Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 1861-66 Issue, including Lincoln-Related, Sanitary Fair and Adams Express
A colorful and pristine folded letter to France, carried across the lines by Adams Express and stamped with the new 30¢ 1861 Issue--the use of this stamp on a Civil War express cover was possible for only one week in August 1861DESCRIPTION
30¢ Orange (71), vivid early color, beautifully centered with interpane margin at left, tied by bold strike of blue grid cancel and matching “Louisville Ky. Aug. 22” (1861) double-circle datestamp on blue folded letter to Paris, France, letter datelined “New Orleans La. 7 Aug. 1861” and addressed to “Monsieur G. d’Arnaud de Vitrolles”, perfect strike of “Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Aug. 21, 1861” circular datestamp, red “New York Paid 24 Aug. 18”(date error) 24¢ credit datestamp overstruck by red grid, same red credit datestamp re-applied with August 28 date--carried on the Cunarder Persia, which sailed on August 28, arriving in Queenstown on September 7--bold red boxed “P.D.” handstamp and red Calais arrival datestamp (September 9), receiving backstamp, pencil “40” express rate (with code letters and pencil “30”)
PROVENANCE
* Robert A. Paliafito, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 6/12/1990, lot 2045
* “Sevenoaks” collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 11/15/2000, Sale 831, lot 2300, to Hagendorf/Columbian for Schwartz
* Barry K. Schwartz, Siegel Auction Galleries, 12/10/2009, Sale 981, lot 4124, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Scott R. Trepel, “United States Classic Covers” (special color feature for AMERIPEX 1986), Chronicle 130, May 1986
* Steven Walske and Scott R. Trepel, Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War, p. 49
* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (2001)
CONDITION NOTES
* Extremely Fine
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/62.pdf
