3c Orange Brown, Ty. II (10A). Position 45L1E, large margins to clear including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, cancelled by two strikes of grid in a mixture of red and black inks, similar perfect strike of intense red "Chicago Ill. Jul. 1" (1851) First Day of Issue circular datestamp on blue folded letter to New York, clear manuscript date inside, light horizontal file fold well away from stamp

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST FIRST DAY COVERS BEARING THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE. ONLY THREE ARE RECORDED USED FROM CHICAGO.

In his census in the 1851 Sesquicentennial book, Wilson Hulme recorded a total of 43 covers used on July 1, 1851, which is the first day they were valid for postage, including three used from Chicago. One of these has a heavy manuscript cancel.

Offered to the market for the first time since a March 1977 Kaufmann sale. With 1970 P.F. certificate

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