VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF A GOVERNMENT PERFORATED STAMP IN THE UNITED STATES. ONLY THREE ARE RECORDED FROM FEBRUARY 28, 1857, AND THIS IS THE MOST DESIRABLE OF THE THREE, AS IT IS THE ONLY COVER TO SHOW THE YEAR IN THE DATESTAMP.

The first experimentally perforated stamps were delivered to the U.S. government on February 24, 1857. Seven cities were chosen for distribution. According to the North American and United States Gazette of February 27, "...Ninety thousand were ordered for the cities of Philadelphia and New York, and thirty thousand for New Orleans and other cities of the South and West." The earliest documented use of a perforated stamp is Saturday, February 28, 1857, based on one cover from Philadelphia and two from New York. The experimental period continued until June 10, 1857, when the original six-year contract with Toppan, Carpenter expired. It was renewed on April 8, 1857, effective June 10, from which point all stamps were perforated as mandated by the new contract terms.

We record three February 28, 1857 uses as follows: 1) Philadelphia Feb. 28, 1857, ex Hulme, Siegel Sale 964 (lot 223) and 2013 Rarities Sale (lot 245); 2) New York Feb. 28, 1857, ex Hahn and Hulme, 1976 Rarities Sale (lot 63) and Siegel Sale 964 (lot 222); 3) New York Feb. 28, 1857 with year date in circular datestamp, the cover offered here.

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