Lot
51 
Bermuda, 1852 St Georges, Bermuda to Westchester County, N.Y., December 28, 1852 folded letter with U.S. 1851, 3¢ dull red tied by "New York, Dec 28" cds; light cover toning and small tear at bottom, F.-V.F., this is a precursor to the need for combination frankings to expedite mail within the U.S. and was probably given to the ship's captain and paid a fee to apply the stamp and mail it within the U.S. (as Bermuda had not issued stamps until 1865), very rare as only 2 or 3 others are known during this period originating in Bermuda. Scott No. U.S. 11 Estimate $300 - 400.
THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS A COLLECTION AMASSED OVER 30 YEARS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE COMBINATION FRANKINGS OF USA AND BERMUDA STAMPS TO PAY AIRMAIL, SPECIAL DELIVERY, AND FORWARDING FEES. THE COLLECTION STARTS WITH SOME PIECES FROM THE 19TH CENTURY AND THEN FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF AIRMAIL ROUTES AND HAS MOST EARLY US AIRMAIL ISSUES REPRESENTED WITH SOME OUTSTANDING RATES AND DESTINATIONS, AS WELL AS BUREAU AND PREXIE FRANKINGS THAT ARE ALSO HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER. A BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT HAS BEEN WORKED ON AND SHOULD COME OUT TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR. THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF ONLY RECORDED USAGES AND THE COLLECTION FOCUSED NOT ONLY ON THE RATES, BUT ALSO ON COLLECTING EVERY POSSIBLE USE OF U.S. AIR MAIL AND KNOWN SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMPS TO MAKE UP THOSE RATES.
Realized: $475