5c Walnut Brown (1a). Huge margins to full, wonderful intense color and impression in a deep dark shade identified on accompanying certificate as "Ridgway Walnut Brown", tied by multiple strikes (we counted ten) of "Alexandria Va. Sep. 10" circular datestamp, additional clear strike at right, on 1848 folded letter to New York, stamp lifted and hinged back in place to allow for more accurate determination of the shade and condition

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE WALNUT BROWN SHADE OF THE 1847 ISSUE ON COVER. THIS IS ONE OF THE SCARCEST SHADES OF THE 1847 ISSUE, AND VERY FEW ARE KNOWN ON COVER. THE COMBINATION OF AN UNUSUAL SHADE AND THESE DISTINCTIVE CANCELS FORM A MEMORABLE COVER.

According to an article by Calvet M. Hahn in the May-June 1986 Collector's Club Philatelist (p. 209), this shade comes from the First Printing. It appears to be a more intense variation of the Dark Brown shade, and he notes it is "quite distinctive." The article mentions this cover, a pair off cover (ex Grunin, also used from Alexandria), one on cover from Hartford Conn. and one on cover from Philadelphia to England.

Ex Ishikawa and Hackmey. With 2010 P.F. certificate

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