St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Bluish Pelure, Printed on Both Sides (11X8a). Type I, Position 2, ample margins to clear at top left and slightly in at bottom left corner, impression of 5c Black, Re-engraved Position 1, on back, a part impression but the numeral "5" is clearly visible not only on the back but also through the semi-translucent paper, tied by neat manuscript "X" cancel and "10" rate, red "St. Louis Mo. Nov. 25" (1846) circular datestamp and matching "Paid" handstamp on light blue folded letter datelined "St. Louis Nov. 24, 1846" from Wayman Crow to John W. Farrell, in care of C. W. Churchman in Philadelphia Pa., stamp lifted from the cover, it has two tiny insignificant tears at left

VERY FINE. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP AND COVER REPRESENT THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF ANY UNITED STATES POSTMASTER PROVISIONAL STAMP PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES AND THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF A ST. LOUIS "BEARS" STAMP FROM THE THIRD STATE OF THE PLATE ON PELURE PAPER.

The second and final alteration to the St. Louis "Bears" plate restored the two "5" (cent) denominations to Positions 1 and 3, where the "20" (cent) numerals had been engraved during the first alteration of the plate. The "20" numerals had been engraved in an entirely different style, but the re-engraved "5" numerals closely match the numerals on the original plate. When this alteration was made, the engraver also strengthened the dot inside the ball at the bottom end of the "5" in Position 5, which gives us an easy way to differentiate between Position 5 stamps printed on Gray Lilac paper (without the large dot) and stamps from the same position printed on Bluish Pelure paper (with the dot). The 5c stamps from the re-engraved Positions 1 and 3 have noticeably different numerals and should really be called Types IV and V, rather than "Types I and II re-engraved." The stamp on the cover offered here has a part impression of the re-engraved 5c Position 1 (Type IV). To the best of our knowledge, this stamp is not only a singular example of a Postmaster's Provisional printed on both sides, but it is the earliest United States postage stamp printed on both sides and one of three stamps in American philately with two different denominations on the same stamp (the other two are revenue stamps).

The St. Louis "Bears" stamps on Pelure paper are the among the rarest stamps in the world. The census data reproduced in the Faiman collection sale catalogue (Matthew Bennett, Oct. 31, 2003) lists six covers (one of which is a front) for the 5c Pelure (Scott 11X7) and two covers and two fronts for the normal 10c (Scott 11X8), plus the unique 11X8a cover offered here. The earliest date for any Pelure stamp is November 25, 1846 (the cover offered here), and the next two sequential dates for any of the "Bears" are December 4, 1846 (10c Gray Lilac), followed by December 17 (5c Gray Lilac, Position 5 without the retouch). The next sequential date for a Pelure stamp is January 11, 1847 (bearing two 5c Pelure, addressed to Benton). The use of St. Louis "Bears" seems to have dropped significantly by mid-1847, and, starting in July the new 1847 Issue rendered the provisional stamps obsolete.

Information about the addressee, Wayman Crow (1808-85), is available on Wikipedia. He was a businessman and politician, and one of the founders of Washington University. He moved to St. Louis in 1835 and was elected in 1840 to the Missouri state senate. In 1846 he secured the charter for the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, the oldest library west of the Mississippi River. In 1853 he secured the charter for Eliot Seminary, the precursor to Washington University. He continued as a member of the board of trustees until his death in 1885, when he was assassinated on the campus of Washington University.

Illustrated and described in the 1951 Congress Book, "St. Louis, Missouri, Postmaster's Provisional", C. Turner Nearing (pages 129-149) and Opinions IV, "An Important Change in Philatelic Foundation Policy: Certification of Earliest Known Date of Use", Jerome S. Wagshal (pages 42-60). Ex John D. Pope III (John A. Fox sale, Dec. 1, 1984, lot 59). With 1985 P.F. certificate stating "It is a genuine usage with a small tear at top left in the stamp, the earliest usage of a pelure paper 'St. Louis Bear' stamp known as of this date"

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables