Brigg's Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black on Rose (25L1). Three large margins, slightly in at left, ms. "X" cancel (not tied), used on blue folded cover to Wm. H. Newbold in Philadelphia, blue "5" in circle handstamped rate marking applied by Philadelphia post office, ms. "Paid" in sender's hand, docketed "G. S. Robbins & Son, Nov. 11, 1849"

A FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS EXTREMELY RARE STAMP, OF WHICH SEVEN EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.

This Brigg's usage is enigmatic. There is no street address for Wm. H. Newbold, but the sender did mark the letter "Paid", and the Brigg's stamp is cancelled (but not tied). The docketing identifies the sender as George S. Robbins & Son, a well-known New York City firm. The cover entered the Philadelphia post office and was rated "5" with their distinctive blue handstamp. If the stamp originated on this cover and Brigg's was involved, it must have been carried outside the mails to Philadelphia and given to Brigg's for delivery -- without a street address, the cover was dropped at the post office. Refusing to accept it as a drop letter, Philadelphia rated it 5c due. The alternate explanation is that the cover came into Philadelphia by railroad and was never handled by Brigg's, which would of course make the stamp superfluous to the cover. Because of the possibility that this genuine 25L1 stamp has been added to the cover, it is offered on its own merits.

Ex Souren, Gibson, Boker and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate affirming the genuineness of the stamp but declining opinion as to whether it originated on this cover

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