Menant & Co. Express Post, New Orleans La., 2c Dark Red (104L1). Full margins all around, small thin spot and tiny pinhole at top right, small ms. marks which may or may not be related to use

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE MENANT & CO. LOCAL POST STAMP AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. A GREAT PHILATELIC RARITY.

According to The Great Mail, Menant & Co.'s Express Post commenced operations in 1853 at 21 Conti Street and were still in business as late as 1856, although at a different address, 118 Exchange Place, near the post office.

The five examples of 104L1 in our records (all unused) are: 1) ex Souren, illustrated in The Great Mail (p. 133), ex Hall and Sale 878 (realized $5,500); 2) ex Middendorf (faults incl. hole at top right); 3) ex Caspary (thin and pinhole), the stamp offered here; 4) a recent discovery, offered in Sale 811 (realized $22,000); and 5) the copy in the British Library, Tapling Collection

Ex Caspary. From the Estate of Dr. Hubert C. Skinner. With 2009 P.F. certificate which declines opinion as to the significance of pen marks

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