1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Position 35L1L, recut once at top and bottom, large margins to just clear at top, rich color, tied by clear part strike of red "New-York Paid 1 Ct. Oct. 17" integral drop-rate circular datestamp on 1852 folded circular to addressee on Water Street, originated in Liverpool, England, and was carried privately to New York, then dropped at the New York Post Office, file fold clear of the stamp

VERY FINE AND FRESH. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THIS NEW YORK DROP-RATE MARKING APPLIED TO A ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE STAMP ON COVER.

This cover is illustrated and briefly discussed in Ashbrook's One-Cent book, Volume II, where he states "New York had two postmarks they used frequently on Drop Letters. One was a postmark with 'Paid 1ct.' On prepaid stampless drops this was applied in red. It was rarely used on letters prepaid by a One Cent stamp." (p. 69-70).

Ex Knapp, Baker and Haas

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