1c Blue, Types II, III, IIIa (7, 8, 8A). Right stamp Type III, Position 61L4, large margins including left sheet margin with "ton & Cincinnati" portion of imprint, middle stamp Type II, Position 2L4 with clear break in outer line at bottom, which meets the definition of Type IIIa, huge margins including part of sheet margin at top and adjoining stamp at bottom, left stamp Type IIIa, Position 77L4, large margins to just touched, all stamps tied together by two perfect strikes of red Flag and Flagpole in circle fancy cancel (struck upside down), matching "Newark Valley N.Y. Aug. 20" circular datestamp on buff cover to Waverly N.Y., Type III stamp lifted and hinged in place to show imprint, cover barely reduced at left and with small mended opening nick at lower left corner

VERY FINE. A NOTEWORTHY AND UNIQUE COVER FROM NUMEROUS PERSPECTIVES. PLATE 4 STAMPS WITH ANY PORTION OF THE IMPRINT ARE EXTREMELY RARE. THIS COVER ALSO BEARS THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF IMPERFORATE ONE-CENT 1851 STAMPS FROM PLATE 4--A TYPE II STAMP FROM THE TOP ROW WITH A TYPE IIIa QUALIFYING BREAK IN THE BOTTOM LINE, A TYPE III STAMP FROM AN IMPRINT POSITION, AND TYPE IIIa. ITS PHILATELIC SIGNIFICANCE IS FURTHER ENHANCED BY ONE OF THE FEW PICTORIAL FANCY CANCELLATIONS USED DURING THE 1851 ISSUE ERA--THE PATRIOTIC RED FLAG IN CIRCLE OF NEWARK VALLEY, NEW YORK.

The stamps on this cover include two interesting Plate 4 positions. Position 2L4 (at center) is a top row Type II with the complete design at top, but the break in the bottom outer line also qualifies it as a Type IIIa. Position 61L4 is a Type III position with the lower portion of the imprint in the upper left sheet margin. Either stamp on cover would be a very desirable rarity, but the combination and additional Type IIIa stamp form what is undoubtedly a unique franking.

Newark Valley is partway between Binghamton and Ithaca N.Y. During the stampless period, Newark Valley used the pictorial "Kissing Doves" handstamp, and later (circa 1857) the postmaster used this patriotic fancy cancellation.

Ex Moody, J. F. Rust, Neinken and Wagshal. With 2011 P.F. certificate

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