Lot
1475 
Wise Manned Balloon, handstamped cachet of manned balloon illustration with flags, earliest state of the design before "Wise" was added to the side of the balloon, on 3¢ dull red (U10) Nesbitt buff entire addressed in Wise's hand to William Markoe in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory, endorsed "Hurry up Uncle Sam" at left, receipt docketing at right "John Wise June 16th 1857, Recd. 23rd, Noted"; small repair at top, some edgewear, F.-V.F. and scarce, ex-Schoendorf. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE EARLIEST OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS WISE CACHET HANDSTAMP.
The recipient, William Markoe was the first aeronaut in Minnesota
References: Illustrated in Catalog of Classic American Airposts and Aeronautica 1784-1900 by Schoendorf on p. 31.
Realized: $450