3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Horizontal pair, ample margins to touched, tied by large "double-wide" checkerboard grid cancel (designed to cancel two 3c stamps at once) with "Weatherville Cal. Feby. 20" circular datestamp with month and day in magenta manuscript on buff cover to Boston Mass. with "Prospecters" illustrated scene of miners hiding from a grizzly bear, wonderful design depicting the bear rummaging through camp with men hiding behind and climbing trees, J. Hutchings, California imprint, "Anthony & Baker SC" engraver's imprint at right of design, minor edgewear and small stain at bottom of postmark

VERY FINE AND RARE 1851 ISSUE COVER WITH DESIGN OF MINERS HIDING FROM A GRIZZLY BEAR. ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE OF THE HUTCHINGS GOLD MINING DESIGNS.

Ken Kutz recorded only seven examples of this fascinating and amusing design in Gold Fever. Of those, only four have 1851 Issue stamps (three are stampless).

Ex Haas and Risvold.

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