Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — 1857-60 Issue
1c Blue, Ty. IIIa (22). Well-centered, pre-use crease, used with three 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied together by large "Paid" in grids struck twice, red "Boston 10cts 6 May" (1858) integral-rate circular datestamp on yellow printed address cover to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, red "United States" exchange office oval, docketing at left, Very Fine and attractive, ex Grunin and Piller, with clear 1993 P.F. certificate
1c Blue, Ty. V (24). Tied by "New York, N.Y. Station D 1 Jun. 12" circular datestamp and used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by "New-York Jun. 14, 1861" circular datestamp on cover to Schenectady N.Y., 1c small corner crease at top right, Very Fine, a very unusual combination of rates and markings, accompanied by 1937 note from Elliot Perry who states this is the only such combination he has ever seen, the Ashbrook book (Vol. 2, p. 190) lists all of the station markings he has seen, ex Neinken and Wagshal
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Rich color, left interpane margin with guideline, tied by large Boston "Paid" grid cancel on 1861 blue folded letter to Calcutta, India, endorsed "Via Marseilles" and "Pr. Niagara" — carried on that Cunarder from Boston on Mar. 20, arriving Queenstown Apr. 2, Calcutta Steamer Letter backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, scarce, ex Rohloff and "Sevenoaks", accompanied by sailing information to destination
5c Brown, Ty. II (30A). Horizontal pair, centered to bottom, rich color, tied by "New Orleans La. ? Dec. 8" (1860) circular datestamp on folded cover to Barcelona, Spain, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Jan. 2" (1861) circular datestamp, carried on Cunarder Persia from New York on Jan. 2, arriving Queenstown Jan. 12, "12.Rs." due handstamp, London and Barcelona backstamps, Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Horizontal strip of four, well-centered, wonderful deep rich color and sharp impression, tied by two light strikes of "New Orleans La. May 1, 1858" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Vera Cruz, Mexico, "6" reales due handstamp for Mexican internal postage, couple light folds at bottom
VERY FINE. A STRIKING 1857 10-CENT TYPE III MULTIPLE ON A QUADRUPLE-RATE COVER TO MEXICO FROM THE HARGOUS CORRESPONDENCE. MULTIPLE-RATE COVERS TO MEXICO ARE RARELY FOUND IN THIS REMARKABLY FRESH AND CHOICE CONDITION.
Pencil note "Colson $200" on back, referring to the price paid to Warren H. Colson, probably more than 80 years ago. Ex "European Connoisseur". With 2019 P.F. certificate.
10c Green, Ty. III (33). Horizontal strip of three, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), scissors-separated with trimmed perfs at bottom, tied by magenta grid cancels with "Hartford Ct. Mar 16, 1858" circular datestamp on cover to Shanghai, China, Rev. Henry Blodgett correspondence, red "New York, Br. Pkt, Mar 17" backstamp and magenta manuscript "28" cent credit, sender's directive "Europa" and carried on that Cunarder from New York on Mar. 17, arriving Liverpool Mar. 29, red London Paid datestamp (Mar. 30), Hong Kong backstamp (May 22), Very Fine and colorful use to China paying the 33c rate by British Mail, with 1994 P.F. certificate, accompanied by sailing data to destination
10c Green, Type V (35). Tied by red grid cancel with matching "New-York Br. Pkt. Apr. 10" (1861) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Smith, Archer & Co., Hong Kong, China, sender's directive "Via Marseilles" and "Africa"--carried on that Cunarder, departing New York Apr. 10, 1861, arriving Queenstown Apr. 21—manuscript "2/2" debit, "Hong Kong O JU 6 '61" receiving backstamp, part of back missing, still Very Fine and scarce use paying double the 5c Open Mail rate, ex Hall and "Magnolia", accompanied by sailing data to destination
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Horizontal strip of three, choice centering, tied by lightly struck grids with "Savannah Geo. Sep. 8" (1860) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Trieste, Austria, red "New York Br. Pkt 7 Paid Sep 12" 7c credit datestamp ties right stamp, carried on Cunarder Africa from New York Sep. 12, arriving Queenstown Sep. 22, red boxed "AACHEN 28/9 FRANCO" datestamp, Trieste arrival backstamp, Very Fine
10c Green, Ty. V (35). Three singles, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by large "Paid" grid cancels on blue folded cover to Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope, "Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Dec. 18" (1860) and Port Elizabeth (Feb. 16, 1861) backstamps, red crayon "28" credit handstamp, "1d" British Colonial credit handstamp, red London Paid datestamp (Jan. 2), one 10c stamp with some small perf flaws and 3c lightly creased by faint file fold, appears Very Fine, attractive and colorful use paying the 33c rate by British Mail, ex Haas, with 1987 Jakubek certificate
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Positions 41-45L1, horizontal strip of five, tied by five strikes of "New Orleans La. Dec. 14, 1858" circular datestamp on folded cover to Vera Cruz, Mexico, sender's manuscript ship-name directive "per Tennessee" and "Brugiere & Co. New Orleans" double-oval backstamp, neat "8" reales due handstamp, strip has faint even gum toning, tiny tear at top of first stamp at left (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE, PAYING SIX TIMES THE 10-CENT RATE TO MEXICO ON A COVER FROM THE HARGOUS CORRESPONDENCE.
