Lot
79 (
)
1860, 90¢ blue, small faults, used with two 1¢ blue (24) singles, 3¢ dull red (26) and two 12¢ black (36B) singles, all tied by multiple grid cancels, matching "Richmond Va., Jan 16, 1861" cds on large package front addressed to Saml. R. Seay Cm'r Rev. of Amelia County C.H. Va., printed endorsement "Comrs' Blank Books for 1861. Charge Postage to State."; stamp faults and some cover staining, Fine; with 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 39; $225,000 on cover Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED 90¢ 1860 ISSUE COVERS, ONLY TWO OF WHICH ARE DOMESTIC USAGES. OFFERED TO AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM AN OLD-TIME ESTATE.
The 90¢ value was the highest of the 1851-57 series, but was not issued until late 1860 with the earliest recorded use of September 11. This stamp is rare on cover due to its high denomination and relatively short life, since all United States stamps were demonetization in August 1861 as a measure designed to preclude the sale of stamps originating in the seceded Southern post offices.
The seven recorded 90¢ 1860 covers:
1. Sep. 11, 1860, to Augustine Heard & Co., Shanghai, China, single franking for 90¢ double rate, ex Gibson, Hindes and Kapiloff;
2. Nov. 3, 1860, to Barcelona, Spain, single with 5¢ and 10¢ paying five-times the 21¢ rate, ex Caspary, Rust and Kapiloff
3. Nov. 9, 1860, to Augustine Heard & Co., Shanghai, China, single with 3¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 30¢ pair paying the $1.68 rate, ex-Needham, Paliafito, Ishikawa, Myers
4. Jan. 8, 1861, single used on legal-size cover from Cincinnati, the cover offered here, ex-Filstrup, Grunin and Lake Shore
5. Jan. 16, 1861, to Amelia County C.H., Va., single used with 1¢ #24 (2), 3¢ #26, and 12¢ #36B (2), the cover offered here
6. Jan 26, 1861, to Mackellop, Stewart, & Co. in Calcutta, India, single with 12¢ and 30¢ shortpaying the four-times $1.62 rate via Marseilles; ex-Armitage, Lapham, Dick.
7. Jul. 16, 1861, to Edwin Howland, Cape of Good Hope, single with 1¢ pair, 3¢, 10¢ and 30¢ for four-times 33¢ rate, ex Jacobs, Emerson, Newbury, Ishikawa.
Realized: $13,000