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Sale 83: Gems of Philately

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1863 Free Carrier Mails

Lots 31-40 Lots 41-43

Lot 31    

Philadelphia Pa. Jul 1, 1863, cds duplexed with circular bar cancel ties 1¢ blue (63) and 3¢ rose (65) on cover to New York City, reverse with partial strike of "U.S. Penny Mail, Phila. Pa., C, Jul 1" octagonal carrier backstamp on the first day of free carrier service, Very Fine, ex-Knapp; with 2009 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE FIRST DAY OF FREE CARRIER SERVICE USE SHOWING THE CONFUSION OF POSTAL PATRONS.

Effective July 1, 1863, the "to the mails" carrier service was free, and only 3¢ postage was necessary. The sender mistakenly paid the extra 1¢ for carrier service on the usage here.

Realized: $2,300

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Lot 32    

Philadelphia Pa. Jul 13, 1863, cds duplexed with circular bar cancel ties 1¢ blue (63) and 2¢ black (63) on cover with red and blue Star and Shield patriotic design to Gergers Mills Pa., reverse with sharp strike of "U.S. Penny Mail, Phila. Pa., C, Jul 13, 11½AM" octagonal station carrier datestamp; reduced at right and lightly cleaned, Very Fine appearance, An attractive and scarce Black Jack patriotic use.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $850

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Lot 33    

Philadelphia Pa. Jul 15, 1863, cds ties 1¢ blue (63) horizontal pair with left selvage, on "Women's Penn'a. Branch, United States Sanitary Commission" corner card cover to local street address; faint toning at sides, Very Fine use at the new 2¢ local carrier rate; with 2000 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $350

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Lot 34    

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Jun 23 '64, 1st, cds cancels unsealed 2¢ black (U46) entire addressed to local Philadelphia address, with Great Central Fair illustrated battlefield scene with fallen soldier in black, return address imprint at side, sharp "Great Central Fair, June 23, 1864" cds clearly struck at lower left, Extremely Fine, ex-Dr. Martin; with 2009 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

THE FINEST OF ONLY THREE RECORDED BLACK JACK ENTIRES WITH THE GREAT CENTRAL FAIR POSTMARK.

Each of the three recorded entires is addressed in the same hand to different local residents (see Kantor book, Fig. 138).

Realized: $5,500

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Lot 35    

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Apr 12 '64, 1st, clear strike of cds ties 1¢ blue (63), s.e. at top and with part of adjoining stamp at bottom, on red Great Central Sanitary Fair illustrated cover to local Philadelphia street address, with original printed enclosure of a Resolution of the Executive Committee, Very Fine and choice, ex-Lebow; with 1985 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A BEAUTIFUL RED GREAT CENTRAL SANITARY FAIR ILLUSTRATED COVER, ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE 1¢ 1861 ISSUE FRANKING PREPAYING THE 1¢ PRINTED MATTER CARRIER RATE.

Illustrated in "The United States 1¢ Franklin 1861-1867" by Don Evans on page 290, fig. 14-60.

Realized: $1,400

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Lot 36    

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Apr 4 '64, 3rd, double-circle local delivery datestamp ties 2¢ black (73), perf flaws, with additional clear strike of cds adjacent on cover with Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission black illustrated imprint showing battlefield scene, addressed to the Soldier's Reading Room, Satterlee Hospital, West Philadelphia, enclosed letter reads "…Mrs. G.W. Harris begs to inform Miss Jones of her appointment to the Committee of Hospitals, & collecting work from Invalid Soldiers & Sailors, for the Central Fair…"; some edge wear and hint of toning, F.-V.F.; with 1996 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Satterlee General Hospital, which existed from 1862 to 1865 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the largest Union Army hospital during the Civil War. In the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, thousands of Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners were treated at Satterlee.

Realized: $550

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Lot 37    

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Sep 1 '66, 1st, double-circle local delivery datestamp with circle of wedge fancy cancel ties 2¢ black (73) on cover with red The Adams Express Co. cameo corner card to local Philadelphia address, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

The 2¢ general issue stamp satisfied the new federal drop rate for "city mail." By 1864 Philadelphia delivered city mail four times a day, specified in the circular datestamp. Despite more frequent service, the government was still no match for the hourly deliveries by Bloods Penny Post many years earlier.

Realized: $1,150

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Lot 38    

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Jan 31, city delivery cds on National Union Club cover with enormous full-face portrait of Ulysses S. Grant in uniform, Rea Sharp imprint, bearing 2¢ black (73) cancelled by quartered cork to local street address, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, ex-Walcott (with notation that he paid $100 for it, which was before 1935); with 2000 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS SPECTACULAR ULYSSES S. GRANT PATRIOTIC COVER, ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH A BLACK JACK FRANKING.

Realized: $6,500

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Lot 39    

Philada. Pa. Post Office, May 22 '67, 3rd, double-circle local delivery datestamp on grid stationery cover bearing 2¢ black (73) and 3¢ rose (65), tied by fancy geometrics cancels to local Philadelphia street address, Extremely Fine and choice; with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Much has been incorrectly written in the literature about the "Overpaid Drop Letter". The lower example is a true "Overpaid Drop Letter." The sender apparently had no knowledge of the recipient's probable new location. A 2 cent postage stamp satisfied city mail for the known and probable old address. A 3 cent postage stamp may have been needlessly applied for conceivably transportation to another post office, if necessary, for intercity postage. This must have been a most important letter to Miss Laura E. Cook for the sender to cover both possibilities.


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Realized: $575

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Lot 40    

Philadelphia "Carrier, Dec 26. 5th", cds duplexed with cork cancel ties 2¢ black, F. Grill (93) horizontal pair, left stamp nicked at left, on locally address Philadelphia, Pa. cover with red brown illustrated "The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States" ad with text on reverse; minor edge restoration, partial backflap, Fine appearance; with 2010 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $280

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Lots 31-40 Lots 41-43

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