Terms of SaleBid IncrementsGradingLinksContact

Sale 63: The Donald Richardson Collection of U.S. Postal Rates 1851-1863

Previous ChapterTable of ContentsNext Chapter

10 Select Items

Lot 1181    

1856 (Nov. 18) Providence R.I. to Hong Kong, China, folded cover to William Comstock bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) with red crayon precancel, 5¢ red brown (12) and 10¢ green, type II (14) strip of three, bright colors with large margins to in except 5¢ four margins, all tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "Providence R.I. Nov 18" cds and "Paid" straightline, black "Boston Br. Pkt. 19 Nov" exchange backstamp with red crayon "15" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Nov. 19th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 1st, red Aachen Franco (12.2) framed transit with blue manuscript "f 3½" silbergroschen rating, blue Alexandria (12.17) transit backstamp with bold black "1/-" debit handstamp, Hong Kong (2.1) arrival backstamp; stamps creased by file folds, fresh and Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $15,000 - 20,000.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE THREE-COLOR IMPERFORATE 1851-56 ISSUE FRANKING TO HONG KONG, CHINA PREPAID AT THE 38¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 5¢ 1856 ACTUALLY SENT AT THIS RARE RATE AND ROUTING.

This exceptional franking pays the 38¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate via Trieste effective October 1, 1852 to April 30, 1863. The 15¢ credit to Prussia comprised 2¢ British transit, 2¢ Belgian transit, 5¢ GAPU transit and 8¢ foreign postage. The addressee worked as an agent for and later as a partner of the famous firm Augustine, Heard & Co. and it appears from the docketing that the he received the letter in Foochow on February 2, 1857, one day after its delivery in Hong Kong.

Another cover from the same correspondence dated Oct. 24th 1856 was prepaid with 1¢, 3¢, 10¢, 12¢ pair (7, 11A, 14, 17) franking for the 38¢ PCM rate but was actually sent via British Mails (ex-Sevenoaks, Rogers, Hackmey, Gross) and ended up being delivered on the same exact day as the cover offered here even though it was mailed three weeks prior. The Mayer auction of the 5¢ 1856 also had a cover franked for the 38¢ rate, but again was sent at the 33¢ British mail rate.

Realized: $47,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1142    

1856 (Jul. 25) Madison Wis. to Arendal, Norway, buff cover bearing 12¢ black (17) block of four, deep shade with sharp impression, tied by three strikes of blue "Madison Wis. 25 Jul" cds, red "New York Br. Pkt. Jul 29" exchange backstamp and matching red "38" cent credit handstamp overstruck by red circular grid cancel and re-credited "23" cents in magenta manuscript, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Jul. 30th to Liverpool Aug. 11th, red Aachen Franco (8.12) framed transit and blue manuscript "6" sbr rating, Danish (8.13.56) and Hamburg (8.15) backstamps; block has framelines and margins skillfully added at bottom and upper left to improve its appearance, Very Fine appearing and extremely rare use, ex-Sevenoaks.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY SIX 12¢ 1851 BLOCKS USED ON FULL COVER, THIS BEING THE ONLY ONE USED TO NORWAY.

According to our records the six recorded 12¢ 1851 blocks used on full cover are:
1. 1856 May 13, New York N.Y. to Spezzia, Sardinia.
2. 1856 Jul. 25, Madison Wis. to Arendal, Norway, ex-Sevenoaks, cover offered here.
3. 1857 Feb. 4, Wheeling Va. to Wurttemberg, Germany, block of five, ex-Zoellner.
4. 1857 Mar. 10, Bristol R.I. to Birmingham, England
5. 1857 Aug. 3, Nashua N.H. to Valparaiso, Chile, ex-Gibson, Grunin.
6. Unknown, New York N.Y. to San Francisco, block of 18 on a large legal size cover, ex-Tracy, Jessup.

