Lot
338 
Kidder's City Express Post, 1847, 2¢ black on pale blue, large margins to clear at right, each stamp initialed "IS" (Isaac Snedecker), block of four, o.g., small flaws, Very Fine appearance, ex-Hawkins, Lilly, Hall; with 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 93L1 $3,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE KIDDER'S CITY EXPRESS POST STAMP.
A succession of private local posts existed in Brooklyn between September 1844 and 1864. The first local post in Brooklyn was a branch of Boyd's City Express Post. John T. Boyd discontinued this Brooklyn post on June 30, 1845, when the new postal laws made it illegal for private companies to carry mail along postal routes. Boyd’s Brooklyn agent was Wellington Walton, who is listed in the 1846 city directory as an "express proprietor" at 195 Gold Street in Brooklyn. Walton & Co. City Express covers are dated as early as February 14, 1846. In early 1847, Walton sold out to Henry Kidder who ran the post with help of the brothers Isaac and George Snedeker. The "Kidder’s Brooklyn City Express Post" oval handstamp is recorded as early as March 11, 1847. Kidder sold out to the Snedeckers in 1851.
The Kidder's 93L1 stamp was issued during Kidder's ownership and used after the Snedekers acquired ownership. It is believed that the first Brooklyn City Express Post stamp (28L5) was issued by the Snedekers. Beginning about 1850, the Kidder's stamps were initialed "IS" (sometimes "YS") for Isaac Snedeker. As this block shows, the initials were applied to sheets before use and are not cancellations. (Reference: Donald S. Patton, The Private Posts of the United States, pp. 265-268).
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Realized: $3,500