Ex Grunin, Klein, "Sevenoaks", DuPuy and Allen. With 2001 P.F. certificate.
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Positions 99-100L1, horizontal pair with narrow interpane margin at right, used with strip of three of 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by grid cancels, red "New York Br. Pkt. May 26" (1860) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Buenos Aires, Argentina, sender's blue oval handstamp, red "12" credit handstamp (also red crayon "14"), carried on Havre Line's Fulton, departing New York May 26 and arriving Southampton Jun. 7, red London Paid datestamp (Jun. 7), right 3c stamp pre-printing paperfold, 12c barely affected from placement near edge of cover
VERY FINE AND RARE 1857 ISSUE COVER TO ARGENTINA.
A Power Search review located only five different 1857 Issue covers to Argentina sold in our auctions since 1993. Among that total only this cover bears a 12c stamp.
Ex Starnes and Allen.
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Two, used with 10c Green, Ty. II (32), tied by grid cancels, "Bloomsburg Pa Jan. 14" (1859) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Hon. Charles R. Buckalew, U.S. Minister in Quito, Ecuador, red "24" credit handstamp, carried via Panama but without transit datestamp, couple file folds clear of stamps, 10c stamps small faults, otherwise Very Fine, scarce 1857 Issue use to Ecuador, paying the 34c rate by American Packet then British Packet via Panama, ex Grunin, Gallagher and Allen, with 1997 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Block of 28, natural straight edge at right with interpane margin, tied by penstrokes on oversize cover to Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England, "Leonidas Mich. Jul. 21" (1860) circular datestamp with manuscript "336" registration number added, Liverpool transit, blue receiving datestamp, red crayon "42" credit and "7/14" rate calculation, few faults to cover and stamps to be expected for a multiple of this size
VERY FINE. A RARE FRANKING TOTALING $3.36 OF THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE FROM PLATE 1, SCOTT 36. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THIS ISSUE.
The largest recorded unused multiple is a block of four. This is an outstanding exhibit item.
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Two, left stamp sheet margin at left, right stamp small perf flaw at right, tied by grid and by red "PD" in circle on yellow cover to Liverpool, England and forwarded to Paris with pair Great Britain, 1856, 4p Rose (26), faint strike of New York circular datestamp underneath G.B. stamps, red Liverpool arrival datestamp and bold Liverpool Feb. 13 circular datestamp ties U.S. and G.B. stamps, London transit backstamp, Very Fine and colorful use, ex Knapp
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Two horizontal pairs and single (arranged Positions 87-88R1, 77-78R1, 67R1), used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), cut in on all sides, tied by three strikes of "Plainfield N.J. Jul. 30" (1857) circular datestamp on cover to Suresnes, France, "New York Aug. 1" circular datestamp, manuscript "Short Paid" despite 63c prepayment (must have required 5-times 15c treaty rate), carried on Collins Atlantic, departing New York Aug. 1, 1857, and arriving Liverpool Aug. 12, manuscript "24" decimes due marking applied in France, Suresne backstamp clearly dated "13 AOUT 57" confirming year date, reduced about two inches at right into address, other minor cover faults, still Fine and an impressive cover, which is not only a rare mixed-issue multiple-rate franking, but represents the earliest documented use of 12c 1857 Perforated Issue, the earliest dates range from Feb. 28, 1857 for the 3c, which was released experimentally, to July-August for the 1c, 5c (Type I) and 10c denominations, A.P.S. certificate as EDU no longer accompanies
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Positions 32/42/52L1, vertical strip of three, used with vertical pair of 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by two strikes of "Cuthbert Ga. Jun. 13" (1860) circular datestamp on buff cover with handstamped corner card of firm advertising books, stationery and musical instruments, addressed to Brussels, Belgium, red "New York Paid 26 Jun. 20" 36c credit datestamp, French arrival datestamp (Jul. 3) and framed "P.D." handstamp, backstamped Paris (Jul. 3) and Brussels (Jul. 4), small part of top left corner mended, top stamp in 12c strip has faults from placement at edge of cover, otherwise Fine, very attractive and a rare early use to Belgium, this franking pays the double 21c rate by British Packet and French Mail, ex Piller and Allen
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Positions 16-19R1 and 20R1, horizontal strip of four and single, scissors-trimmed perfs and slightly cut in, tied by three strikes of "New Orleans La. Aug. 21, 1858" circular datestamp on light blue folded letter to Vienna, Austria, sender's blue oval handstamp, bold red "N. York Br. Pkt. 14 Paid Sep. 1" 14c double-rate credit datestamp, carried on Cunarder Arabia, departing New York Sep. 1 and arriving Liverpool Sep. 11, perfectly struck red framed "AACHEN 14 9 FRANCO" datestamp (Sep. 14), Vienna receiving backstamp (Sep. 16), slight wrinkles and wear along edges has mild affect on bottom margin of strip, otherwise Very Fine, colorful and beautiful double 30c Prussian Closed Mail rate cover to Austria, ex Allen
