Sale 56, United States and Foreign Stamps and Postal History
Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Inc. held two auctions in San Francisco at the Westpex stamp show April 24th to 27th that realized a total $3.36 million inclusive of buyers premium. The sales included a wide range of stamps, postal history and collection lots.
Sale 56, United States and Foreign Stamps and Postal History contained several specialized collections among 3,299 lots including:
- The Charles F. Meroni Jr. Collection of Panama Registered Mail 1881-1904
- The Jewell Meyer Collection of Arizona Territory
- Revolutionary War Postal History
- The William Litle Collection of Illustrated Gun Covers
- The Gerald Farrelly Collection of the 1¢ Washington-Franklin Issues
- A portion of the John Dupont Collection
Highlights include an 1881 Panama Registered cover with Columbian 1881 registration stamp (lot 309) from the Meroni collection that realized $6,613 against a presale estimate of $1,500. This is one of the earliest recorded registered covers from Panama.
A small but select group of Colonial Postal History emphasizing the Revolutionary war was highlighted by lot 1085, a 1776 American censored cover from Providence R.I. to London, England censored by Governor Cooke to be permitted on the cartel ship Triton that was also carrying prisoners. It is one of only two recorded censored cover from this war and realized $31,050 verse a presale estimate of $10,000.
A wonderful World War II item with great historical content was offered in lot 1114, which realized $17,250 verse a presale estimate of $750. It was a two-page letter and mailing label sent from Gen. Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright at Fort Mills on Corregidor Island and smuggled out by U.S. Navy submarine just after the fall of Bataan and before the battle of Corregidor. The letter reads in part, “As these books contain valuable war information and valuable personal papers I do not want them to fall into the hands of the Japs in case Corregidor folds up which it is bound to if we don't get some outside help by the time our anti-aircraft ammunition, 3" is gone, about May 1st probably…Since Bataan fell, which was a sad blow for me, the Japs with heavy artillery on the south shore of Bataan and on Cavite shore, and with heavy bombers pound the hell out of this place constantly.” The Battle of Corregidor was the culmination of the Japanese campaign for the conquest of the Philippines. Corregidor was the last remaining obstacle for the Japanese army, and proceeded to block Corregidor from any sources of food and fresh water. Japanese troops forced the surrender of the remaining American and Filipino forces on May 6, 1842. Gen. Wainwright was the highest ranking Japanese prisoner of war and would receive the Medal of Honor in 1945 shortly after his release.
A portion of the legendary John Dupont collection was offered in the sale including United States and Canada with Provinces. The U.S. included some better complete sheets that realized very strong prices like the Kansas-Nebraska issue complete (658-679) realizing $46,000, and the first airmail issue (C1-C3) and second airmail issue (C4-C6) bringing $31,050 and $37,375 respectively. He had apparently sold his classic U.S. material years ago. The Canada and Provinces included Newfoundland with an 1857, 5d Brown Violet (Scott 5) imperforate issue used on cover to Cape Breton that realized $10,925 and Nova Scotia with a unique 1865 cover to India that brought $11,500.