New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature (9X1e). Large margins to clear including part of adjoining stamp at left, tied by penstrokes which were carefully applied to avoid Washington's portrait, also tied by red "Paid" arc handstamp, second strike at right with matching "New-York 5cts. 15 Jul." (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter to John Cadwalader in Philadelphia, datelined July 14, 1845, light file fold does not affect stamp

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE, AND IT IS BY FAR THE FINER OF THE TWO KNOWN DOMESTIC COVERS POSTMARKED ON JULY 15, 1845. AN IMPORTANT UNITED STATES POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT, BEING THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE FIRST POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONAL ISSUE.

According to the Piller book, it is believed that the first delivery of the New York provisionals was on Saturday, July 12, 1845. The post office was open for only a short time on Sunday, and so it is believed that the stamps were not placed on sale until Monday, July 14. Ten covers are recorded used on Tuesday, July 15, including three to France, two to Germany, three to England and two addressed to other U.S. post offices. The other domestic cover is flawed by a sharp vertical filing crease through the stamp. All ten July 15 covers have stamps without the control initials. The earliest recorded cover with the control initials is postmarked on July 17.

With 1991 P.F. certificate stating that it is "genuinely used on cover on the first day of issue". Also accompanied by 1987 note from Philip T. Wall.

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