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Positions 54-55L1, horizontal pair, used with 1c Blue, Ty. V (24) and 10c Green, Ty. V (35), tied by grid cancels, red "Princeton Ill. Sep. 18, 1860" circular datestamp on bright buff cover to Lenzburg, Switzerland, red "N. York Am. Pkt. Paid Sep. 22" circular datestamp and matching "12" credit handstamp, carried on Vanderbilt Illinois, departing New York Sep. 22 and arriving Southampton Oct. 6, red framed "AACHEN 8 10 FRANCO" datestamp, magenta manuscript "f1" rate, Basel and Aarau backstamps (Oct. 8), backflap removed and slight edgewear, 10c some trimmed perfs and 12c a few short perfs from placement at edge, still an attractive and colorful 35c Prussian Closed Mail rate cover to Switzerland, ex Grunin and Allen
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Two singles, left stamp Position 60R1 with captured imprint at right, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) and tied by two strikes of red "Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Apr. 4" (1860) circular datestamp on light blue folded letter to Rome, Italy, written and datelined by two individuals on Apr. 2 and 3 (Watertown Mass.), red crayon "24" credit, carried on Cunarder Canada, departing Boston Apr. 4 and arriving Queenstown Apr. 14, French arrival datestamp (Apr. 16), red framed "P.D." handstamp also ties 3c, Paris (Apr. 17) and "Via di Mare" (Apr. 23) backstamps, diagonal penstroke applied in Italy to indicate fully prepaid, Very Fine, a beautiful 27c rate cover to Rome via French Mail, most unusual and desirable with the stamps cancelled by the Boston foreign-mail exchange office datestamp in red, it is also one of four 12c 1857 covers recorded by James Allen with a stamp showing the captured imprint, ex Gliedman and Allen
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Horizontal pair, scissors-separated with intact perfs at bottom, used with 1c Blue, Ty. V (24) and 10c Green, Ty. II (32), tied by "Providence R.I. May 10, 1858" circular datestamps and manuscript on buff cover to Rome, Italy, red German transit also ties 1c, faint red "PAID" and "35" rate handstamps, "12" credit handstamps, cover with small faults, otherwise Fine
12c Black, Plate 1 (36). Horizontal strip of three, used with 1c Blue, Ty. V (24), scissors-separated and straight edges at bottom and left, stamps tied by large grid cancels, "Washington D.C. Sep. 17, 1860" circular datestamp on cover to Grobin, Libau, Russia (Latvia), red crayon "14" credit, red boxed "AACHEN 2 10 FRANCO" (Oct. 2) datestamp, indistinct backstamp, one 12c affected by gum toning, missing small part of backflap
VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 1857 ISSUE TO RUSSIA.
The 37c rate to Russia via Prussian Closed Mail is rare, with most examples coming from the Peirce correspondence to St. Petersburg. This cover to Latvia is extremely unusual.
Ex "Sevenoaks", Haub and from our 1996 and 2002 Rarities sales. With 2001 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Two horizontal pairs, one shows almost entire right frameline omitted, used with 10c Green, Ty. V (35) and 1c Blue, Ty. V (24), two of each, tied by non-standard 6-bar grid in circle cancels and "Niagara Falls N.Y. Aug. 20" (1860) circular datestamp on buff cover from John G. Nicolay to Geneva, Switzerland, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Aug. 21" backstamp, red manuscript "24" credit and additional German credits, magenta framed "AACHEN 4/9 FRANCO" datestamp (Sep. 4), receiving backstamps (Sep. 5), a few stamps with tiny tears, still Very Fine, a colorful and rare franking to pay double 35c rate to Switzerland via Prussian Closed Mail, Nicolay was private secretary to President Lincoln from 1861-65, ex Neinken, Wagshal and Allen
12c Intense Black, Plate 3 (36B). Positions 91-95L3, horizontal strip of five, striking jet-black shade and deep impression, Positions 93-94L have double frameline at side, right and left respectively—despite the presence of perforations, the sender (probably a German immigrant) used a blade and trimmed some of the perfs—tied by multiple strikes of blue gird cancel, matching "Cincinnati O. Aug. 17" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Reutlingen, Wurttemburg, sender's directive "Per Prussian Closed Mail via London & Ostend", red "N. York 14 Paid Aug. 21" 14c credit datestamp, red framed "AACHEN 3/9 FRANCO" datestamp (Sep. 3), receiving backstamps, Very Fine and colorful cover, this multiple of the Intense Black shade is very rare on or off cover, ex Gibson and Allen
24c Gray Lilac (37). Tied by large "Paid" grid cancel, "Boston Br. Pkt. Mar. 6" (1861) backstamp on folded cover to Smyrna, Turkey, addressed in care of an address in London, England, red Boston "19" credit handstamp, red London receiving datestamp (Mar. 18), fresh and Very Fine, this was sent by mail to London and then privately carried to Turkey, a most unusual use, ex "Angel"