Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — The Martin Richardson Gold Medal Collection of U.S. Post Office Seals (Typeset Seals on Cover)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
2673
Black on White, Typeset Seal (LOX1). Affixed over left edge of cover bearing 2c Alaska-Yukon tied by "Des Moines Iowa Oct. 11, 1909" machine cancel, to Letts Iowa, address crossed out, "Returned to Writer" pointing hand, Des Moines and Letts backstamps, fresh and Very Fine, extremely rare, only two on-cover examples recorded (Kotanchik, p. 196)
E. 500-750
550
2674
Black on White, Typeset Seal (LOX1). Type 2, affixed over top edge of 2c entire, "Elizabeth N.J. Aug. 19 3-PM 1910" machine cancel to A.J. Hodgin, Glens Falls N.Y., opened and resealed, address corrected to "Mrs." A.J. Hodgin, forwarded to South Glens Falls where it arrived four hours later, receiving stamps on back, extremely rare, only two on-cover examples recorded (Kotanchik, p. 196)
E. 500-750
450
Back to Top2675
Black on White, Typeset Seal (LOX3). Type 1, affixed over right edge of envelope, used with pair of 1c Green (374), "East Aurora, N.Y. Jul. ? 8:30 AM 1911" machine cancel on cover to Akron O., "Received in bad condition East Aurora, N.Y.P.O." two-line handstamp on reverse, Very Fine and choice, a great rarity, one of two known examples and the only known example on cover, illustrated in Kotanchik (p. 197), listed but unpriced in Scott
E. 1,000-1,500
850
Back to Top2676
Black on White, Typeset Seal, Rouletted 12.5 (LOX8a). Setting 2, Pos. C, affixed over right edge of 2c entire, "Mattawamkeag Me. Oct. 5 1904 11 AM" duplex cancel on cover to Lincoln Me., opened by mistake and resealed by Lincoln postmaster, struck twice with "Unclaimed" pointing hand and returned to Mattawamkeag, receiving circular datestamps on back, contents still inside and apparently unrevealed as seal is intact, Fine and scarce usage of rouletted perf 12.5 seal on cover
1,250
150
Back to Top2677
Black on White, Typeset Seal, Rouletted 16.5 (LOX8f). Setting 4, used in combination with 1888 Government Typograph Seal (Setting 6, OX7), which has the scarce Type F plate flaw, 2c 1895 Issue and "Don Juan Ind. Mar. 31 1900" circular datestamp on cover to Providence R.I., "Ranger Ind. Mar. 31" circular datestamp on front, Providence machine receiving postmark, few typical flaws as usualVERY FINE APPEARANCE AND PROBABLY UNIQUE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER COMBINING THE TYPESET AND GOVERNMENT SEALS. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RARITIES EXTANT IN OFFICIAL SEAL COLLECTING.
According to Helbock (Vol. 4), the Don Juan post office was in operation from 1858-1906. The Ranger post office was in operation from 1866-1952. Both were small, fourth-class post offices. The typeset seal was applied by one of the two. Like other fourth-class post offices they did not have access to the government seals and had to purchase typeset seals from private vendors. Upon arrival at the first-class Providence post office on April 2, which did have access to the Government Printing Office produced seals, the 1888 seal was affixed.
In addition to being the only known cover with both types of seals, this is also the only known on-cover example of the scarce Type F plate flaw of the 1888 Issue.
Illustrated in Kotanchik (p. 204). Listed (as used with OX5 in error) but unpriced in Scott
E. 1,500-2,000
1,200
Back to Top2678
Black on White, Typeset Seal, Rouletted 16.5 (LOX8f). Setting 4, affixed over top edge of envelope, used with 2c 1895 Issue, "Bryn Mawr Pa. Jul. 15 01 2 PM" duplex cancel on cover to Watch Hill R.I., Philadelphia machine cancel and Watch Hill receiving circular datestamp on reverse, opened by mistake by wrong Mrs. D.L. Lyon, ms. "not for her", Very Fine and scarce usage of the rouletted perf 16.5 seal on cover
1,750
300
Back to Top2679
Black on White, Typeset Seal, Rouletted 16.5 (LOX8f). Setting 4, affixed over top edge of envelope and under singles of 1c and 2c 1908 Issues, "Rangeley Me. Sep. 21 1910 6 AM" duplex cancel on cover to Boston, original stamps may have fallen off envelope and new ones affixed by Rangeley postmaster, two additional Rangely duplex cancels on back tie the 1c stamp and the seal, Fine and unusual usage
1,750
225
Back to Top2680
Black on White, Typeset Seal, Rouletted 12.5 at Bottom (LOX9). Affixed over left edge of 1888 cover to Provincetown Mass. from Whitman Mass., fancy Star cancel in grayish violet ties 2c Green (213), purple two-line "Advertised" handstamp on face, seal torn in opening as usual, Fine and extremely rare, this is the unique cover with No. LOX9 recorded by Kotanchik (p. 205), also accompanied by a 1906 cover with a purple "Received Unsealed/At Whitman, Mass." handstamp
E. 750-1,000
800
Back to Top2681
Black on White, Typeset Seal, Rouletted 12.5 (LOX11). Seal placed over opened cover from Honduras to Houlton Me., tied top and bottom by bold blue "Tonbridge Vt." circular datestamp, "Santa Cruz de Yojoa/Honduras C.A./Departmento de Cortes" circular datestamp, franked with Honduras Nos. 103, 104 & 106 (2), penciled "Missent" on label, Fine, an outstanding usage, with 1995 P.F. certificate
