Lot
329 
New York, N.Y., U.S. City Despatch Post, 1842-45, 3¢ black on light blue, large to huge margins, canceled by orange-red "U.S." in octagon handstamp and also tied by matching "U.S. City Despatch Post, Sep 5, 1 O'Clock" cds on small 1842 folded letter to local street address, manuscript "Paid 3 cts" endorsement at top, Extremely Fine, ex-Middendorf, Golden; with 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 6LB3 $2,500.
A CHOICE FIFTH DAY OF USE OF THE U.S. CITY DESPATCH POST 1842 3¢ BLACK ON LIGHT BLUE ISSUE.
Lot
330
New York, N.Y., U.S. City Despatch Post, 1842-45, 3¢ black on light blue, large margins except ample at top, tied by clear strike of New York City Post Office red "Paid" in arc cancellation on printed notice datelined "Augusta, Ga. October 18, 1842" addressed to Prime Ward & King Bankers, New York, Extremely Fine, ex-Caspary, Middendorf, Kapiloff; with 1991 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 6LB3 Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
THE ONLY REPORTED COVER WITH THE NEW YORK "PAID" IN ARC CANCELLATION ON THE U.S. CITY DESPATCH POST CARRIER STAMP. THIS IS THE FIRST RECORDED USE OF A POST OFFICE HANDSTAMP USED AS A CANCELLATION.
The first United States cancellation on postage stamps were the several examples of this curved red "Paid" on the July 15th 1845 first day usages of the New York Postmaster Provisional issue. Here we have the same curved red "Paid" handstamp used on a carrier stamp almost three years earlier. Another example of this cancellation on the U.S. City Despatch Post is not known.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
331 
American Letter Mail Co., 1844, black on gray, Positions 1-4/5-8 in two blocks of four rejoined at center, o.g., large margins all around, fresh and with sharp impression, couple slight natural production creases at left and slight diagonal bend ending in a small crease at right, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Schwatz, Puliafito. Scott No. 5L2 $8,000.
TWO OF THE FIVE RECORDED BLOCKS OF THE AMERICAN LETTER MAIL COMPANY LARGE EAGLE ISSUE, FORMING A REMARKABLE BLOCK OF EIGHT AS ORIGINALLY PRINTED.
Unlike the Small Eagle stamp, there were no unused Large Eagle stamps among the remainders in Lysander Spooner's estate. The following are the five recorded blocks.
1) Pos. 5-8/9-12/13-16, block of twelve, part original gum, ex Worthington, Needham, Hollowbush, Golden and Gordon N. John
2) Pos. 1-2/5-6, original gum, part of rejoined block of eight with No. 3 in this list, the block offered here
3) Pos. 3-4/7-8, original gum, part of rejoined block of eight with No. 2 in this list, the block offered here
4) Pos. 1-2/5-6 and pair Pos. 9-10, rejoined block of six, lot 24 in this sale
5) Pos. 15-16/19-20, ex-Lilly, Schwartz, Gordon N. John.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
332
Brainard & Co., 1844, blue, large margins, manuscript "F" for Farnwell (Hale's agent), tied by red "Forwarded by Brainard & Co. from Troy" oval handstamp on docketed Feb. 8th 1845 folded cover from the Merriam commercial correspondence to Springfield Mass., additional matching red "Paid" handstamp at top right; stamp with slight gum residue, without right side flap, Very Fine and choice. Scott No. 24L2 Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY 16 RECORDED GENUINE COVERS, THIS BEING ONE OF ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES THAT ARE TIED.
One of only four recorded covers with the manuscript "F" for Hale's Agent Farnwell. There are only two other covers recorded in the Lyons census (Penny Post, January 2006) that have the manuscript "F" marking for Farnwell who was Hale's agent. This cover and the other Merriam commercial correspondence cover we offered (Sale 55, lot 1706 realized $4,887) were not included in the Lyon's census.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.6MB)
Realized: $4,500
Lot
333 /
Broadway Post Office, 1851 (1¢) black, top sheet margin block of eleven, o.g., never hinged except for top margin and positions 1, 10 and 11, pencil note in margin "Very scarce. The last to be had at the office.", vertical crease between stamps, horizontal crease along bottom edge, couple faint toned spots, Very Fine appearance, ex-Lilly, Boker, Golden, D.K. Collection; with 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26L2 $5,750.
