Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — New York, N.Y. Postmaster's Provisionals
The rare "RHM” initialed stamp is used here on one of the seven New York postmaster’s provisional covers from New Hamburgh in Dutchess County, all originating from James Lenox, whose collection of art, books and manuscripts became one of the cornerstones of The New York Public LibraryDESCRIPTION
New York, N.Y., 5¢ Black on Bluish, “RHM” Initials (9X1d), Position 40 from the bottom right corner of the sheet, large margins to clear at lower right, bold magenta “RHM” initials reading from top to bottom, tied by blue manuscript cancel (applied on arrival in New York City) on folded letter datelined “Netherwood 12 Augst 1845”--Netherwood was the Lenox estate in Dutchess County, New York--addressed to Thomas L. Callender, Sun Mutual Insurance Company, Wall Street, New York City, manuscript “New Hamburgh Augst 12 NY” postmark and “5” rate, red “PAID” arc handstamp applied on arrival in New York City to indicate stamp accepted as prepayment, neatly docketed “Recd. 13 Agt”
PROVENANCE
* Charles A. Shierson, H. R. Harmer sale, 5/22/1961, lot 45
* Daniel F. Kelleher sale, 10/4/1974
* Louis Grunin (New York collection sold privately to Andrew Levitt)
* Daniel F. Kelleher, Sale 573, 9/30-10/1/1983, lot 153
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* USPCS census no. 20301
* https://www.uspcs.org/resource-center/censuses/postmasters-provisionals-cover-census/
* Stanley M. Piller, The New York Postmaster’s Provisional, fig. 90, p. 67
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine example of Scott No. 9X1d on a pristine folded letter
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/2.pdf
