12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (36a). Top right diagonal half, tied across the cut by blue grid cancel, matching "Edwardsville Ill. Mar. 4" circular datestamp on yellow cover to the office of the Picayune newspaper in New Orleans, bisect with pre-use crease ending in small tear, slightly reduced at right, opened a bit unevenly at bottom, accompanying certificate notes only that the cover has been cleaned somewhat affecting postal markings (a harsh and actually inaccurate opinion)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BISECT USE OF THE PERFORATED 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE ONE. ONE OF THE GREATEST 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE COVERS IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN OVER 75 YEARS THAT THIS COVER HAS BEEN OFFERED AT AUCTION.

Edwardsville Ill. is just north of St. Louis on the other side of the Mississippi River. The bisect paid double the 3c rate to New Orleans.

The P.F. has only certified three bisects: 1) Top right diagonal half, the cover offered here; 2) Bottom left diagonal half, tied (not across the cut) by Canton Miss. circular datestamp to New Orleans; and 3) bottom right diagonal half, tied by California circular datestamp to St. Paris O. As an indication of rarity, this is the first we have offered in all of our Rarities sales and regular auctions from at least 1994. None was offered in the Caspary, Klein, Ishikawa or Zoellner sales.

Ex Keightley. With 1991 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $17,500.00 is based on the realization of this cover in a 1991 auction, 24 years ago, when it came it the market for the first time in over 50 years.

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