Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Carriers and Locals
Wharton's U.S.P.O. Despatch, Louisville Ky., (2c) Bluish Green (5LB1). Complete pane of 25, original gum, large margins, some gum stains in right margin, couple light creases, one stamp in third row with small toned spot, still Very Fine and rare, fewer than ten intact panes of 25 are believed to exist
D. O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Pane of twelve — Group A on the lithographic plate of 72 (see Sale 868, lot 2059) — severed horizontally into two blocks of six (rejoined with hinges), original gum, large margins, couple small thins and slight wrinkling from gum
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY SEVEN PANES (INCLUDING ONE PART PANE) OF THE BLOOD'S STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP ARE RECORDED.
Our records contain five intact panes of twelve, one pane of twelve severed in half and rejoined (the pane offered here), and one block of eleven (bottom right stamp removed). We have determined that six of the seven panes come from different clusters of positions on the lithographic stone, each showing distinctive subject alignment and plate flaws. This multiple is an exact duplicate of one of the six arrangements, which we call Group A. Blood advertised stamps for sale at the rate of 25c per dozen; therefore, it follows that printed sheets comprised 72 subjects, which could be divided into six units of a dozen stamps for convenient sale.
Ex Kuphal.
Broadway Post Office, New York N.Y., (1c) Black (26L2). Top sheet margin block of eleven, cut apart into a left block of six, a right block of four and a single at bottom, original gum, eight stamps Mint N.H., three stamps and sheet margin lightly hinged, horizontal crease across bottom edge, couple faint toned spots, pencil note in margin "Very scarce. The last to be had at the office."
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. a rare large piece OF THE BROADWAY POST OFFICE STAMP.
The largest recorded block — the ex-Jarrett block of 32 — was divided into eight blocks of four (confirmed by photo). The next largest multiple is the block of 25 offered from the Siegel sale of the D.K. Collection (Sale 862, lot 66), which was found in a desk during the early 1900's and reported in 1955 by Marie F. Craig, who received the block from her uncle.
Ex Lilly, Boker, Golden, "D.K." Collection and Twigg-Smith. With 2017 P.F. certificate issued before the block was severed. Scott value as two blocks of four, a pair and a single.
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Huge even margins all around, tied by red "Free" in frame and by matching "City Despatch Post N.Y. 9 May 4 O'Clock" (1842) Type II double-line circular datestamp on folded letter to N.Y. street address, immaculate condition
EXTREMELY FINE GEM STAMP ON A FRESH COVER. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE greig's city despatch post issue -- the FIRST STAMP ISSUED IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
Ex Emerson, White and Haub. With 2019 P.F. certificate.
Humboldt Express (Langton's), Nevada, 25c Brown (86L1). Large margins to clear, bright color nicely complemented by "PAID" in double-line oval cancel, thin at top left, still Very Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
Wells, Fargo & Co., 10c-$4.00 Pony Express 1897 Reprint, Black Plate Proof on Wove. Complete sheet with defaced $4.00 column at left, full margins all around including 110mm sheet margin at top, light central vertical creases thru 25c row, few tiny edge tears at right and bottom far from designs, Very Fine and rare, this is only the fourth example we have offered in 30 years, the other three each had the top sheet margin reduced
Whittelsey's Express, Chicago Ill., 2c Red (146L1). Top right corner sheet margin block of twelve (bottom left stamp reattached with hinges), fresh original gum with four positions Mint N.H., large margins except single at lower left roughly separated along bottom margin, intense shade and brilliant fresh color, when discovered the block was folded vertically at center and horizontally between first and second rows, resulting in creases, third stamp in top row scuffed, manuscript "113" on back of two stamps
EXTREMELY FINE FOR A BLOCK OF THIS SIZE AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT WAS SAVED FOR PHILATELY. THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE RARE AND DISTINCTIVE LOCAL STAMP ISSUED BY WHITTELSEY'S EXPRESS IN CHICAGO IN 1857. IN OUR OPINION, ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE AND IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS OF 19TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
According to Henry E. Abt's series on Chicago local posts (American Philatelist, Aug. 1957), Whittelsey & Co. started its express in late 1857. The 1857-58 Cooke's directory lists Whittelsey & Co. at 194 Lake Street, but the following year the firm does not appear — it evidently folded, and the Whittelseys moved West. The proprietors are identified as Edmund A. and Samuel M. Whittelsey, who were first cousins, according to Dr. D. E. F. Easton (Scott's Monthly Journal, May 1956). Dr. Easton married a relative of Samuel Whittelsey and together they made the extraordinary discovery of this block of twelve. The stamps were inside an old family stamp album stored in a box of personal effects for nearly four decades. Apart from this block, only a few unused singles are known, as well as six used examples. No covers are known.
Ex Hall (acquired from Dr. Easton through George B. Sloane). With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott value as block of 11 and single
Carriers & Locals, Balance. Album pages with 1851 Government issue carrier stamps and reprints including No. LO6, few other carrier issues on pages, several Hussey's Post sheets or large multiples including sheets of 87L7 (two) and 87L22, finally a stock book with stamps, many of which are forgeries or reprints, overall Fine-Very Fine, the sheets alone make this a worthwhile lot, see our website PDF for highlights