Sale 1211 — The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 29-30 October, 2019
Category — 1856 5¢ Red Brown
The phenomenal triple-rate cover to France with strips of the 5¢ and 10¢ Imperforate-- a recent discovery and one of the most outstanding 1851-56 Issue covers extant5¢ Red Brown (12), vertical strip of three, huge margins, used with 10¢ Green, Type III/II/III (15/14/15) vertical combination strip, both strips have large margins and are tied by "New Orleans La. Jul. 14, 1857" circular datestamps on light blue folded letter and prices current report to Trie sur Baise, France, bold red "New York Paid 36 Jul. 22" 36¢ credit datestamp--carried on the Cunarder Arabia, departing New York on July 22, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool August 2--red Calais arrival datestamp (August 3), Paris transit and Trie receiving backstamps (August 4)
Very Fine; certificate notes some toning along right side of 5¢ strip (top of strip partly lifted off cover) and 10¢ strip with small paper adherences and faint creasing--utterly trivial flaws which do not diminish the quality or importance of this stellar multiple-rate franking and cover.
The 1851-56 Imperforate issues are rarely found paying the 45¢ triple treaty rate on covers to France, because the triple rate is unusual and perforated issues began to replace imperforate stamps in the summer and fall of 1857, just months after the treaty went into effect on April 1, 1857. We have found references to two other covers with strips of three of the 5¢ 1856 and 10¢ 1855 Issues in the Ashbrook index card records at The Philatelic Foundation: 1) from Boston, date unknown, ex Waterhouse 1924 sale, strips cut in; and 2) from New Orleans, August 20, 1857, ex Ackerman. However, despite these written notes, we have been unable to find photos or more current sale records for these two covers. It is significant that we have no computerized record of having offered a 45¢ rate cover with the 5¢ 1856, nor can we find another in a search of auction catalogues or in our Scott 12 census (other than the Waterhouse and Ackerman citations).
This cover ranks among the most important of classic United States imperforate issue covers. Its provenance has eluded us, and it is believed to have originated from a long-dormant collection when it surfaced in a 2007 Cherrystone auction. This is the first major name sale in which this cover has been offered, and we expect it will achieve proper recognition in the context of the Gross sale.
Ex Joseph Hackmey. With 2007 P.F. certificate.