Realized: $9,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1171    

1861 (Apr. 1) Brunswick Me. to St. Paul de Loando, West Coast of Africa, cover addressed to the Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 10¢ green (35) pair and single, all tied by circular grid cancels, matching "Brunswick Me Apr 1 1861" cds and "Paid" straightline handstamp, red "Boston Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Apr 3" exchange backstamp and matching "28" cent credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Apr. 3rd to Queenstown arriving Apr. 15th, Liverpool (4.16) transit backstamp, docketed as received Jun. 9th on reverse; right 10¢ trivial perf tear at top, fresh and Extremely Fine.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

A RARE AND CHOICE USE OF THE 1857 ISSUE ON A COVER TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY SLOOP-OF-WAR MOHICAN, WHICH WAS PATROLLING THE WATERS OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA IN SEARCH OF SLAVE-TRADING VESSELS.

St. Paul de Loando was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Angola and a known area of activity for slave traders. The letter is addressed to Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, which was patrolling the waters off the African coastline. Later this same year the Mohican captured the slave-carrying ship Erie, whose captain, Nathaniel Gordon, was hanged in 1862, the first man condemned under an 1820 Federal law declaring slave-trading a form of piracy. In August 1861 she departed the African coast to take part in the Battle of Port Royal and blockade duty in the Civil War.

Realized: $11,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1189    

1862 (Feb. 1) New York N.Y. to Hong Kong, China, cover to Cornelius B. Gold on the Bark Oriental, care of the U.S. Consul, bearing 5¢ buff (67), 10¢ green (68) and 30¢ orange (71), all tied by NYFM circular open grid cancels, partial red New York 'Paid' (2.1) backstamp and magenta "24" cent credit rating, endorsed "Via Southampton", carried by Inman Line City of New York from New York to Liverpool arriving Feb. 15th, red London Paid (2.15) transit cds and matching red "1d" colonial credit handstamp, Hong Kong (4.11) arrival backstamp; cover tear and edge nick at top left, couple trivial short perfs, Very Fine.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

A REMARKABLE THREE-COLOR FRANKING OF 1861 ISSUES IN EARLY SHADES USED TO PAY THE 45¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON TO HONG KONG, CHINA.

Cornelius B. Gold sailed for Hong Kong aboard the ship "Oriental" with a cargo of coal in December 1861. In Hong Kong, he found passage on the "Jabez Snow" to Liverpool with a load of hemp and sugar. From Liverpool he made his way to Cork and then sailed home on the "City of Manchester" arriving in March 1863. In August of 1863 he was enrolled in Company B of the 6th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Gold joined his regiment in Hilton Head, S.C. in October of 1863 and was soon assigned to be secretary in court martial proceedings. In the spring of 1864, the Connecticut 6th Infantry moved to Bermuda Hundred, Va. and then participated in the Petersburg Campaign. During this time he spent some time in Balfour Hospital in Portsmouth, Va. and was considered for a medical discharge due to his frailty, but was ultimately returned to his company. In November, 1864 Gold received a transfer to the U.S. Navy where he served as a paymaster. He signed letters through the spring and summer of 1865 from the USS Vincennes, Stockdale, Circassian, and Anderson in Mobile Bay, and from Mobile, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. By the beginning of 1866 he was back home in Connecticut.

The 45¢ British mail rate via Southampton to China was effective September 1, 1861 to December 31, 1867. The 24¢ credit to Great Britain was for 24¢ British transit, with New York retaining 21¢ for 5¢ U.S. postage plus 16¢ transatlantic packet.

Realized: $10,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1032    

(Printed Matter) 1¢ Blue, Type IV, two singles, used with 3¢ Orange Brown (10A), each cancelled by red San Francisco "9" cancellations, right 1¢ is tied, 3¢ additionally cancelled by manuscript since it appeared uncancelled, on circa 1851 buff wrapper to Northumberland N.Y., docketed "Placer Times" over top right edge; 3¢ tied by some wrinkling, minor edge wear, Very Fine and rare; with 2015 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 9    Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED STAMPED EXAMPLES OF THE PREPAID 5¢ PRINTED MATTER RATE FOR OVER 3,500 MILES FROM CALIFORNIA TO NORTHUMBERLAND N.Y.

