Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Mail Arranged by Destination: Brazil thru Germany
30c Orange (71). Natural straight edge at right, used with 3c Rose (65), 3c stamp was affixed and cancelled by duplex and then the 30c stamp was affixed at the post office and similarly tied by "Oberlin O. May 2" circular datestamp and target on cover to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, red "N. York Am. Pkt. Paid May 6" datestamp, sender's directive "Via France" and with French transit also tying 30c stamp, interesting hand-drawn illustration on backflap depicting two crosses on a hill, 3c with corner affected from placement at edge of cover, small cover tear at right, otherwise Very Fine and scarce usage paying the 33c rate to Brazil via French Mail, ex "Sevenoaks", with 1982 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine (115). Tied by circle of wedges cancel, red "Boston Paid Mar. 15" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to London, England and sent by forwarder to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, red London Paid datestamp (Mar. 28), bold red "United States Despatch Agent, B.F. Stevens, London, Mar. 28, 1870" oval datestamp, manuscript "Rio de Janeiro May 11, 1870" at upper left, some edgewear, slightly reduced at left, still Fine and unusual use to Brazil via England
3c Ultramarine (114). Horizontal strip of four, tied by quartered cork cancels, "Auburn N.Y. Dec. 20" (1870) circular datestamp on mourning cover to York, England, red New York datestamp, receiving backstamp, Very Fine and attractive use paying the 12c rate by British Mail
6c Ultramarine (115). Tied by small circle of V's cancel, "Pawtucket R.I. May. 16" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Liverpool, England, additional red Pawtucket duplex datestamp struck at left, red "PAID" handstamp, red New York datestamp, receiving backstamp, Very Fine and attractive use
1c Ultramarine, H. Grill (134). Used with 2c Brown, H. Grill (135) and 3c Green, H. Grill (136), cancelled by quartered cork, 3c tied by "Wheeling W Va. Sep. 10 5PM" circular datestamp on cover with McLure House illustrated hotel advertising design to Halifax, Yorkshire, England, red New York datestamp, 1873 receiving backstamp, some toning affects stamps, otherwise Fine and colorful use of the grilled issue to pay the 6c rate
6c Carmine (148). Straight edge at left, red "New York Jun. 1?" (1872) circular datestamp on buff cover to Oldham, England, forwarded to Nottingham and reforwarded to a different address in Nottingham, label affixed for first forwarding, with two Great Britain 1p Red (33), "Oldham JU 25 72" duplex ties 6c and one 1p stamp, other 1p tied by "Nottongham JU 26 72" duplex, Oldham (Jun. 24) and Nottingham (Jun. 26) backstamps, some edgewear, still Very Fine and unusual use
3c Green (158). Horizontal strip of three, used with 1c Ultramarine (156) and 2c Brown (157), tied by multiple strikes of red New York Foreign Mail Geometric, (Weiss GE-EN3), matching "New York Paid Oct. 10 Sup." (1874) Type E Supplementary Mail circular datestamp on cover to London, England, red London Paid datestamp (Oct. 20), slightly reduced at left, Very Fine, the New York Foreign Mail cancels are much scarcer struck in red than black, ex Boker, Albert and Kaplan
6c Dull Pink (159). Horizontal pair, tied by well-struck New York Foreign Mail Geometric (Weiss GE-EP4) on cover with importer's return address to London, England, red "New York Jun. 16" (1875) circular datestamp, red London Paid datestamp (Jun. 28), minor edgewear, Very Fine and attractive double-rate use, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Red, F. Grill (94). Horizontal strip of three and pair, strip with natural straight edge at left, we see a distinct double grill on the left stamp in the pair which may also be present on others, tied by unusual geometric cancel, "Rochester N.Y. Jan. 17" (1869) circular datestamp on illustrated Genesee Valley Nurseries corner card cover to Paris, France, red "New York Paid 6 Jan. 20" 6c credit datestamp, red boxed "PD" handstamp, blue Calais entry datestamp, receiving backstamp, stamps with few small faults mostly from placement near edge of cover, still Very Fine, a most unusual franking to pay the 15c rate
