New York N.Y., 5c Black, "RHM" Initials (9X1d). Position 39, huge margins to just in at bottom, tied by blue pen strokes, red "New-York 5 cts. 26 Jul." integral-rate circular datestamp with matching "Paid" arc handstamp on folded letter datelined "New Hamburgh, Dutchess County, 24. July 1845" in the hand of James Lenox, carried to New York and mailed from there to Boston, signed "James Lenox" on backflap

VERY FINE. A RARE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "RHM" SIGNATURE ON A LETTER FROM JAMES LENOX IN NEW HAMBURGH AND MAILED FROM NEW YORK CITY.

In his article in Chronicle 99, Phillip Wall traced the history of the James Lenox "RHM" covers. Lenox was a prominent New York philanthropist and book collector in the mid-1800's. His collection of books and paintings formed the core of the Lenox Library on 5th Avenue, which became part of the New York Public Library in the late 1800's. He was also a founder of Presbyterian Hospital. Lenox spent the summer of 1845 in a manor house in New Hamburgh while his Fifth Avenue townhouse was being built. From there he corresponded with associates in New York and Boston. Wall records seven covers sent by Lenox from New Hamburgh with "RMH" initialed stamps. This cover is the earliest of the seven and the only one that was mailed from New York.

Illustrated in Chronicle 99 (p. 166) and Piller (p. 66). From our 1966 Rarities of the World sale. With 1974 P.F. certificate

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