Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Foreign Mail: Great Britain and Europe, China and Japan
2c Black (73). Two, used with horizontal strip of four of 5c Red Brown (75), tied to back of cover by grid cancels and "Kirkersville O. Dec. 15" (1864) circular datestamp, addressed to Clonmel, Ireland, despite the sender writing "stamps on back" below the address, they were apparently unnoticed because this received a "N. York Br. Pkt. 5 Dec. 20" 5c debit datestamp and "1/-" shilling due handstamp, Cork and receiving backstamps also tie strip, left 5c affected by light vertical file fold causing small internal tear
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USE OF A STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT 1862 RED BROWN ON A COVER TO IRELAND—THE PROPER FRANKING AFFIXED TO THE BACK OF THE COVER NOT SEEN AND SO TREATED AS UNPAID.
This was carried on the Cunarder Canada, which departed Boston on December 22, 1864, and arrived in Queenstown on January 2, 1865.
Ex Faust and from our 1987 Rarities sale.
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Two, used with 3c Red, F. Grill (94) and 5c Brown (76), tied by circle of V's cancel and red "New York Paid All Jul. 4" circular datestamp on cover to Bromyard, England, also with clear strike of "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID" handstamp, red "Liverpool U.S. Packet Paid 15 JY 68" circular datestamp, transit and receiving backstamps, 5c barely affected from placement at edge of cover, Very Fine, this must have been held at the New York post office until additional postage was applied to make up the 12c rate effective January 1, 1868, carried on the Inman line's City of London, which departed New York July 4 and arrived in Queenstown on July 14, ex Grunin, Dr. Rorke and Faust
2c Black (73). Block of eight in 4 x 2 format, tied by circle of wedges cancels and red New York 6c credit datestamp on blue March 1868 folded letter from New Orleans to Havre, France, forwwarded to Ribeauville, red French entry datestamp and Paris Apr. 7, 1868 datestamp, red boxed "PD" and receiving backstamp, part of address crossed out, despite being affixed over an edge fold the stamps are remarkably free of significant faults, with just a couple small flaws, Fine and rare franking of a large block of the 2c Black Jack on a cover to France, this overpays the 15c rate by 1c
2c Black (73). Used with strip of four of 10c Green (68), couple tiny tears at top, each stamp cancelled by small manuscript squiggle, matching "Ogden May 4" (1866) Utah Territory postmark on cover to Holland, red "New York 36 May 30" 36c credit datestamp ties strip, 2c stamp also tied by French entry datestamp, matching boxed "P.D." handstamp, address crossed out and redirected to Rotterdam on back, cover with minor edgewear and rounded corner at top right where opened, Fine and scarce Utah Territory use of a 2c Black Jack to Holland sent via French Mail at double the 21c rate, carried on Cunarder Java from New York on May 30, 1866, arriving Queenstown June 8, ex Dr. Rorke and Faust
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Used with 3c Red, F. Grill (94) and 10c Green, E. grill (89), tied by quartered cork cancels, "Richmond Va. Nov. 2" (1868) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Amsterdam, Holland, indistinct red New York Br. Transit circular datestamp, red receiving backstamp, small tear at bottom, Very Fine and colorful combination sent by Direct Closed Closed Mail via England (15c rate), Black Jack covers at this rate are rare, carried on Cunarder China (with sender's directive) from New York Nov. 4, 1868, arriving Queenstown Nov. 13, ex Allen (illustrated in Lane book on p. 57), Dr. Rorke and Faust
2c Black (73). Used with two 5c Brown (76) and 10c Green (68), two affixed overlapping and tied by cogwheel cancels, "San Francisco Cal. Jul. 10" (1867) double-circle datestamp on blue tissue-paper cover to Canton Bern, Switzerland, red "New York 9 Aug. 3" 9c credit datestamp, red French entry datestamp ties 2c, red boxed "PD", transit and receiving backstamps, Very Fine use by French Mail (21c rate, 1c overpayment), carried direct to Le Havre by steamer Arago from New York on Aug. 3, 1867, arriving Aug. 16, ex Faust
2c Black (73). Tied by circle of wedges cancel on Sep. 15, 1866 printed circular for commission merchant to Naples, Italy, red framed "Arrivo 4 Oct. 66 Napoli" backstamp, sender's directive "p Scotia" and carried on that Cunarder from New York on Sep. 19, 1866, arriving Queenstown Sep. 28, red French transit datestamp, "17 cmi" handstamp for local postage due, Very Fine, a choice and scarce 2c circular-rate Black Jack cover to Italy, ex Faust and Hutchinson
