Sale 1284 — The Yellowstone Collection of 1847 Issue Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 May, 2023
Category — 1847 Issue: Unusual and Illustrated Covers
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to just in at top, worn-plate impression, tied by black grid cancel with red "Boston 5cts. 10 Oct." integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded cover addressed in the hand of P. T. Barnum to James Gordon Bennett, editor of the New York Herald in New York, Fine, Barnum and Bennett had a contentious, if not vitriolic relationship for many years, including many scathing editorials in the Herald directed at Barnum and a controversy over a land sale, original letter no longer accompanies but transcript is included
5c Red Brown (1). Full margins to clear, worn-plate impression, tied by red grid cancel, matching "Batavia N.Y. Dec. 11" circular datestamp on folded Whig Ball invitation to Alden N.Y., the ball to be held Dec. 15, 1848, "Complimentary to the pure Patriot, unsullied warrior, and honest man, General Zachary Taylor, and the eminent Statesman, who is with us, for us, and one of us, Millard Fillmore", small handwritten note at bottom, some edgewear, Fine and scarce use on a printed invitation for a presidential victory ball, ex Mirsky
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to just in at top, worn-plate impression, tied by red grid cancel with matching "Boston 5cts. 30 Apr." (1849) integral-rate circular datestamp on illustrated "Boston Letter Paper" lettersheet depicting map of Boston and with postage rates, to Putney Vt., faint age spottingVERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATED LETTERSHEET DEPICTING THE CITY OF BOSTON AND SHOWING THE RATES OF POSTAGE FOR LETTERS, NEWSPAPERS, THE MILITARY IN MEXICO AND ALSO PENALTIES. A WONDERFUL POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT.
The Post Office Reform Act of 1845 greatly simplified the rate structure for sending mail. That simplified rate is shown here on a lettersheet used with the 5c 1847 Issue, with an admonition that "letters to different persons cannot be enclosed in the same envelope, under a penalty of ten dollars".
Ex Mirsky.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear at lower left, worn-plate impression, tied by faint pencil cancel on Vermont & Boston Telegraph Line illustrated advertising envelope to Springfield Mass., "Office at Cheney & Co's Express" corner card, some light wrinkling and toning, stamp has pre-use diagonal crease at top rightA FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE USED ON THE DISTINCTIVE VERMONT & BOSTON TELEGRAPH LINE ILLUSTRATED ENVELOPE.
This well-known telegraph company design illustrates ships, a train, post rider, postman and turtle, above which is a telegraphic lightning bolt connected to a hand and quill, the obvious implication being that the telegraph beats all other forms of communication.
The better-known example of this envelope with the 1847 Issue is the cover most recently sold in our 2022 auction of the George J. Kramer Collection of U.S. Telegraph covers, where it realized $37,500 hammer (also ex Rohloff and Dr. Kapiloff). Both covers are addressed to Miss Sophia H. Ring at Springfield, Massachusetts. The ex-Kramer cover is postmarked at Middlebury, Vermont (Dec. 18), and the 5c stamp is tied by criss-crossed blue grids. It is not known why the cover offered here was not also postmarked at Middlebury, but the use of pencil to cancel (and tie) the 5c stamp suggests it may have been carried outside the mails (by express) or by railroad.
