12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Bottom left diagonal half, large even margins, tied across the cut and left margin by blue circle of tiny segmented squares and rectangles cancel, matching blue "SONORA, CALIFORNIA/FEB. 11. 1852" two-line datestamp on blue folded letter to Surry Me., datelined "Vine Springs Garden Feby 10/52" from E. S. Jarvis to his brother Leonard, manuscript "Paid 6 Ct." to the right of the bisect, neatly docketed with March 19 reply date in blue manuscript, light horizontal file fold well below the bisect

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED 12-CENT 1851 BISECT COVER FROM SONORA, CALIFORNIA, WITH THE STAMP CANCELLED BY A SEGMENTED CORK. A MAGNIFICENT 1851 ISSUE COVER FROM THE JARVIS CORRESPONDENCE.

The 12c stamp was bisected to pay the 6c transcontinental rate, effective July 1, 1851, due to a shortage of 3c and 1c stamps. Seven bisects are known used from Sonora, five of which have the Sonora straightline datestamp. This is the only cover with the segmented cork cancel. The Jarvis family, the source of the covers, owned 60 acres of land in California named Vine Springs, on which they grew grapes and made wine (http://www.cagenweb.com/tuolumne/bio4.htm).

Ex Caspary and Dick (Siegel Sale 203, lot 379). With 2015 P.F. certificate

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