2c Black, F. Grill (93). Huge interpane margin at right, used with 10c Green, F. Grill (96) and 3c Ultramarine (114), tied by circle of wedges cancels and 2c by "San Francisco Jul. 10" (1869) circular datestamp on "Loze Brothers, Manufacturers and Importers of Watches, Jewelry, Clocks and Music Boxes" corner card cover to Geneva, Switzerland, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Jul. 20" circular datestamp, Swiss transit and receiving backstamps, 10c small corner crease, Very Fine, a beautiful and colorful Black Jack use to Switzerland, sent via Direct Closed Mail through England (15c rate), carried by HAPAG steamer Allemannia from New York on Jul. 20, 1869, arriving Plymouth Jul. 31, ex Faust
2c Black (73). Used with 12c Green (117), tied by blue cork cancels and matching "Galva Ill. Sep. 10" (1869) circular datestamp on yellow Undertaker's corner card cover to Gefle, Sweden, 4c credit handstamp applied by Chicago foreign-mail office, "1-1/2Wf." handstamp for transit beyond NGU, red "Hamburg/Franco" boxed handstamp, Swedish railway circular datestamp on back, some minor corner wear and small tear at top, Very Fine, a very rare combination of the Black Jack and S.S. Adriatic 12c 1869 Pictorial issues on cover to Sweden, sent via North German Union Direct Mail (14c rate), carried on HAPAG steamer Holsatia from New York Sep. 14, 1869, arriving Hamburg Sep. 27, ex Faust
2c Black (73). Straight edge at right, used with horizontal strip of five of 3c Rose (65), each pen cancelled, on back of orange cover to Norway, "San Jacinto P.O. Minn. Aug. 21st 1868" manuscript postmark, strip tied by Vienna circular datestamp, opened for display, edge faults, otherwise Fine, scarce use representing 1c overpayment of 16c rate
2c Black (73). Used with 30c Orange (71) and 10c Green (68), tied by circle of V's cancels on cover to Gibraltar, forwarded to Barcelona, Spain, and then forwarded again to Toulon, France, franked in the U.S. for the double-21c rate via England, vast array of markings trace its journey starting with red "Boston Br. Packet Paid 2 Jan." (1867) circular datestamp, crayon "36" credit, Gibraltar receiving datestamp of Jan. 19, Cadiz, Barcelona and Toulon transit and arrival datestamps on back, "8R" (reales) for internal postage in Spain, 10c stamp with tiny tear at top, 2c affixed overlapping cover but perfs are unaffected, minor edgewear, a Fine and remarkable use, ex Dr. Rorke and Faust, illustrated in Cole on pp. 108-109
2c Black (73). 21 stamps including a block of thirteen and strip of four, used with 3c Rose (65), all pen-cancelled on front and back of yellow cover to William Stubbs, care of American Consul, U.S.S. Relief, Macau, China, "Milo Me. Nov. 17" (1864) circular datestamp, additional "Milo, Maine, Nov. 17, 1864" manuscript postmark on block and blue grid cancel on one stamp (one wonders if the clerk started to use a handstamp and switched to a pen to speed up cancelling 22 stamps), red "Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Nov. 20" circular datestamp—carried on Cunarder Africa, departing Boston November 23, 1864, arriving Queenstown December 3, then by P&O route—there is no 40c credit marking, red "London Paid BI DE 5 64" circular datestamp struck twice, red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, blue Hong Kong transit datestamp struck on stamps on back (difficult to read date), as is to be expected there are some creases and small tears in the stamps, opened for display
A REMARKABLE BLACK JACK FRANKING PAYING THE 45-CENT RATE TO MACAU, CHINA, BY BRITISH MAIL VIA SOUTHAMPTON. ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR COVERS FROM THE STUBBS CORRESPONDENCE.
There are at least three covers from the Stubbs correspondence with the 45c rate to Macau made up almost entirely by Black Jack stamps. This is the finer of the two with 21 Black Jack stamps. It is unlikely that another cover has more than 21 Black Jacks.
Ex Atherton, Knapp and "Magnolia".
2c Black (73). Horizontal pair, top left corner torn off and reaffixed, each stamp cancelled by Yokohama 5-Spoke chop on wrapper with "PRINTED CIRCULAR" imprint and addressed to Cheney Brothers, Hartford, Connecticut (name cut out), perfectly clear strike of red "Forwarded by Augustine Heard & Co. Yokohama" double-oval handstamp indicating this originated from another location in China or Japan and was forwarded by Augustine Heard & Co. at Yokohama
VERY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS FROM JAPAN WITH 2-CENT BLACK JACK STAMPS PAYING THE PRINTED MATTER RATE.
A review of past auctions and The Philatelic Foundation records located only nine 2c Black Jack covers originating in Japan. Two have the "Hiogo, Japan" double-circle handstamp, and on each the 2c stamp is used with two 10c stamps for the combined 10c steamship rate and 12c treaty rate to England. A cover in The Philatelic Foundation online records (PFC no. 126826), from the Briggs correspondence, has the same 2c and 10c franking, but no Hiogo double-circle handstamp (it has markings applied in Japan and the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval). Two have five 2c stamps paying the 10c rate and the "China and Japan Steam Service" oval (one was offered in Sale 1261, lot 745). Four are printed matter rates with one or two 2c Black Jack stamps.
Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 137). Ex "Magnolia"