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Sale 78: The Westpex Sale

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Bermuda Specialized Combination Franking Covers (1852-1930)

Lots 51-60 Lots 61-70

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

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Lot 52    

Bermuda, 1886 Hamilton, Bermuda to Boston, Mass., legal size cover franked with 1880, ½ brown, five singles + 1883, 1d rose red three singles + 1886, 2d blue, two singles + 1884, 2½d ultramarine paying the 5 times the 2½d letter rate (12½d), in combination with U.S. 1885, 10¢ Special Delivery (E1) all tied by "Hamilton, Bermuda, Dec 23, 85" duplex cancels (including the E1 contrary to regulations) cover arrived on Dec. 26th in NY and then delivered in Boston the next day; Special Delivery with margin flaws, Very Fine, a remarkable U.S. Special Delivery combination usage.
Scott No. 16+19b+20+22    Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

Robert Markovits stated that he only knew of 5 covers from either Canada, U.K. and one from Germany that had an E1 combination franking and that this could possibly be the EKD for any combination franking as well as the only one from any British Colony. An exceptional exhibition item that was in the family's collection for over 100 years before it came on the market.

Realized: $3,750

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Lot 53    

Bermuda, 1887 Bermuda to Rocky Hill, Ct., cover with 1884, 2½d ultramarine, pair paying the supplementary fee for expediting the letter on a ship at the dock, in combination with U.S. 1883, 2¢ brown (210) added to guarantee local delivery in U.S., with notation at left "P.M. (for postmaster). Please send to Mr. W. Nance, and he will pay messenger. J.W.C." and manuscript "10c" in pencil for the special delivery fee at the time, "Hartford, Conn, Mar 15" duplex postmarks cancelling stamps upon arrival, Rocky Hill receiving backstamp; 2¢ stamp with small tear, otherwise Very Fine, an exceptional usage showing an unusual combination franking and request for special delivery service even though it had not been prepaid, ex-G. Ulrich.
Scott No. 22    Estimate $600 - 800.

Realized: $425

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Lot 54    

Bermuda, 1919 Bermuda - U.S. 1917 10¢ Special Delivery Combination, May 1919 commercial cover with 2½d Caravel in combination with U.S. 1917 10¢ Special Delivery (E11) partially tied to N.Y. (backstamp May 31), Very Fine, very few U.S. Special Delivery covers are recorded prior to 1925.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $500

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Lot 55    

Bermuda, 1922-23 Bermuda Supplementary Mail - U.S. Special Delivery Combinations, pair of commercial combination frankings; cover from Ye Old Victoria Lodge Bermuda with 2½d (2) tied by "Hamilton Dec 27, 1922" cds paying the double supplementary rate to N.Y. for posting covers at the ship dock to expedite delivery and also tying U.S. 1917 10¢ Special Delivery (E11a) to pay special delivery rate within U.S., similar cover from Dec 1, 1923, but with special delivery fee made up by two U.S. 4¢ Bureaus (556) on 2¢ on 3¢ purple entire; former with cover opening tears and a few erosion holes, F.-V.F., both rare usages, as few supplementary rate covers exist in this period and with the latter being one of three known U.S. postal entires.
Estimate    $250 - 350.

Realized: $700

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Lot 56    

Bermuda, 1925 New York, N.Y. to Hamilton, Bermuda, Feb. 20th U.S.S. Los Angeles zeppelin registered combination franked cover franked by U.S. 1923, 8¢-24¢ Airmail issue (C4-C6) tied by New York regular cancels and with Feb 20th scarce purple cancel, reverse re- registered (Bermuda label added) and franked by Bermuda stamps and returned by registered ship mail, Bermuda stamps were actually applied in the U.S. as some are postmarked by a Feb 19th backstamp, Very Fine, this is the only registered Bermuda - U.S. combination franking of any zeppelin flight relating to Bermuda.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

HEADING (The next three USS Los Angeles Zeppelin Covers are the first time that the Feb 1925 and the 2 different Bermuda flight handstamp on the April 1925 flights have ever been offered in one sale. These are the only ones recorded in the market in 30 years, although it is estimated that less than 5 of each exist!) HEADINGHEADINGHEADINGHEADINGHEADINGHEADINGHEADINGHEADING.

Realized: $425

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Lot 57    

Bermuda, 1925 Hamilton, Bermuda to New York, N.Y., April 16th USS Los Angeles zeppelin combination franked flight cover from Hamilton, with U.S. 1922, 10¢ Special Delivery (E12) applied in Bermuda cancelled April 21 and with full Bermuda 2-line flight handstamp reading "Bermuda First/Overseas Airmail" in black, Very Fine, this is the first one on the market in 30 years.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $350

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Lot 58    

Bermuda, 1925 Hamilton, Bermuda to Albany, N.Y., April 16th USS Los Angeles zeppelin combination franked flight cover to Albany and then forwarded with U.S. 1922, 10¢ Special Delivery (E12) applied in Bermuda with second type 3-line handstamp from Bermuda reading, "Air Mail/Service/Bermuda" and special delivery fee claimed handstamp on front; minor flaws, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $375

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Lot 59    

Bermuda, 1925 Hamilton, Bermuda to San Francisco, Cal., November 27, 1925 cover sent by ship from Bermuda, franked with U.S. 1923, 6¢ Airmail (C4) tied by NYC Dec 1 cds on flight cover to San Francisco, Cal. (backstamp Dec 4th), Very Fine, a rare cross country rate combination franking with Bermuda.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $325

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Lot 60    

Bermuda, 1925 Hamilton, Bermuda to Madison, Wis., July 27, 1925 cover sent by ship from Bermuda, franked with U.S. 1923, 6¢ Airmail (C4) tied by NYC Jul 30 cds on flight cover to Madison, WS (backstamp at each leg at Cleveland, Chicago, and Madison), Very Fine, rarely found combination on a westward flight from New York, pictured on page 37 of the Cwiakala Bermuda flight book.
Estimate    $250 - 350.

Realized: $280

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Lots 51-60 Lots 61-70

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