Sale 1284 — The Yellowstone Collection of 1847 Issue Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 May, 2023
Category — 1847 Issue: Minnesota Territory, "Paid", "Free" and Numeral Cancellations
10c Black (2). Three large margins, just clear at bottom where there is a minute margin tear at left, manuscript "X" cancel and tied by "Saint Paul Min. Ter. Feb 12" (1851) circular datestamp, struck in an oily greenish blue ink on buff envelope addressed to Jenks & Ogden in PhiladelphiaVERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER FROM MINNESOTA TERRITORY WITH THE 1847 FIRST GENERAL ISSUE-- AN OUTSTANDING RARITY OF THE ISSUE AND OF THE CLASSIC PERIOD IN GENERAL.
Post Office records show that on February 4, 1851, the postmaster at St. Paul (J. W. Bass) received and signed for 200 5c and 1,200 10c stamps of the 1847 issue. Eight days later J. Ridgway Jenks, who was a partner in a pharmacy business and the brother of Governor Alexander Ramsey's wife, posted this cover. It is the only known 1847 Issue cover from Minnesota Territory.
This cover's discovery was reported by Susan M. McDonald (Chronicle 153, February 1992). Illustrated in The United States 1847 Issue: A Cover Census (p. 283). Ex Risvold and Gross. With 1991 P.F. certificate stating the datestamp is dark blue.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to barely touching frameline at upper left, bright shade and impression from cleaned plate, tied by magenta "Hartford Ct. 5 11 Sep." (ca. 1850) integral-rate circular datestamp with matching "PAID" Pointing Hand handstamp on buff envelope to Norfolk, Connecticut, minor oily spot at center from sealing wax, Very Fine, ex Saadi and Gross, with 1992 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Large to full margins, cancelled by blue straightline "Paid" with matching "Baltimore Md. Jan. 11" (1848) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Cedar Bluff Ala., stamp with small toned spot in far top margin, still Very Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, worn-plate impression, tied by three strikes of red "PAID" in arc handstamp and matching "New-York Apr. 25" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Baltimore Md., vertical file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine and attractive, rare with the "Paid" cancel, signed Ashbrook who notes this is an 1850 use, ex Dick and Eubanks
10c Black (2). Three large margins, full to in at top, tied by blue "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 28" (1849) circular datestamp and three criss-crossing strikes of matching "FREE" handstamp on blue Office of the Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette folded letter to "Hon. O. Cole M.C., Washington D.C.", two-page autograph letter signed by Rufus King, discusses incoming Presidential administration (Zachary Taylor) and how quickly new appointments should be made, faint vertical file foldVERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL USE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, CANCELLED BY MULTIPLE STRIKES OF A BLUE "FREE" HANDSTAMP. THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE MILWAUKEE "FREE" HANDSTAMP ON AN 1847 COVER.
This cover could have been sent free of charge to a member of Congress, so the 10c 1847 stamp was not necessary. It may have been affixed by the sender to ensure that the letter, with its important message, would not be treated as unpaid by the post office.
Ex Dr. Robertson and Mirsky.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to just barely in at bottom, rich color and worn-plate impression, cancelled by perfectly clear strike of green "5" in frame rate handstamp used as a cancel, matching "Princeton N.J. Nov. 23" (1849) circular datestamp on folded letter to Philadelphia, some minor splitting along foldsVERY FINE. PROBABLY THE FINEST EXTANT EXAMPLE OF THE DISTINCTIVE GREEN NUMERAL "5" OF PRINCETON USED ON THE 1847 ISSUE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL 5-CENT 1847 COVER.
Ex Boker and Gross. With 2013 P.F. certificate
5c Brown (1). Large margins, worn-plate impression, tied by red numeral "5" handstamp enthusiastically and strongly struck multiple times on the stamp and once at center (causing indentations in stamp), matching "Salem Mass. 10 Oct." (1849) circular datestamp on greenish folded cover to New Haven Conn., trivial toning along file fold at middle, stamp with small pinhole, still Very Fine and striking cover, ex Sampson, Garrett, Boker and Gross, with 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Clear to large margins with tiny corner nick at top left, dark color and intermediate impression, tied by bold blue "12" in double-line circle handstamp, matching "Philada Pa. 5 Mar. 20" (1849) integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter to Harrisburg, very fresh and Fine, scarce example of this rate marking used simply as a cancel for a 5c 1847 Issue cover, from our 1984 Rarities sale and ex Stollnitz and Dr. Morris, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Large margins all around showing part of adjacent stamp at left, tied by two strikes of blue "10" in double-circle handstamp, matching "Philada. Pa. 10 Apr. 18" (1849) integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Albion Ill., some very faint soiling not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, very rare tied by the numeral cancel, ex Jon Rose and Eubanks, with 1999 P.F. certificate