(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Large margins to full, bright shade, attractive red star cancel and additionally cancelled by part of blue Philadelphia circular datestamp, tiny thin spot which is truly negligible

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE FRANKLIN CARRIER ISSUE AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES WITH BOTH THE RED STAR AND BLUE PHILADELPHIA DATESTAMP.

When the 1851 stamps were issued in three denominations--1c, 3c and 12c--the Post Office also created a special “Carrier Stamp” with Franklin’s profile facing left, in contrast with the regular lc stamp with the profile facing right. The absence of a denomination was evidently intended to accommodate the 1c or 2c carrier fees permitted by law. The similarity between the Franklin Carrier and its regular postage counterpart raised concerns that the two would be confused. Official correspondence provides contemporary documentation of the problem and solution. On October 10, 1851, a replacement for the Franklin Carrier stamp--the distinctive Eagle Carrier--was approved by the postmaster general.

We record only two examples of the Franklin Carrier cancelled by both the red star and blue circular datestamp of Philadelphia. The other, ex "Golden Oak", does not have as distinctive a strike of the blue datestamp.

Ex Golden. With 1980 and 2013 P.F. certificates.

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