5c Red Brown (1). Two, one with huge margins all around incl. sheet margin at right, other large margins to clear at bottom, cancelled or tied by ms. "H" cancels on cover to an antiquarian bookstore in Boston, ms. "John Howard Payne Washington, 25 March 1851" at top left, faint strike of red Washington D.C. circular datestamp, few trivial toned spots

VERY FINE. A RARE COVER WITH THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE CANCELLED BY "H" MANUSCRIPT INITIAL, EVIDENTLY APPLIED BY WASHINGTON D.C. CARRIER, THOMAS F. HARKNESS.

The "H" manuscript initial cancelling the 5c 1847 stamps on this cover is the same "H" initial on the 3c 1851 (Scott 10) first day cover sold in our Martin auction (Sale 894). Thomas F. Harkness was appointed as a letter carrier in Washington D.C. on August 30, 1849 (Chronicle 120, p. 243). He is probably responsible for the "H" cancellations on this cover and the 1851 first day.

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