U.S. Penny Post, St. Louis Mo., 2c Blue (8LB3). Large margins to just in at bottom, cancelled by bold strike of "1 ct" in frame, faults including creases and hinge-sealed tears

FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO OFF-COVER STAMPS AMONG THE SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE ST. LOUIS 2-CENT BLUE CARRIER (8LB3). A REMARKABLE CARRIER STAMP THAT WAS MODELED UPON THE ONE-CENT 1851 FRANKLIN DESIGN AND THE 3-CENT SILVER "TRIME".

Elliott Perry theorized that the design of this stamp was a cross between the 1851 1c stamp (ornamental border) and the 1852 3c silver coin known as a "fish-scale" or "trime", which had the shield in six-point star design (see Pat Paragraphs, reprint, pp. 263-264). The concept was "something between" 1c and 3c. Although previous reports date the stamp and covers to 1857, one of the Valentine covers has an enclosure that appears to have originated with the cover and is clearly dated 1853 (Siegel Sale 920).

Our records contain just six examples of 8LB3:

1) "1 ct" cancel, off cover, ex Golden, Kuphal and various Rarities sales, (Kuphal Sale 925, lot 1261)

2) tied by "1 ct" in frame on cover to Edwin Harrison, ex Middendorf

3) used on large Valentine cover to Mrs. Scoot, dated Feb. 13, 1857, manuscript "X" cancel (not tied) and "Paid" straightline, ex Bulger, Siegel Sale 846, lot 2403

4) tied by "1 ct" in frame on cover to Miss St. Denis, Siegel Sale 846, lot 2404

5) cut to oval shape, tied by "Paid" in arc on large Valentine cover to Mrs. Scoot, Siegel Sale 920, lot 273.

6) "1 ct" cancel, boldly struck, off cover, the stamp offered here and previously unrecorded in our census.

Scott value $22,500.00

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