Ex Bailar. With 2007 P.F. certificate noting the stamp originated on this cover but declining opinion with respect to the pencil cancel or whether this passed through the mails
5c Red Brown (1). Two, large margins and deep rich color, intermediate impression, tied by multiple strikes of blue "Philada. Pa. 10 Jan. 20" integral-rate circular datestamp on buff envelope to Quincy Fla. with "Stavely & McCalla's Book and Job Printing Office" corner card, right stamp barely affected from placement at edge of coverVERY FINE. A SCARCE PRINTER'S CORNER CARD COVER USED FROM PHILADELPHIA TO FLORIDA WITH THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Pope, Dr. Kapiloff and Eubanks. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to clear including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, intermediate impression, tied by red square grid cancel, matching "New-York Aug. 5" circular datestamp on envelope to West Cambridge Mass., light blue "Dexter & Brother, Agts. for Publishers" embossed shield-shaped return card on top flap, slight overall wear and slightly reduced at right, still Very Fine, ex Golin and Mirsky
5c Red Brown (1). Bright color and worn-plate impression, full margins to just in at upper left, tied by red grid cancel with matching "STEAM BOAT" two-line handstamp, lightly struck but readable, on "United States Life Insurance Co. 27 Wall Street, New York" buff corner card envelope to Ballston Spa N.Y., stamp with pinhole near Franklin's chin, tiny nicks at top from placement over edge of cover, appears Very Fine, a scarce Albany N.Y. Steam Boat marking on an 1847 corner card cover, ex Diamond and Merlin, with 1982 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Large to full margins, tied by indistinct strike of blue "Philada. Pa. 10 May 6?" integral-rate circular datestamp, second clearer strike at right on Addicks, Van Dusen & Smith Shoes, Hats & Straw Goods blue cameo corner card cover to Burlington, Iowa., stamp with small gum soak near topVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ADVERTISING CORNER CARD COVER WITH THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Dr. Kapiloff and Gross.
10c Black (2). Huge margins to full including top frameline of bottom stamp, short transfer at top, tied by blue "Philada. Pa. 10 Dec. 14" integral-rate circular datestamp, second strike at right, on buff envelope to Fayette, Missouri, with blue "Addicks, Van Dusen & Smith, Shoe & Bonnet House, Philadelphia" three-line company imprint at lower left, with original part-printed enclosure with firm's name, lightly cleaned and some trivial cosmetic edge improvements, Very Fine, ex Gibson, Haas, Garrett ("Elite"), Boker and Gross, with 2020 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, 10c Black (1, 2). Matching envelopes addressed in European style writing to Miss Johanne Dorothy Rosenhauer in Baltimore, Maryland, one with 5c horizontal pair, other with single 10c, both envelopes with framed Arabic imprint on front and back, 5c pair with right sheet margin, other margins large to just in at upper left, couple inconsequential tiny margin nicks, tied by blue grid cancels with matching "Nashville Ten. Feb. 23" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp, 10c with large margins to just touching, diagonal pre-printing paper fold which if opened out would show a large unprinted gap in the top right corner, tied by blue grid cancel with matching "PAID" and "10" in scalloped circle handstamps, "Nashville Ten. Feb. 21" circular datestamp, both covers show some minor edgewear and creasing not affecting the stampsVERY FINE. A UNIQUE PAIR OF ENVELOPES WITH THE 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE AND FRAMED IMPRINTS IN ARABIC. A REMARKABLE AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE MATCHED PAIR OF COVERS.
These two covers are among the most fascinating printed envelopes with the 1847 Issue. The Arabic inscription translates to "Louise Ullman." Little is known for certain about her, but it has been speculated that she was a theologist who traveled through the Middle East. She evidently was of German descent. Both covers are posted from Nashville and addressed to a Miss Johanne Dorothy Rosenhauer in Baltimore. The use of Arabic writing on mail within the United States, especially at this early period, is highly unusual. It is believed that this pair of covers represents the only known use of the 1847 Issue on foreign language corner card covers.
Ex Rudy and Gross. Both with clear 2019 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Two singles, bright reddish shades and worn-plate impressions, each with three margins to irregularly in at top, tied by red square grid cancels, matching bold "New-York Feb. 17" circular datestamp on 7-1/2 by 5-1/4 in. embossed Valentine envelope with original Valentine enclosure, outside comprises lace and silk panel with silver and gilt paste-on decorations surrounding a multicolored enamel vignette picturing two cherubic figures, the inside with a handwritten love poem dated 1851, cover lightly creased with negligible splits along the embossingVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE VALENTINE WITH ORIGINAL MATCHING ENCLOSURE USED WITH TWO 5-CENT STAMPS OF THE 1847 ISSUE. A REMARKABLE RARITY.
Ex Pope, Dr. Kapiloff, Hillmer and Mirsky.
