10¢ Black (2), Positions 51-53R, horizontal strip of three, large margins to clear including left interpane sheet margin, tied by red grid cancels, matching "PANAMA" straightline handstamp on gray-lined folded cover to Mazatlan, Mexico, addressed to "Messr. Jecker Torre & Co.", docketing indicates sent by William Perry in Panama on November 11, 1850, and received in Mazatlan, Mexico, on January 9, 1851

Extremely Fine. An extremely rare use of the 10¢ 1847 Issue, paying the 30¢ rate from Panama--an absolutely pristine cover and undeniably the finest quality example of this rare 1847 Issue use.

United States Post Office Department records of 1847 stamps distributed to post offices indicate that 25 sheets of 10¢ 1847s (2,500 stamps) were sent on June 22, 1850, to Amos B. Corwine, the official U.S. mail agent in Panama City. Corwine received the stamps on July 16. Another 25 sheets (2,500 stamps) were sent to Corwine on January 17, 1851, and received March 21. No 5¢ 1847s were ever sent to Panama, since the standard rate was 30¢ per half ounce. Corwine served as the American commissioner in Panama until Lincoln removed him from office.

The USPCS 1847 census lists ten covers originating in Panama. This is one of three addressed to a destination outside of the United States; the other two are to San Blas/Tepic, Mexico, including the triple-rate cover offered as lot 118. By virtue of the strip's margins and overall quality of the cover, it is superior in quality to all other known 1847 covers from Panama.

Ex Rep. Ernest R. Ackerman, William O. Sweet and John R. Boker, Jr. Displayed at ANPHILEX in 1996. Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook.

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