Sale 1211 — The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 29-30 October, 2019
Category — 1847 Issue—Waterway Markings
The only genuine cover bearing the 10¢ 1847 Issue with the "STEAMER 10" handstamp, and by far the finer of two genuine uses bearing 1847 stamps10¢ Black (2), large margins to just clear at bottom left, sharp impression, tied by beautifully struck red "STEAMER 10" oval handstamp with second perfect strike to right on September 1, 1847, bluish folded letter datelined at Boston, Massachusetts (only part of letter is present), addressed to Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
Extremely Fine. A superb cover with the 10¢ 1847 Issue tied by the red "Steamer 10" oval. This is the only recorded genuine example of a 10¢ 1847 cover with this marking, and it is by far the finer of only two covers bearing 1847 Issue stamps.
The USPCS census illustrates approximately 17 covers bearing the red "Steamer 10" (or "Steamer 5") handstamp, but 15 are John A. Fox fakes addressed to Gardiner in Sag Harbor, Long Island, and identified as such in the census. The only genuine covers are this 10¢ cover and a stained cover addressed to New York City with two 5¢ stamps and weak strikes of the marking. It is not definitely known where this marking was struck, but Ashbrook surmised it was on a steamer plying the Long Island Sound. Prior to the 1847 Issue, this marking had the word "Oregon" below the rate designation.
Ex Robert S. Emerson, Edward S. Knapp, William West, Henry C. Gibson, Sr., Mortimer L. Neinken, Marc Haas, Duane B. Garrett and John R. Boker, Jr. Discussed in Ashbrook's Special Service, #44, p. 343. Illustrated in an article by Creighton C. Hart (Chronicle 100, pp. 252-253). With 1971 P.F. certificate.
