5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to full, tied by blue "Philada Pa. 5cts. Dec. 6" integral-rate circular datestamp, second strike at right on buff cover to "Miss Benjaline French, North 7th St. above Poplar, Westside, Philadelphia", light stain from wax seal

VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON A COVER OSTENSIBLY MAILED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PHILADELPHIA, BUT ADDRESSED OUTSIDE THE OLD CITY BOUNDARY PRIOR TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF 1854. FOUR SUCH COVERS ARE KNOWN, ALL ADDRESSED TO MISS BENJALINE FRENCH.

In a two-part Chronicle article by Dr. Vernon R. Morris, Jr. (Nos. 199-200), he presents a convincing theory that the covers addressed to Benjaline French were not overpaid drop letters, as previously thought, but were addressed beyond the limits of the old city of Philadelphia, prior to the Consolidation Act of 1854. Therefore, the 5c inter-city rate was required.

Ex Ashbrook and Rust. With 1992 P.F. certificate declining opinion as to whether the stamp also prepaid the carrier fee

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