Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 1847 Retaliatory Rate Cover to Belgium
The unique 1847 Issue cover to Belgium with a 5¢ and 10¢ strip of three paying the 34¢ Retaliatory Rate during the “Postal War” with England--one of the most outstanding classic United States covers extantDESCRIPTION
5¢ Red Brown, 10¢ Black (1, 2), 5¢ three large margins, touched at top, used with 10¢ horizontal strip of three, Positions 22-24R, full to large margins except where frameline just touched at top right, tied by red square grid cancels of New York City on blue folded cover to Ghent, Belgium, from the De Coster correspondence, receipt docketing indicates letter originated at Charleston, South Carolina, on October 28, 1848, sender’s route instructions “pr Mail to Boston for Steamer ‘Niagara’” were followed and the cover was conveyed by steamer to New York City, then by mail to Boston, from which port it was carried by the Cunarder Niagara, departing November 1 and arriving at Liverpool on November 13, red Liverpool “OD 14 NO 14 1848” circular datestamp on back, corresponding British “1/8” manuscript debit marking, Ostend November 15 red backstamp, red rectangular accountancy handstamp (with rates in blue ink) “DEBOURS ETRANGERS 1/8 / TAXE REDUITE 20 / PORT BELGE 4” representing postage of 1sh8p British, re-stated 20 decimes in Belgian currency, plus 4 decimes internal rate, large blue “24” decimes in manuscript for total amount due, final marking is a red Ghent (“Gand”) receiving datestamp on back
PROVENANCE
* Sir Nicholas Waterhouse, Puttick & Simpson sale, 11/11-14/1924, lot 216
* Henry C. Gibson, Sr., Ward sale, 6/14-15/1944, lot 33, to Brigham
* Alfred R. Brigham (not in Kelleher auction; sold privately)
* John D. Pope III (sold privately to Garrett, circa 1980)
* Duane B. Garrett (collection sold privately to Dr. Kapiloff)
* Dr. Leonard Kapiloff (bequest), 1999 Rarities of the World, * Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/15/1999, Sale 811, lot 29, to Craveri
* Guido Craveri (“Como”), Bennett sale, 3/23/2002, lot 20, to Walske
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 2005 Rarities of the World, 6/3/2005, Sale 895, lot 65, to Hackmey
* Joseph Hackmey (collection sold privately to William H. Gross, 2010)
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* USPCS census no. 8888
* Stanley B. Ashbrook, Special Service, #20, pp. 137-144
* Lester G. Brookman, United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Vol. I, fig. 117, p. 79
* George E. Hargest, History of Letter Post Communication Between the United States and Europe, 1845-1875, fig. 64, pp. 101-102
* Jonathan W. Rose, Classic United States Imperforate Stamps, p. 13
* New York International Philatelic Exhibition 1926 (Gibson)
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1998)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine; horizontal file fold clear of stamps; small erased “MERTENS” handstamps (reinforced); Gibson backstamp
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/24.pdf