1,000
650
Back to Top2682
Blue on White, Typeset Seal (LOX17). Affixed over right edge of envelope and 2c 1903 Issue, "Northville Mich. May 18 1907 9 AM" circular datestamp on cover to Romeo Mich., opened by wrong addressee, ms. "Unclaimed" and "Return to Writer", receiving backstamps, Fine and scarce usage, only seven on-cover examples recorded (Kotanchik, p. 216)
1,000
400
Back to Top2683
Black on White, Typeset Seal (LOX18). Type 2, affixed to back of 1903 cover to Saybrook Conn. from Huntington N.Y., forwarded to New Haven, just tied by New Haven Conn. machine cancel, front with 2c Carmine (301), seal with red ms. deletion and "Received open at Saybrook Ct. P.O." added at bottom, cover with small faults, seal Very Fine, a wonderful usage which is the unique on-cover example of this scarce seal (Kotanchik, p. 217)
1,250
375
Back to Top2684
Black on White, Berkeley Cal. Typeset Seal (LOX21A). Affixed over right edge of envelope and 2c 1895 Issue, from Berkeley to the "Cal. Track Team" in Princeton N.J.., cover returned to Berkeley where seal was applied and forwarded to Campbell Cal., "Due 2 cts." straightline handstamp, several additional postal markings track its journey back and forth, Fine and extremely rare usage, with only two covers known (Kotanchik, p. 221)
1,500
950
Back to Top2685
Black on White, Ipswich, Mass. Typeset Seal (LOX24). Affixed to top of opened 1897 cover from Ipswich Mass. and mailed locally, 1c Blue (264) tied by "Ipswich Mass. 8AM 14 Jul. 1897" circular datestamp, seal tied by purple "Unclaimed" handstamp, ms. "Opened by Mistake", seal unfolded to show complete designA FINE AND EXCEPTIONAL RARITY OF THE TYPESET SEALS. THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE AND THE BASIS OF THE SCOTT CATALOG LISTING. A KEY TO A WORLD-CLASS COLLECTION OF OFFICIAL SEALS
This cover and an analysis of the manufacturing origins of the typeset lines of the seal are described by Kotanchik (p. 222-223). Illustrated in Scott Catalogue
3,000
2,500
Back to Top2686
Black on White, Typeset Seal (LOX28). Affixed over top of green cover and with ms. "Grafton Stone Co." to Cleveland Stone Co. in Grafton O., town name crossed out and "try Beria" written in, with 2c 1894 Issue tied by cork, Greenwich, Grafton and Berea circular datestamps of Oct. 1898, 2c defectiveVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS OFFICIAL SEAL AND ONE OF THE KEYS TO A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF TYPESET SEALS.
Ex. Hopkins and Lyons. With 1976 P.F. certificate
2,700
1,600
Back to Top2687
Red on Rose, Portage, Wash. Typeset Seal (LOX34). Trace of cancel at top, torn on opening and repaired, accompanied by 2c entire from which it originated, addressed to Ballard Wash., sent to Portage and eventually returned to writer, opened roughly at right, extremely rare, one of only two recorded examples, ex Lyons, this example is the basis of the Scott Catalogue listing for on cover, Scott Retail as such
1,500
800
Back to Top2688
Black on White, Typeset Seal (LOX35). Affixed over top of legal-size cover from U.S. House Speaker David B. Henderson to Paris, franked with 10c 1897 issue as free franking privileges did not extend to international mail, Dubuque Iowa circular datestamp, ms. notations in both English and French state letter was opened in error in Paris, letter resealed in Paris with pieces of stamp selvage and handstamped with two-line "Retour A L'Envoyeur", returned to Washington (due to Speaker of House return address), N.Y. Foreign Section "Paid All" in circle handstamp, readdressed to Vermilion, South Dakota and additionally franked with 2c 1897 Issue, Colfax Oct. 1 circular datestamp, typeset seal added in Vermilion and tied by Vermilion circular datestampAN OUTSTANDING AND WELL-TRAVELED COVER WITH THE UNIQUE LISTING EXAMPLE OF THE LOX35 TYPESET SEAL.
Iowa congressman and Civil War veteran David B. Henderson was the 39th Speaker of the House of Representatives, serving from 1899-1903.
Illustrated in Kotanchik (p. 230). Illustrated and the listing example in Scott Catalogue
E. 1,000-1,500
900
Back to Top2689
Provisional Official Seals (Unlisted). Two covers on an exhibit page, each with postmaster-created seals, Tilton N.H. and Tuxedo N.Y. respectively, first seal created from a red ruled label, ms. "Officially Sealed by" and signed by postmaster, the other on a strip of brown gummed paper tape, ms. "Opened by H.S. Welch not intended for him", Very Fine and interesting pair of homemade seals
E. 100-150
50
Back to Top2690
Balance of Martin Richardson Collection of Official Seals. More than 90 items, vast majority are covers, including a huge variety of usages from the 1879 engraved seals to modern issues, many better with some still on auction and dealer cards with prices paid for a few from $100 to $400, also includes Mr. Richardson's exhibit pages of the modern issue seals from 1971 forward and an exhibit page with two Dead Letter Office seals (one on cover), overall a fascinating and high quality balance that should be viewed to be appreciated
E. 1,500-2,000
1,800
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