Russell's 8th Ave. Post Office, New York N.Y., (2c) Blue on Rose (130L1). Huge top margin showing part of adjoining stamp, large at left and just touching at right and bottom right, excellent impression on fresh paper, tied by "New-York 5 Cts Jan. 23" integral-rate circular datestamp on small folded letter to Suffern's Depot N.Y., sender's instructions "To the care of Judge Christie", letter dated Jan. 22, 1855

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RARE RUSSELL'S LOCAL STAMP IN BLUE ON ROSE PAPER. ONLY THREE 130L1 COVERS HAVE THE STAMP TIED.

Although little documentation has been produced, the accepted history of the Eighth Avenue Post Office is that it was operated by James Price in 1854 and sold that year to David Russell. Price may have issued the unique Eighth Avenue Post Office stamp (Scott 63L1), which is reported to have been used in 1852. The portrait on the 120L1 stamp issued by Price is thought to be his own. Price's successor, David Russell, is listed at 387 Eighth Avenue in 1854 and then at 410 Eighth Avenue from 1855 until 1857-58. The 1855-56 directory lists his occupation as "express" and in 1856-58 it is given as "subpost." Price issued a stamp very similar in design to Russell's.

The following count of covers bearing Russell's stamps resulted from our survey of auction catalogues, the Boker collection, Sloane's notes and the Costales files: 130L1 Blue on Rose -- 6 (3 tied); 130L2 Black on Yellow -- 3 (1 tied but with 3c 1851 missing); 130L3 Red on Bluish -- 5 (1 tied); and 130L4 Blue Green on Green -- 1 stamp off cover (no covers known). The 130L1 Blue on Rose covers in our census are as follows: 1) Tied by "New-York 5 Cts. Jan. 23" due datestamp on 1855 folded letter to Mrs. Sarah Dougherty, Suffern's Depot N.Y., ex Grant, Knapp, Hall and Geisler, the cover offered here; 2) Used with 3c 1851, both tied by "New-York Jan. 3" (ca. 1855) datestamp on cover to Mrs. Geo. E. Adams, Brunswick Me., ex Boker; 3) Used with 3c 1851, both tied by "New-York Feb. 6" (ca. 1855) datestamp on cover to Pennington N.J., ex Caspary, Judd; 4) Tied by indistinct circular handstamp on cover to Richard Atkinson, 54 West St., ex Caspary, Middendorf; 5) Uncancelled with 3c 1851 tied by "New-York Mar. 20" (ca. 1855) datestamp on cover to Mr. H. M. Adams (city?), ex Lilly; and 6) Uncancelled on Apr. 4, 1856 folded letter from Colombia to Lanman & Kemp, 69 Water St., Russell's oval handstamp, Gronowski collection. We also record one off-cover stamp, ex Boker.

Ex Grant, Knapp, Hall and Geisler. With 2001 and 2008 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail $27,500.00

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