Sale 1211 — The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 29-30 October, 2019
Category — 1847 Issue with Local Posts
One of only three recorded on-cover combinations of the 1847 Issue and a Frazer & Co. stamp for either carrier or private post service10¢ Black (2), large margins except at top left corner where frameline is touched, manuscript "X" cancel, used with Frazer & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 2¢ Black on Yellow (69L4), full margins to well clear of frameline, light manuscript cancel, both stamps tied (carrier stamp at tip of bottom right corner) by red "Cincinnati O. 10 Nov. 3" (1848) 10¢ integral-rate circular datestamp on bluish folded cover to New York City
Fine; addressee's last name disguised in ink.
An extremely rare 1847 Issue cover showing use of the Frazer & Company stamp during the period when Hiram Frazer was a semi-official carrier for the Cincinnati Post Office.
This cover is one of three 1847-Frazer combination covers offered in the March 6-7, 1951, auction held by Harmer, Rooke & Co. Another similar use with the green Frazer & Co. Eagle stamp was among that group, as well as a combination with the Horse & Rider stamp (to the same address on this cover). To the best of our knowledge and according to the USPCS census, there are no other 1847-Frazer covers extant.
Between February 8, 1848, and June 5, 1849, Hiram Frazer served the Cincinnati post office as a government carrier; therefore, any cover with the Frazer & Co. stamps dated during this period may be classified as a semi-official carrier usage. Very few covers bearing the Eagle or Horse & Rider stamps are known--an even smaller number date from the carrier period.
Ex Katharine Matthies, Robert B. Meyersburg and from our 1987 Rarities of the World sale. The history of the Siegel firm offering this cover dates back to 1956 (and four subsequent sales through 1997, when it was acquired by William H. Gross). Illustrated in Chronicle 152 (p. 234). With 1998 P.F. certificate.
