3c Ultramarine (114). Horizontal pair and single, pair with small edge flaws and creasing from being folded over the edge of cover, used with 2c Proprietary, Perforated (R13c), tied by blue target cancels with matching “Arizona City Ariz. Aug. 21” (1870) circular datestamp on buff cover to Ures, Sonora, Mexico, stamps additionally cancelled by black small squares cancels applied in transit at Tucson, revenue stamp tied by “ALTAR” in fancy frame transit handstamp, manuscript “2” reales due for Mexican postage, slightly reduced at left

VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND UNIQUE ARIZONA TERRITORY COVER TO MEXICO. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED ARIZONA USE OF A REVENUE STAMP TO PAY (OR OVERPAY) REGULAR POSTAGE.

This cover combines a number of fascinating and unique elements. The overland rate to Mexico was only 3c, which paid postage to the border. Mexican postage was due from the recipient. The postmaster of Arizona City (James Barney) was apparently unfamiliar with this rate and had the cover franked for the 10c ocean mail rate. He compounded that mistake by allowing a 2c revenue stamp to be used to make up the last 1c of the 10¢ rate (overpaid by 1c). Perhaps there were no 1c or 2c U.S. stamps available in Arizona City. In any event, this created a unique piece of Arizona Territory postal history.

Ex Knapp and Jarrett

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