3c Dull Red, Type II, Diagonal Half Used as 1c (11d). Position 85R1L, upper right diagonal half used with strip of three from Positions 93-95R1L, well-tied by by several strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Jun. 8" and "San Francisco Jun. 16 Free" circular datestamps on blue folded cover to South Oyster Bay N.Y., circa 1855, bisect has crease ending in a small tear

VERY FINE. ONLY APPROXIMATELY SEVEN OF THE FEWER THAN 20 RECORDED 3-CENT 1851 BISECT COVERS ARE 10-CENT RATES. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE CLASSIC COVER.

The census of 3c 1851 bisects, published by David Beals in Chronicle 76 and updated by Stanley M. Piller, contains a total of 16 covers. Of these, one is the strip of four bisects used from Milton, Massachusetts, seven were bisected for use as 1c stamps to pay part of the 10c transcontinental rate, and eight were bisected to pay the 1c circular rate.

Illustrated in Ashbrook's Special Service (photo 97) and Letters of Gold (p. 111). Ex Baker, Beals, Dr. Kapiloff, Dr. Schnell and Alexander. With 1949 and 2000 P.F. certificates. Signed Sloane.

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