Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 1902-1908 Issue Coil Rarities, 6c 1918 Air Post First Day Cover
The only recorded genuine cover with the 6¢ 1918 Air Post stamp mailed on the First Day of Issue--an important 20th century postal history rarityDESCRIPTION
6¢ Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1), vertical pair paying 2¢ postage and 10¢ special delivery fee on December 10, 1918, First Day Cover self-addressed by Joseph B. Leavy, then curator of the National Museum (1913-21), to his residence at 3600 13th Street, N.W., in Washington D.C., stamps tied by “Washington D.C. Dec. 10 8 PM” duplex datestamp with “1918” yeardate and numeral “3” grid cancel--the clerk (or perhaps Leavy) was evidently not satisfied with the clarity of the first strikes, and two more were struck which clearly show the date--in addition, there is a Washington Post Office Special Delivery Department “DEC 10 P.M.” purple time/date handstamp on the back
PROVENANCE
* Whereabouts unknown until 2007; pencil note on back indicates it was bought in September 1943 for $125
* Found in a collection consigned to Siegel Auction Galleries, 2/19/2007, Sale 950, lot 2424, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Documented by both Joe R. Kirker and Ken Lawrence as the only genuine 6¢ 1918 Air Post cover
* Joe R. Kirker, “The six-cent Jenny of 1918--First Day of Use!!!”, Airpost Journal, February 2009
* Ken Lawrence, “First Day Covers of 1918 Air Post Stamps--or are they? Part 3,” United States Specialist, April 2015
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (2008)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine
* Pencil note on back “9/43 [$]125 Pre First Day C1”
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/105.pdf
