10c Black (2). Full to huge margins with framelines of two adjoining stamps showing at right and bottom, fine impression, red 7-bar grid precancel of Wheeling, (West) Virginia at bottom right, lightly struck blue grid cancels, certificates mention "light horizontal crease at top" which is barely discernible in or out of fluid

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE OFF COVER WITH THE WHEELING CONTROL GRID.

The post office in Wheeling, Virginia (later West Virginia), received its first supply of 1847 stamps on August 8, 184--1,200 5c and 400 10c--and soon after applied a red 7-bar grid to the center of blocks of four before or at the time the stamps were sold. We do not know if the red grids were struck on all 25 blocks in a pane of 100 stamps, or if they were applied to smaller units, but all of the known examples have the red grid in one corner of the stamp. Since most of the recorded examples with the red grid are additionally cancelled, some experts have been reluctant to define them as precancellations, which are usually not cancelled again. However, one of the seven recorded covers has a precancelled stamp without any other cancel, and a piece with a 5c has the stamp tied by the Wheeling November 6 (1847) circular datestamp, without any other cancel. Whether the grid was applied as a control mark, as some have suggested, or for reasons that qualify it as a precancel, is a technical point for specialists to debate. Everyone agrees that the Wheeling grid is unique in the manner in which it was applied to the 1847 Issue. See lot 58 for the 5c 1847 with Wheeling grid.

Ex Zoellner and Mirsky. With 1980, 1998 and 2012 P.F. certificates. Scott value $23,250.00

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