New York N.Y., 5c Black, "A.C.M." Initials (9X1b). Type A with the additional roll in the letter "C", Position 21, margins tight to slightly in, tied by pen strokes, red "New-York 5 cts. 17 Jul." (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp and two strikes of matching straightline "Paid" handstamp on cover front only to Albany N.Y., manuscript "Pd 5" at top, file fold thru the stamp breaks the paper, still Fine appearance, the use of the straightline "Paid" handstamp indicates that this was postmarked on July 17 in 1845, just two days after the earliest known use of the unsigned stamp and the earliest recorded use of a stamp with validating initials (see Piller book, p. 61, for an "RHM" cover with the same markings), with 1990 and 2011 P.F. certificates

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