Sale 1205 — 2019 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 26 June, 2019
Category — Carriers, Local Posts and Independent Mails, cont.
W. Wyman, Boston Mass., 5c Black (149L1). Huge margins all around, just tied by manuscript "X", clear strike of red "Wm. Wyman's/Letter Offices/8 Court St., Boston/3 Wall St. N. York" four lines in wavy-line frame handstamp, small red "PAID" handstamp on Nov. 26, 1844 folded letter from Boston to Geo. S. Robbins in New York City, some internal fold splits EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE RARE WYMAN'S LOCOMOTIVE STAMP TIED ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER FROM THE ROBBINS CORRESPONDENCE.
William Wyman was an agent for Harnden & Company in New York City and Boston prior to 1844, when he started his letter express. The period of operation was brief, from late July 1844 until the middle of December 1844, probably due to failing health. Wyman’s wife is listed as his widow in the 1845 Boston directory, so he must have died before May of that year. He published notices announcing the end of his “Letter Business” in Boston on December 14, 1844, and in New York City on December 17. Wyman’s last ads referred patrons to Overton & Company, explaining that his stamps could be “redeemed” at their offices. Covers exist with Wyman’s stamps and Overton & Co. markings.
The Wyman adhesive is the world’s first denominated stamp to depict a railroad locomotive. The design also gives the 8 Court Street and 3 Wall Street addresses in Boston and New York City, and the value “20 Stamps for One Dollar.” There is some debate as to the method used to print Wyman’s stamps -- engraving or lithography -- and the plate composition is unknown due to the total absence of multiples.
The updated census of Wyman stamped covers started by Gordon Stimmell and published in the Independent Mails book lists 37 covers. There are nine covers with stamps tied by manuscript cancels (or smudges from the cancel) and one cover tied by the Wyman handstamp (Sale 1124, lot 297)
Ex Foote. With 1986 and 2008 P.F. certificates
