Roche's City Dispatch, Wilmington Del., (2c) Black on Green Glazed (129L1). Neatly cut to oval shape with margins all around, uncancelled as always, used on small cover to Boston street address, blue "Wilmington Del. Oct. 16" circular datestamp (1849-50) and matching large "10" due handstamp, pencil "Box" at left, small inconsequential stain in postmark

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST OF THE SIX RECORDED GENUINE COVERS BEARING ROCHE'S CITY DISPATCH STAMP.

Wilmington city directory and post-office employment records for James L. Roche are provided by Elliott Perry in Pat Paragraphs (reprint, pp. 459-460). This information is also included with a census of 129L1 stamps and covers by Stephen Gronowski in the July 1995 Penny Post. Roche is linked to the Wilmington post office as far back as 1833 by a signed postage receipt. For much of the time between 1845 and 1858 he was a clerk in the post office. He left in 1849 following Zachary Taylor's election, but returned in 1852. During his hiatus from official postal duties, Roche ran a newspaper and periodical room advertised as "one door from the post office" and started the City Dispatch. The six recorded genuine Roche covers are dated from the third-quarter 1849 through the end of 1850. Roche died in 1859.

The Gronowski 1995 census with updated information contains six genuine covers, three of which have rectangular-cut stamps. There are approximately seven off-cover stamps (including two added to covers). This is probably the finest of the six covers in terms of quality.

Noted and illustrated by Elliott Perry in Pat Paragraphs (reprint, pp. 459-460). Ex Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate

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