Cook's Dispatch, Baltimore Md., (1c) Green (51L1). Large margins all around, deep rich color, neatly cancelled by single manuscript line (not tied), used on brown cover to local street address, Lipman's Adhesive Despatch seal on flap, slight crease in cover at upper right

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF COOK'S DISPATCH STAMP, OF WHICH ONLY THREE ARE KNOWN USED ON COVER. A MAJOR LOCAL POST RARITY.

Cook's Dispatch was operated by Isaac Cook in Baltimore very briefly in 1853. In his CCP series on Baltimore (Vol. 50, No. 4), Denwood N. Kelly illustrated the only known contemporary reference to Cook's Dispatch, a notice from the 1853 Matchett's Baltimore Director. Kelly speculated that the proprietor was not the Rev. Isaac Cook listed in city directories, but probably was a son or relative who shared the same name. The Kelly article noted three covers and "one or two stamps". Steven M. Roth's Baltimore census (Chronicle, Feb. 1997) listed three covers (no off-cover stamps). Our records contain six examples of 51L1, including the three covers. Of those, only this cover is addressed within the city limits of Baltimore. It is also the finest of the recorded stamps, with large margins and in sound condition.

Illustrated in Kelly's CCP series. Ex Ferrary, Mason, Souren, Lilly and Golden. Pencil note on inside of backflap "Cook's Dispatch, Guaranteed Genuine, GWM"

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