Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — Offices in China, Officials
30c War (O92). Two horizontal pairs, a few minor perf flaws along top, tied between perfs by circle of wedges cancel on cover-size package label with Jefferson Depot of the Quartermasters Department, Jeffersonville, Ind., Official Business imprint, addressed in violet and red Spencerian script to John W. Kline, care of John Wanamaker, in Philadelphia Pa.ONLY FOUR 30-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT COVERS ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS THE ONLY MULTIPLE FRANKING AMONG THEM. AN OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL HIGH-VALUE COVER.
John W. Kline was a well-known collector of coins, medals and numismatic literature. John Wanamaker, to whose care this package to Kline was directed, is known as the Father of the modern department store and commercial advertising (he was appointed Postmaster General in 1889).
The census by Alan C. Campbell (High Value Official Stamps on Cover, Chronicle 188, Nov. 2000, pp. 287-299) lists four 30c War Dept. covers, including three with singles and the 6c War. Since publication of that article, one additional cover (a label) has been found. This is the only 30c War multiple known on cover. The $1.20 postage may have paid the 10c per bound volume rate for 12 bound volumes, or possibly the 40x domestic 3c rate for 20 ounces.
Ex Hughes, Starnes and Lobdell. With 2011 P.F. certificate.
