for Stuart's Steam Refined Sugar, Very Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate

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Hussey's Post, New York N.Y., (unstated value) Black, Handstamped Wrapper (87LUP3). Inscribed "50 William St. Basement", clear strike with "1 ct. Paid Hussey 50 Wm. St. Oct." circular datestamp on 1858 folded cover to local street address, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate

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Carriers & Locals, Cover Balance. 12 covers, General Issue including No. LO2 tied with 3c No. 11A from Philadelphia, City Carriers including No. 6LB10, 7LB11 used on cover with 3c Orange Brown No. 10, Locals with several Blood's covers including Nos. 15L8, 15L10, 15L13 tied with No. 11A (from a "three rows" position with double frameline at left), two of No. 15L18 incl one used with 3c No. 26 on a mourning cover, also Swart's No. 136L10 and four stampless including Barker's City Post, Hale & Co., Towle's, a few minor flaws to be found but all are attractive, Very Fine group, four certificates accompany

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