ONE OF THE LARGEST SURVIVING MULTIPLES OF THE BROADWAY POST OFFICE STAMP.
Scott retail as two blocks of four, a pair and a single. This is the second largest multiple surviving after the block of 25 (ex-D.K. Collection). The block of 32 (ex-Jarrett) was cut up into eight blocks of four.
Lot
334
City Despatch Post, 1847, 2¢ black on green, large to huge margins, tied by neat strike of red "Free" in octagon handstamp, matching red "P.O. City Despatch Post, Dec. 9, 4 O'Clock" cds on gray folded cover to local street address, 1846 docketing on back, light vertical file fold away from stamp, small cover tear at bottom, Very Fine and choice tied use; with 2003 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 40L2 $750.
Mead's 2¢ stamps were delivered Dec. 6 and the earliest documented use is Dec. 8. This cover was mailed one day later.
Realized: $1,100
Lot
335
City Despatch Post, 1847-50, 2¢ black on grayish, "C" in ms. between "Two" & "Cents", large margins, canceled by straight line "Paid" handstamp and tied by red "New-York '5cts' Mar 29" cds on 1848 folded letter to Warwick, N.Y., orange-red "City Despatch Post P.O., Mar. 29" cds at left, Extremely Fine, ex-Malcolm, Golden; with 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 40L5c Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
THE FINEST OF ONLY EIGHT RECORDED ON-COVER EXAMPLES OF THE COLES CITY DESPATCH POST 1847 2¢ "CC" ISSUE BEARING THE MANUSCRIPT "C" CONTROL.
The Manuscript "C" Control Mark was applied exclusively to the 2c "CC" stamps on Grayish paper. The initial comes in two styles: a small simple "C" between the words "Two" and "Cent", and a large cursive "C" at the center of the stamp. We record approximately 15 examples with the Manuscript "C", including two from positions showing the Hand-Etched "C" at Left and one from Position 36, the "Inverted C" at Right plate variety. The basic 40L5c stamps with the Manuscript "C" Control Mark include eight on covers.
Lot
336
Hampton City Despatch, 1847 (2¢) black, neatly cut to shape as always with margins clear of outer frameline all around, canceled by small "X" below "Paid" in light red and blue ink, with handstamp impression showing though onto letter effectively tying stamp, additionally tied by blue "Philada, Pa. '5cts' Aug 23" integral rate cds on folded letter with Quaker dateline "8mo (Aug) 19th, 1847" to Friendsville Pa., "Via N. York" routing endorsement; cover with trivial faint stain at upper right and some splitting along folds, Very Fine, ex-Ackerman, Gibson and Boker; signed Robson Lowe, with 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 77L1 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
THE UNIQUE TIED EXAMPLE OF THE T.A. HAMPTON "CITY DESPATCH" STAMP - THE FINEST AND MOST SIGNIFICANT OF SIX GENUINE ON COVER USAGES RECORDED.
Less than ten examples of this stamp are known, several of which have been erroneously placed on covers. No other example bears any type of cancellation, let alone cancellations from both the Philadelphia Post Office and the local post. This cover is of the greatest significance as it is the only known tied example of any of the Hampton stamps.
The six recorded genuine 77L1 covers (the 1849 uses were questioned by Hahn):
1. Aug. 7, 1847 to P. H. Purviance, Auditor General, Harrisburg Pa., PFC
2. Aug. 23, 1847, tied by Philadelphia datestamp on folded letter to Friendsville Pa., ex-Ackerman, Gibson, Boker, the cover offered here
3. Oct. 5, 1847 to Daniel Blade, Easton Pa., ex-Gibson
4. Mar. 21, 1848, no other details known, ex-Worthington
5. Sep. 25, 1849 embossed cover to Benjaline French "Present"
6. Nov. 22, 1849 embossed cover to Miss Benjaline French, ex-Boker, Golden, signed Lowe.
Realized: $12,000
Lot 337 o
Humboldt Express, 1863, 25¢ brown, blue "Langton's Pioneer Express" oval cancel, large margins to just touched at right, Extremely Fine; with 2002 A.P.S. and 2010 P.F. certificates.Scott No. 86L1 $1,250.
A RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 25¢ HUMBOLDT EXPRESS STAMP, ONE OF THE FINEST OFF COVER EXAMPLES KNOWN.
Realized: $1,800
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).
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (812KB)
Realized: $3,500