Sale 1211 — The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 29-30 October, 2019
Category — 1847 Issue—Unusual Cancellations and Postal Markings
An exceptional group of four 1847-era covers from Huntsville, Alabama, showing the fancy rate markings and killers used at that post office during the periodTwo covers with single 10¢ 1847 stamps and two stampless covers, as follows
(a) Stampless cover with perfectly struck blue negative "5" Numeral in 5-Point Star fancy rate handstamp, matching "Huntsville Al. Sep. 2" circular datestamp on folded cover to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, undated receipt docketing on back, Extremely Fine
(b) 10¢ Black (2), with large margins to touched at bottom, tied by multiple strikes of blue negative "5" Numeral in 5-Point Star fancy rate handstamp, matching "Huntsville Al. May 1" (1849) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Demopolis, Alabama, stamp with some pin indentations at left and bottom, Very Fine appearance, ex Sampson and from our 1987 Rarities of the World sale
(c) Stampless cover with blue negative "10" in Circle of Stars fancy rate handstamp, matching "Huntsville Al. Dec. 17" circular datestamp on buff envelope to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, markings well-struck, slight overall toning, appears Very Fine, from our 1987 Rarities of the World sale
(d) 10¢ Black (2), Position 86R, ample margins to clear at bottom, tied by partly clear strike of blue negative "10" in Circle of Stars fancy rate handstamp, and also tied by "PAID" straightline handstamp, matching "Huntsville Al. Jan. 8" (1848) circular datestamp on folded letter to Philadelphia, neatly pressed out filing creases including one through stamp, Very Fine appearance, from our 1987 Rarities of the World sale
A wonderful quartet of covers featuring the fancy rate markings and killers used in Huntsville, Alabama, during the 1847 period.
Each of these covers would easily stand on its own in any first-class 1847 or stampless cover collection. Combining them into one lot affords the collector or exhibitor the opportunity to display the full range of fancy markings employed by the Huntsville post office.