12c Black, F. Grill (97). Tied by blue target cancel, matching "Sandusky O Jul. 27" (1869) double-circle datestamp on mourning cover to Paris, France, "New York 9 Jul. 29" 9c debit datestamp, bold "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID" handstamp, back with "SHORT PAID" handstamp, "8" decimes due handstamp, blue Calais entry datestamp, stamp barely affected from placement near edge of cover, Very Fine use underpaying the 15c rate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. I (118). Tied by bold strike of quartered cork cancel, "San Francisco Cal. Mar. 1" (1870) circular datestamp on gray folded letter to La Tremblade, France, red "New York Mar. 15" datestamp, light strike of "SHORT PAID" in oval handstamp also ties stamp, blue "8" decimes due handstamp, Cherbourg entry datestamp, clear strikes of La Rochelle and receiving backstamps, fresh and Very Fine, scarce use of 15c Type I from San Francisco to France, apparently overweight and so short paid, with 1992 Alcuri certificate
1c Buff (112). Used with 3c Ultramarine (114), slightly overlapping, tied by red and black circle of wedges cancels, matching red and black "Trenton N.J. Apr. 29" (1870) circular datestamp, second strike in red at right on small cover with printed address to Paris, France, "GB/40c" Anglo-French oval accountancy handstamp and Calais entry datestamp, Very Fine, a superb and colorful 1869 cover, very scarce 4c British Open Mail rate to France, ex Arch and "Angel"
2c Brown (113). Horizontal pair, tied by cork cancels, "Philada Pa. Jan. 4" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Paris, France, "GB/40c" Anglo-French oval accountancy handstamp, London and Paris backstamps, Calais entry datestamp, blue "Paid by Drexel Harjes & Co. Paris" straightline handstamp at left with red manuscript "Fifty centm", "5" decimes due marking, apparently forwarded to Nice with address on back, cover with few edge tears, right stamp light creases, missing part of top flap, otherwise Very Fine and scarce use paying the 4c rate by Open Mail
2c Red Brown (146). Two, affixed slightly overlapping, tied by New York Foreign Mail Rosette cancels and red "New York Aug. 26" (1871) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Cognac, France, "GB/40c" Anglo-French accountancy marking, Calais entry datestamp and "5" decimes due, several transit and receiving backstamps, Very Fine use to France by British Open Mail after the expiration of the 1857 U.S.-French treaty, ex Walske
10c Yellow (116). Well-centered, tied by quartered cork cancel, "San Francisco Cal. Aug. 8" circular datestamp on 1870 Phantom Rate cover to Paris, France, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit" backstamp, matching "6" credit handstamp also ties stamp, red London Paid circular datestamp and "PD" in oval, French receiving circular datestamp, tears at top, Fine appearing example of the elusive Phantom Rate, effective July 1, 1870, the new Anglo-French postal convention reduced the rate between Great Britain and France to 3p per 10 grams, which in turn reduced the Phantom Rate from 12c to 10c (with a corresponding reduction in credit to GB from 8c to 6c)
12c Green (117). Tied by circle of V's and by bold "New Orleans La. Aug. 19" (1870) circular datestamp on Phantom Rate cover to Gironde, France, sender's directive "Via England", red "New York Br. Transit Paid All Aug. 24" backstamp, red "6" credit and red "PD" in oval handstamps, red London transit, transit and receiving backstamps, Very Fine, effective July 1, 1870, the new Anglo-French postal convention reduced the rate between Great Britain and France to 3p per 10 grams, which in turn reduced the Phantom Rate from 12c to 10c (with a corresponding reduction in credit to GB from 8c to 6c)
