Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 10c 1855 Issue, including Unique Multiples and Covers
A unique example of the San Francisco News Letter in two significant respects--it is the only one to Panama and the only one with the 10¢ Type I stamp--which add elements of philatelic rarity to the fascinating story of its publisherDESCRIPTION
10¢ Green Type I (13), bottom row position on Plate 1, ample margins to slightly in at bottom, but still showing the type-defining full shell at bottom right, rich color, tied by “San Francisco Cal. 20 Jun.” (1857) circular datestamp on complete illustrated San Francisco News Letter with printed dateline “Per Steamer Golden Age. A Summary of Events from the 5th to the 20th June, 1857. Number 24.”, neatly addressed to “Doctor W. S. W. Ruschenberger, U.S. Frigate Independence, Panama” with manuscript letter and writer’s dateline “Robert Nuttall, 19 June 1857”, the printed newsletter contains an illustrated “MAP OF SAN FRANCISCO SHOWING THE SUBDIVISION OF THE POTRERO VIEJO”, a notice of “Pre-paid Postage Rates for the S.F. News Letter” from Postmaster C. L. Weller (dated April 15, 1857), and paid notices from Wells, Fargo & Co., Pacific Mail Steamship Co., and Freeman & Co.; the 20¢ rate from California to Panama was underpaid, clear strike of “DUE 10” straightline handstamp applied in San Francisco
PROVENANCE
* Charles F. Meroni, John A. Fox sale, 11/10-14/1952, lot 1027, to Baker
* J. David Baker, Siegel Auction Galleries, 4/4/1978, Sale 526, lot 28, to Risvold
* Floyd E. Risvold, Spink Shreves Galleries sale, 1/27-29/2010, lot 529, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Hugh J. and J. David Baker, Bakers’ U.S. Classics, p. 123
* Jesse L. Coburn, Letters of Gold, p. 96
* Scott R. Trepel, “The San Francisco News Letter 1856-1858,” Western Express 266, December 2017
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine cover; the stamp has a small pre-use nick in top left margin not touching design
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/39.pdf
