5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins to just in at lower right, dark shade and early impression, red 7-bar grid precancel of Wheeling, (West) Virginia at bottom left corner, tied by blue "Wheeling Va. Nov. 6" (1847) circular datestamp on small piece, stamp with corner crease at bottom left

VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE WHEELING, VIRGINIA, RED GRID PRECANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE, WITH A COMPLETE STRIKE OF THE BLUE WHEELING CIRCULAR DATESTAMP TYING IT TO A PIECE. ONLY THREE FULL 5-CENT COVERS ARE RECORDED.

The post office in Wheeling, Virginia (later West Virginia), received its first supply of 1847 stamps on August 8, 1847--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. There are seven recorded covers with the Wheeling grid precancel, including three 5c and four 10c covers. In addition to the covers, a few off-cover 5c and 10c stamps are known with the red grid precancel. This piece is particularly desirable as it includes a complete strike of the blue Wheeling circular datestamp. Interestingly, all of the known covers have stamps tied by a blue grid, with the Wheeling datestamp struck away from the stamp. See lot 115 for the 10c 1847 with Wheeling grid.

With 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott value $25,000.00

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