3c Ultramarine (114). Guide arrow at bottom right, tied by one of two strikes of Large Bee fancy cancel, second strike with duplex "Adrian Mich. May 18" circular datestamp on illustrated Dove and address ribbon cover to New York City

VERY FINE. THE ADRIAN LARGE BEE FANCY CANCELLATION IS EXTREMELY RARE AND BELIEVED TO BE UNIQUE ON THIS "BIRDS AND THE BEES" 1869 PICTORIAL COVER.

The Adrian Large Bee fancy cancellation rivals the artistic quality of Waterbury postmaster John Hill's Bee creations. Covers with this cancellation are very rare, and this is the only strike on an illustrated Dove and Ribbon envelope, which creates the first "Birds and the Bees" cover we have ever encountered.

"W.H.C." (Colson) handstamp. Noted as ex Emerson on back. Warren H. Colson mentions an Adrian Bee cover in his 1929 booklet on the Duckwall collection, so this might also be ex Duckwall. With 2015 P.F. certificate

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