Lot
251 
Berford & Co.'s Express, New York N.Y., 10¢ Violet, Horizontal Tete-Beche Pair. Large margins, used with 10¢ vertical pair, also large margins, uncancelled, the vertical pair tied by two letters of address "For Lieut. Madison Rush, U.S. Ship 'St. Lawrence' Valparaiso", receipt docketing on back "Recd. at Valparaiso, March 21st, 1852", the stamps and cover are in pristine conditionEXTREMELY FINE. ONLY TWO COVERS BEARING THE BERFORD'S 10-CENT TETE-BECHE VARIETY ARE RECORDED, BOTH ADDRESSED TO LIEUTENANT RUSH AT VALPARAISO. ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF ALL COVERS CARRIED BY A PRIVATE MAIL FIRM, COMBINING PHILATELIC RARITY AND POSTAL HISTORY SIGNIFICANCE INTO ONE EXTRAORDINARY USAGE.
Richard G. Berford and Loring L. Lombard operated the Berford & Co. letter-carrying business beginning in 1851. Berford & Co.'s Express primarily served the West Coast of North, Central and South America, but also advertised rates to Hawaii, Hong Kong and China. Although their letter and package express business was fairly large, the adhesive stamps for letter mail are rare. During the course of their operation, there were several bitter clashes with the government over their mail route. The company is reported to have been sold in June 1854.
Records indicate a total of seventeen 10¢ Berford & Co. stamps (11L3), but about half of these are represented by one normal pair and three tete-beche pairs (11L3a). There are actually just eight 11L3/11L3a items, including five covers and three off-cover stamps. These are as follows: 1) uncancelled on piece (or possibly a cover), Sloane records, 2) uncancelled off cover, faint stains, ex Middendorf, 3) uncancelled on cover to Gloucester Mass. with Loring Bros. Valparaiso forwarding oval, PFC declined opinion as to usage, 4) uncancelled on cover from Bangor Me. to Chagres, described as 1853 usage in Sloane records, not verified, 5) four cut-to-shape singles on Jul.-Aug. 1852 cover to Paita, 6) one normal pair and one tete-beche pair on cover to Valparaiso, the cover offered here, 7) two tete-beche pairs on cover to Valparaiso, ex Mason, Hall, "D.K." and 8) single with original gum, 1961 R.P.S. certificate, ex Hall.
Four covers are recorded with Berford & Co. stamps paying the 40¢ rate, each addressed to the West Coast of South America, apparently originating in New York. This 40¢ prepaid rate was listed in the "Table of Postage" in Berford's June 17, 1851, New York Herald advertisement announcing the "New Postage Law". In the advertisement, the stamps (3c, 10c and 25¢) are described and various rates are given, effective July 1, 1851. Obviously, Berford's was acting in response to the U.S. government postage reforms of the same date.
Ex Worthington, Caspary, Lilly, Golden and "D.K." (Siegel Sale 862, realized $62,500). With 1999 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 11L3a Estimate $50,000 - 75,000.
Realized: $55,000
Lot
1891 
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1915, 10¢ Panama-Pacific, perf 10. Top margin plate block of 6, o.g., barest trace of hinge, well balanced margins and marvelously centered throughout, exceptionally deep and bold color, outstanding freshness, an Extremely Fine gem, a spectacular 1915 10¢ Panama-Pacific, perf 10 top margin plate block; with 1970 and 2006 P.F. certificates, plus 2006 P.S.E. certificate as never hinged. Scott No. 404 $12,500.
Although a couple of 10¢ Panama-Pacific plate blocks have come on the market within the last year, none hold a candle to this magnificent gem, which is without a doubt the finest in existence.
