Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — Saint Louis, MO Postmaster's Provisionals
The unique St. Louis “Bears” cover with a 10¢ and 20¢ se-tenant pair--one of two recorded examples of this combination multiple and the only se-tenant “Bears” multiple known on cover--an iconic Postmasters’ Provisional rarity and one of the greatest items in classic United States philatelyDESCRIPTION
St. Louis, Missouri, 20¢-10¢ Black on Gray Lilac, Se-Tenant Pair (11X5-11X6), Both Type II, Positions 3-4, large margins except cut into outer frameline at left, deep impression on crisp grayish paper, tied by two single pen strokes and also tied at lower right by red “St. Louis Mo. May 31” (1846) circular datestamp, matching “PAID” handstamp and manuscript “30” triple 10¢ rate on blue folded letter datelined “Banking House of W. Nisbet & Co., Saint Louis, May 30th, 1846” to Charnley & Whelen in Philadelphia
PROVENANCE
* Charnley & Whelen correspondence, H. R. Harmer sale, 12/13/1948, lot 35
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 1964 Rarities of the World, 2/27/1964, Sale 267, lot 23
* John D. Pope III, John A. Fox sale, 12/1/1984, lot 57
* Margie and Robert Faiman, Bennett sale, 10/31/2003, lot 100, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* USPCS census no. 21188
* https://www.uspcs.org/resource-center/censuses/postmasters-provisionals-cover-census/
* Scott R. Trepel, “United States Classic Covers” (special color feature for AMERIPEX 1986), Chronicle 130, May 1986
* ANPHILEX 1971 (Pope)
*World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1985)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine cover with light horizontal file fold; tiny scissors-cut in top margin clear of design and not noted on certificate
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/11.pdf