10c Yellow (116). Vertical pair, superb centering, tiny corner crease, cancelled by two strikes of blue target, "Nat. Mil. Asylum O. May 1" (Dayton O.) circular datestamp on brown legal-size cover to Ensisheim, Alsace, France, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit May 4" datestamp, "Ensisheim 2-3M 19 5" receiving backstamp, cover folded at left for display, Very Fine, carried on the Malta on the last Cunard sailing from New York for 2½ years, when this was mailed on May 1, 1871, Alsace was still technically French, although German forces controlled the region—by the time it reached Ensisheim, the treaty ending the Franco-Prussian War and ceding Alsace to Germany had been signed, ex Coulter and Walske
24c Purple (153). Rich color, cancelled by circle of V's, "San Francisco Cal. Jan. 21" (1871) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Gironde, France, sender's directive "Per Pacific Railroad", red "New York Jan. 31" datestamp, stamp also tied by red "6" credit, Calais transit and "SHORT PAID" in frame handstamp, red London Paid datestamp (Feb. 16), red "PD" in oval handstamp, receiving backstamp, Very Fine, the 24c prepayment, 6c credit marking and "Short Paid" are difficult to reconcile
24c Purple (153). Deep rich color, used with 6c Carmine (148), cancelled by bold strikes of quartered cork, "New Orleans La. Jun. 12" (1872) circular datestamp on folded letter to Bordeaux, France, red "New York Paid 12 Jun. 19" 12c credit datestamp, red London Paid datestamp (Jul. 1) and "PD" in oval, French transit and receiving datestamps, fresh and Very Fine, a colorful and beautiful cover, the 30c in stamps was an overpayment of the 20c British Mail rate to France (1/2 to 2/3 ounce, or 15-20 grams) with corresponding 12c credit, it was probably intended to pay the obsolete 15c treaty rate, ex "Andromeda", with 2006 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion (149). Tied by well-struck New York Foreign Mail Star cancel Ty. ST-8P11 on 3c Green entire (U82) with Wells, Fargo printed frank to Condom, France, blue oval "PAID" handstamp, red "New York Paid 6 Jun. 17 6" (1873) 6c credit datestamp, red London datestamp, "PD" in circle handstamp, receiving backstamp, repaired along edges, appears Fine, rare usage from an unspecified origin
6c Carmine (148). Used with 1c Ultramarine (145) and 3c Green (147), tied by corks and "Exeter N.H. Jun. 20" (1873) circular datestamp on cover to Paris, France, red Boston and London Paid datestamps also tie stamps, red "PD" in oval handstamp, red crayon "6" credit, receiving backstamp, Very Fine and colorful combination paying the 10c rate by British Mail
6c Dull Pink (159). Used with 3c Green (158), both tied by New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel (Weiss GE-EP10), red "New York Paid Apr. 10" (1875) circular datestamp on yellow corner card cover to Pont-d'Aid, France, carried by NGL steamer Neckar, arriving Southampton Apr. 21, boxed "P.D." handstamp, Calais entry datestamp, transit and receiving backstamps, cover with staple hole at top left, Very Fine, a pretty cover, the new U.S.-France treaty effective Aug. 1, 1874 set the reciprocal prepaid rate at 9c per 15 grams, meaning no accounting of postage from either country to the other was necessary, ex Walske
15c Black (77). Two, tied by cork cancels, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Mar. 11" (1868) circular datestamp on cover with printed address to Furth, Bavaria, Germany, printed routing instructions at upper left, red "Verviers Coeln Franco" handstamp, receiving backstamp, light vertical file fold well away from stamps, Very Fine double-rate usage via North German Union Closed Mail, ex Vogel
10c Yellow (116). Rich color, tied by "Paid" with Stars in grid fancy cancel and "Dedham Mass. Aug. 8" circular datestamp on cover to Heidelberg, Germany, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Aug. 10" circular datestamp, receiving backstamp, front and back separated and reattached, otherwise Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow (116). Bright color, tied by circle of V's, red "New York Paid All Direct Sep. 16" circular datestamp on cover with printed return address for The German Society of New York to Germany, red boxed Bremen Franco handstamp, tombstone-style receiving backstamp, fresh and Very Fine