The other recorded example of the stamp prepaid 5¢ rate was from the Cipolla collection, 1851 Dec. 19 from San Francisco Cal. to Providence R.I. bearing #9 pair and #11. This rate was only in effect for 15 months, from July 1, 1851 until September 30, 1852.

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1116    

1861 (Sep. 21) New York N.Y. to Lyon, France, blue folded Payen correspondence cover bearing 5¢ buff (67), pre-use crease, 10¢ green (68) and 30¢ orange (71), each tied by circular red grid cancels, matching red "New York 'Paid 18' Sep 21" credit exchange cds, carried by Hapag Line Hammonia from New York Sep. 21st to Southampton arriving Oct. 3rd, red Calais (10.4) entry cds and matching framed "PD" handstamp, Paris arrival backstamp, a Very Fine and attractive use.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE THREE-COLOR FRANKING PREPAYING THREE-TIMES THE 15¢ TREATY RATE TO FRANCE.

Realized: $5,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1143    

1860 (Jun. 2) New Orleans La. to St. Petersburg, Russia, printed circular bearing 1¢ blue (24) vertical pair, tied by partial "New Orleans La. Jun 2" cds, preprinted address label to Messrs. Gustaf. Sterky & Son, carried as American Packet by Inman Line Glasgow from New York Jun. 9th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 22nd, French red (6.23.1860) transit cds, blue crayon "2½" debit rating; corner crease top left, small flaw bottom right, a Very Fine use.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 1857 ISSUE USE AT THE 2¢ PRINTED MATTER RATE TO RUSSIA.

Realized: $4,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1144    

1861 (c., Mar. 4) Gorham Me. to St. Petersburg, Russia, Pierce correspondence cover bearing 1¢ blue (24) and 12¢ black (36) pair and single, all cancelled by manuscript, black "Boston Br. Pkt. Mar 5" exchange backstamp and red crayon "14" credit rating, endorsed by "Prussian Closed Mail", carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Mar. 6th to Queenstown arriving Mar. 16th, red "Aachen Franco" (3.19) framed transit and magenta "fr 3" sbr rating; couple trivial perf flaws, Very Fine, ex-Emerson; with 1981 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A REMARKABLE USE AT THE 37¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE TO RUSSIA.

The 37¢ per ½ ounce Prussian Closed Mail rate to Russia was effective Oct. 1, 1852 to Apr. 30th 1863.

Realized: $6,250

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1166    

1861 (Apr. 17) Boston Mass. to Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope, blue Howland correspondence folded cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 30¢ orange (38), nat. s.e. at left, tied by two strikes of "Paid" circular grid cancel, black "Boston Br. Pkt. Apr 17" exchange backstamp and red "28" cent credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Apr. 17th to Queenstown arriving Apr. 29th, red London Paid (4.30) transit cds and red manuscript "1" pence credit rating, Capetown (6.10) transit backstamp, Port Elizabeth (6.14) oval arrival handstamp; cover refolded, 3¢ tear to bottom left, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A CHOICE USE AT THE 33¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA PLYMOUTH.

The 33¢ British mail rate via Plymouth was effective from January 1, 1857 to April 30, 1863.

Realized: $1,500

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1146    

1859 (May 19) New Orleans La. to Barcelona, Spain, blue folded cover bearing 1¢ blue, type V (24) block of four, well centered with strong color, tied by "New Orleans La. Nov. 25" cds to Barcelona, Spain, red "Printed Circular" straightline and endorsed "v/ England", New York bold red "2" credit rating handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Persia from New York May 25th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 4th, La Junquera (6.7) transit backstamp and "½Rs." real due rating handstamp, Barcelona (6.8) arrival cds, block originally folded over top (creased between stamps), the cover has been refolded to show the complete franking and Barcelona receiving backstamp, Very Fine and ideal for exhibition, ex-Grunin.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A RARE FRANKING FOR AN UNUSUAL RATE AND PRINTED MATTER DESTINATION.

Realized: $1,900

email this lot to a friend

Previous ChapterTable of ContentsNext Chapter