Browne & Co.'s City Post Office, Cincinnati O., 1c Black (29L1). Three, the two stamps at right originally formed a pair, ample margins to slightly in, lightly cancelled in pencil from left to right "X", "2" and "3", on buff cover to local street address, pristine condition

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF BROWNE & CO.'S 3-CENT SPECIAL RATE PREPAID BY STAMPS. ONLY ONE OTHER EXAMPLE OF THIS RATE IS RECORDED.

Browne & Co.'s City Post was established in Cincinnati in early 1852, with daily advertisements appearing in the Cincinnati Commercial from April 15 through May 17, 1852 (Perry, Pat Paragraphs reprint, p. 390). In the advertisement, it was stated that "no money or valuable whatever will be transmitted unless booked at the Central Office and paid for in proportion to the risk incurred." (our italics for emphasis). This form of registration for valuable letters provides one basis for the 3c rate shown on the cover offered here. Another basis is the stampless Valentine cover that bears a Browne & Co. "3 CENTS" circular rate marking, which establishes beyond question that a 3c rate existed.

The "City Post" circle that appears on Browne & Co. covers later turns up on mail handled by the official carrier, C. C. Williams. The transfer of this device from Browne & Co. to Williams in late 1854 (see Sale 817, lot 276), as well as the similarity between advertising copy and the stamp designs, creates a logical link between the two posts, one private and the other official.

Ex Knapp, Caspary, Middendorf and Golden. Signed Sloane.

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