10c Yellow (116). Bright shade, tied by circle of wedges cancel, red "Boston Paid All Direct Mar. 7" (1870) circular datestamp on tissue cover to Clausenburg, Transylvania, small red Hamburg Franco boxed handstamp, receiving backstamp, Very Fine, a rare use to Transylvania, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire
5c Brown, F. Grill (95). Tied by "Shamburg Pa. May 25" (1870) circular datestamp on buff cover to Marburg, Germany, red "New York Paid All Direct May 26" circular datestamp, red boxed "Aachen Franco" datestamp also ties stamp, receiving backstamp, some slight edgewear, Very Fine and unusual, apparently accepted as fully paid for the 7c rate via North German Union direct mail via Bremen or Hamburg
10c Bill of Lading, Blue, Perforated (R32c). Tied by quartered cork cancel, "San Francisco Cal. Oct. 12" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Hamburg, Germany, New York 6c debit datestamp, blue "8" crayon due marking, receiving backstamp, some slight overall soiling, slightly reduced at left, stamp with fault at top, otherwise Fine and unusual attempted illegal use of a revenue stamp
15c Orange, H. Grill (141). Strong grill, straight edge at left, tied by "Brenham Tex. May 15" (1870 or 1871) duplex datestamp and quartered cork cancel on "E. Busse, Texas Bakery and Dealer in Groceries, Provisions, &c." registered corner card cover to Dresden, Germany, sender's routing "By the Prussian enclosed mail" [sic], Brenham duplex struck over backflap, red "New York Registered May 22" rimless datestamp, red sawtooth framed "Recomandirt" German registry handstamp, manuscript registry markings and remnants of a registry form attached to back at top edge, Jun. 6 receiving backstamp, stamp slightly gum stained and slightly oxidized
FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE ON COVER. THE USE OF THIS ISSUE FROM A SMALL TEXAS TOWN ON REGISTERED MAIL TO GERMANY IS UNDOUBTEDLY UNIQUE.
The 15c stamp pays the 7c Closed Mail rate to Germany via England and the 8c registry fee. This rate was reduced to 6c in October 1871, and the earliest documented use of the 15c Grill is in June 1870 (although the stamp became available in April 1870). The New York May 22 and German Jun. 6 postmark dates point to three possible sailings in May 1870 or 1871. Very few covers are known with the 15c 1870 Grilled Issue, this being one of the most colorful and unusual.
Ex "Andromeda" and Curtis. With 1987 P.F. certificate.
7c Vermilion (149). Two, slightly overlapping and cancelled by penstrokes on buff registered cover with illustrated map of "Toledo and her Railroads" to Wurttemberg, Germany, rectangular "Recomandirt" ties one stamp, red "New York Registered Dec. 4" (1873) double-circle datestamp, "DIRECT SERV./PAID ALL" boxed handstamp, slight edgewear, receiving backstamp, Very Fine and unusual registered cover paying the 6c North German Union Direct rate plus 8c registration fee
1c Ultramarine (156). Bright color, tied by New York Foreign Mail geometric cancel on 1c Brown on Buff Postal Card (UX1) to Leipzig, Germany, red "New York May 27" (1874) circular datestamp, with printing on back in German, Very Fine, a scarce use of a postal card to Europe, the 2c postal card rate between the U.S. and Germany went into effect December 1, 1873
3c Green (158). Tied by cork cancel on 3c entire to Munich, Germany, "Philad'a Pa. Jun. 19" circular datestamp, red "New York Br. Transit Jun. 20" (1875) circular datestamp also ties stamp, receiving backstamp (Jul. 3), carried on the Cunarder Scythia, departing New York Jun. 23 and arriving Queenstown Jul. 2, Very Fine, this would be an unremarkable cover except that the G.P.U. postal treaty became effective July 1, while this was at sea, so was one of the last pre-treaty pieces of mail carried