Jones' City Express, Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (91L1). Full side margins, slightly in at top and bottom, uncancelled as usual, used on Feb. 17, 1845 folded letter from Brooklyn to New York City street address (pencil "44 Wall"), red "Boyd's City Express Post, Feb. 18 12 O'C" oval datestamp, file folds clear of stamp

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE NINE RECORDED FULL COVERS WITH THE RARE STAMP ISSUED BY JONES' CITY EXPRESS OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

It has been written that Jones' City Express existed from late 1844 through early 1845 (Patton book), but dated covers are known only as early as Jan. 29, 1845, and as late as Nov. 4, 1845. It is supposed that the proprietor was George G. Jones, based on the 1844 Brooklyn directory, listing him as an engraver with residence at Clinton Avenue and Jamaica Road. George G. Jones is listed in later directories as manager of the Metropolitan Errand and Carrier Express Company in New York City (source: Abt notes). Conjunctive usages indicate that Jones linked with Boyd's in Manhattan for local city delivery and with American Letter Mail Co. and Hale & Co. for inter-city service (prior to July 1, 1845).

Our updated records contain nine covers and two fronts (or pieces) with the 91L1 stamp: 1) uncancelled, used on Feb. 17, 1845 folded letter to John Jay, New York City, red Boyd's oval, ex Caspary, Boker, Lilly, Golden, Gordon N. John, the cover offered here; 2) uncancelled, used on cover to Junins L. Taylor, local addressee, "Paid" straightline, ex Caspary; 3) cut to shape, used with American Letter Mail Co. 5L2 cut to shape (tied), on folded cover to Counsellor Gieloeu (spelling?), Philadelphia, red Am. Letter Mail oval (NYC) and circle (Phila.) handstamps, ex Patton (Robson Lowe sale, Mar. 1, 1973, lot 1604); 4) uncancelled, manuscript "Paid" on cover to J.D. & C.S. Pratt, East Chatham, N.Y., ex Boker; 5) uncancelled on Aug. 10, 1845 folded letter to Wm. Danforth, Hartford Conn., red Brooklyn datestamp and "5" rate, Siegel 1995 Rarities sale; 6) described as "Uncancelled on cover pmk. Boyd's Brooklyn City Express. Creased from letter fold and rubbed on face. Rare.", Siegel Sale 164, lot 759, no photo; 7) uncancelled on turned folded cover to Jno. W. Mitchell, New York City, red Brooklyn datestamp and "5" rate, ex Golden; 8) part of stamp (torn) on front only to Isaac Wendell, Philadelphia, with red American Letter Mail Co. (Phila.) circle and framed Collect handstamp, ex Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 1283, unsold); 9) tied by Hale & Co. oval with Collect box on large piece, Siegel Sale 358, lot 1004; 10) uncancelled on embossed Valentine cover to Miss Jane Case, Siegel Sale 841, lot 1629; and 11) uncancelled on 1845 folded letter to Constant Guilleau, Phila., red Brooklyn Nov. 4 datestamp, "Paid" and "5", Gronowski collection.

In terms of condition and the added feature of conjunctive usage with Boyd's, in our opinion the cover offered here is one of the three finest. Approximately six or seven off-cover 91L1 stamps are known.

Signed Sloane. Ex Caspary, Boker, Lilly, Golden and Gordon N. John. With 1999 P.F. certificate.

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