3c, 12c Navy (O37, O41). Bright shades, 12c slightly rounded corner perf, tied by cork cancel and "Philadelphia Pa. Oct. 8 6PM" circular datestamp on legal-size cover to Major Thomas Y. Field in Atlantic City N.J., slightly reduced at left

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE 12-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT STAMP. AN IMPORTANT RARITY OF OFFICIAL POSTAL HISTORY.

This is one of two 12c Navy covers listed in the 2002 census by Alan C. Campbell ("Usages of Navy Department Stamps", Alan C. Campbell, Chronicle No. 193, Feb. 2002, pp. 44-58). The other is the 30c and 12c combination to Brazil that realized $37,500 hammer in our sale of the Starnes collection in October 2007 (Sale 945, lot 3814).

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