5c Red Brown (1). Large to full margins, bright color and early impression, tied by red square grid, matching "New-York 5cts. 15 Jul." (1847) circular datestamp on front only with full bottom flap to Ballymena, Ireland, blue "Gracehill/Ballymena" two-line handstamp, red London and blue "Ballymena JY 30, 1847" year-dated backstamps, "1/-" shilling due handstamp, piece out at top, expertly silked

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS REMARKABLE ITEM IS THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TRANSATLANTIC USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE, AND IT IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 1847 STAMPS USED TO IRELAND.

The 5c and 10c 1847 Issue stamps were issued on July 1, 1847. The earliest documented use is a domestic cover dated July 2 at New York City. At this time, the Cunard sailings were twice monthly. The first July 1847 sailing was the Cambria from Boston on the first day of the month. It was not possible for any 1847 Issue stamps to be used on that voyage, because Boston did not receive their supply of 1847 stamps until the following day. The next Cunarder to sail was the Caledonia, which left Boston on July 16. The cover offered here was posted in New York on July 15 and made it to Boston in time for the sailing the next day. Only two others are known carried on this voyage -- one bearing a single 5c used from New York to Liverpool which lacks a town mark and is dated from the contents and one bearing a 10c stamp used from Philadelphia on July 14 to Liverpool (offered in this sale as lot 176).

Accompanied by Mekeels article from 1996 by Jerome S. Wagshal describing the use. With 1990 P.F. certificate stating that "it is a genuine usage on a part outer address sheet and the earliest possible trans-atlantic usage of this stamp."

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