3c Scarlet (74). Bright color, bold strike of "PO" in oval grid duplex cancel of New York City, few short perfs at top where scissors separated, corner perf crease at top right

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCARLET WITH A NEW YORK CITY OVAL DUPLEX CANCELLATION AND THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE WITH THE "PO" INSTEAD OF STATION "D". ONLY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF THIS ISSUE WERE ACTUALLY SENT THROUGH THE MAILS.

As documented by Jerome S. Wagshal in a series of Chronicle articles (Nos. 56, 60, 61 and 62), Carl F. Rothfuchs, a Washington D.C. stamp dealer, obtained a supply of the 3c Scarlet in 1893 -- probably from the Post Office Department in exchange for his assistance with the Columbian Exposition -- and sold them with pen marks and original gum. A small number were also used by J. W. Scott, who posted letters with some of his supply to validate his claim that these stamps were legitimate postage. Today, there are perhaps five or six copies cancelled in this manner, but this is the only one we record with the "PO" cancel. The others have Station "D", as seen in the previous lot.

Ex Drews. With 2019 P.F. certificate

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