Realized: $30,000
Lot
2066
Offices in China, 1922, 4¢ on 2¢ carmine, "SHANGHAI" omitted. Top horizontal pair in a top margin block of 4, full o.g., wide margins, bright color, some hinged reinforcements and natural paper wrinkles affecting right pair, still Very Fine, a magnificent and unique multiple of this exceptionally rare overprint variety, ex Canman, Drucker; with 1982 P.F. certificate. Scott No. K18a Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
Realized: $28,000
Lot
2021
1992, 29¢ N.Y. Stock Exchange, center inverted. Flawless in every respect, o.g., never hinged, Extremely Fine; extremely rare. Scott No. 2630c $26,000.
Realized: $21,000
Lot 2691 o
Hawaii, 1851-52, 13¢ blue "Missionary". Type II, 7-bar grid cancel and blue San Francisco town at lower right, margins to in at left and bottom, bright color, minor faults and not repaired, on piece to prevent damage, Fine for the issue, an lovely example of the 13¢ "H.I. & U.S. Postage" Missionary issue, Scott catalog for examples with minor faults that are skillfully repaired, ex Ferrary; with 1981 Friedl certificate.Scott No. 4 $32,500.
Realized: $20,000
Lot
1209
1847, 10¢ black, top right corner sheet margin single. (position 10L), 5mm at right and 2mm at top, large margins other sides, sharp proof-like impression, tied by perfect strike of red grid on blue folded cover to New York, Ludlow Beebee correspondence with matching "Charleston S.C. Oct. 25/10" integral-rate circular datestamp EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF TWO CORNER-MARGIN COPIES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON COVER. A SUPERB SHOWPIECE.
In his extensive census of the 10¢ 1847 issue with corner sheet margins, Philip T. Wall records a total of fourteen used stamps, one unused, and this example on cover. A new find was recently made which included the second recorded corner margin single. This was sold at auction in May 2006 for $27,500.
Signed Ashbrook. With 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 2 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
Realized: $19,000
Lot
2752
Hawaii, 1893, 6¢ green, black overprint. Well centered, fresh with bold bright color, Very Fine, a handsome example of this 6¢ black overprint error rarity; W.H. Colson handstamp on reverse, with 2003 P.F. certificate & 1977 W.R. Beardsley certificate. Scott No. 66C $14,000.
Realized: $18,000
Lot
1582
U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Apr 11. Duplex postmark tying 1890, 10¢ green + 1894, 1¢ blue + 2¢ carmine on registered cover to Roxbury, Mass., in combination with China, Wuhu Local Post 1¢ brown + 5¢ orange tied by "Wuhu Local Post, 22 Mar, 95" cds, second strike on reverse with Shanghai duplex and other transit and receiving postmarks, with original enclosure with matching Wuhu local post date stamp at top, sent by the postmaster of the post regarding the sending of complete set stamps; U.S. stamps with small edge faults, Very Fine, a very rare combination usage of the Wuhu local post issues & United States postage with letter from the Wuhu local postmaster. Scott No. 226+247+250 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
Realized: $16,000
Lot 2690 o
Hawaii, 1851-52, 13¢ blue "Missionary". Type II, square grid cancel, ample margins to in at top, bold color, usual small faults and repaired at top with portions of design painted in, F.-V.F. appearance, an attractive example of the 13¢ "Hawaiian Postage" Missionary Issue, ex Harris; with P.F. certificate.Scott No. 3 $22,500.
Realized: $14,500
Lot
1581
Envelope, 1861, 10¢ yellow green on buff. Perfect strike of cds on fresh 1861, 10¢ yellow green on buff entire to San Francisco, Cal., canceled by negative "U.S." cork cancel and "Per United States Mail" straight line endorsement handstamp at upper left, magenta "China and Japan, Steam Service" oval handstamp and "San Francisco, Paid All, Apr 24" entry cds, reverse with "Olyphant & Co., Shanghai, 20 Mar, 1869" forwarders handstamp; cover opened at sides for display, Extremely Fine and choice, the finest recorded 10¢ entire usage from the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai; with 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott No. U41 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
Realized: $12,000