90c Orange (229). Used with 30c Black (228), tied by "Washington D.C. 5" double oval cancels on full front of wrapper with complete Department of State penalty label to Colon (Aspinwall), Colombia, with penalty clause crossed out and "Parcels Post Value $2.00 Printed Matter" written in its place, vertical file fold does not affect stamps, some slight edgewear affects 90c

VERY FINE. A UNIQUE USE OF THE 90-CENT 1890 ISSUE TO COLOMBIA. THIS DEPARTMENT OF STATE LABEL WAS CUT FROM A PACKAGE CONTAINING TEN POUNDS OF PRINTED MATERIAL. THE STAMPS PREPAID THE 12-CENTS PER POUND INTERNATIONAL PARCEL POST RATE.

Our census of 90c 1890 uses includes 7 envelopes, 5 wrappers, 4 tags and 2 qualifying pieces, for a total of 18 items. Although undated, this State Department package label/wrapper to the U.S. consul at Colon (Aspinwall) was probably mailed during the period from 1893 to 1897. The manuscript notation at upper left confirms that this was rated at the international parcel post rate of 12c per pound, and it contained ten pounds of printed matter.

The vice-consul, Tracy Robinson, published a list of consuls at Colon, including the following during the relevant period (date of appointment in parentheses): W. E. Sims (Aug. 22, 1890), Charles W. Erdman (Aug. 13, 1891); W. W. Ashby (May 3, 1892); J. L. Pearcey (Oct. 10, 1893); W. W. Ashby (second term); and W. W. Cobbs (Mar. 4, 1898). [“List of United States Consuls at Colon (Aspinwall)”, Tracy Robinson, Panama: A Personal Record of Forty Six Years, 1861-1907]

Illustrated in Chronicle 129 ("Three New 90c 1890 Cover Listings for the Record," Scott R. Trepel). Ex President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Cochrane, probably ex Lowenthal (Siegel Sale 597, lot 182, where acquired by Dr. Johnson).

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