Sale 92: The Summer Sale

Lot 1468    

Wm. D. Banister, Aeronaut, Adrian City, Mich., illustrated corner card depicting a manned balloon on cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) s.e. at top, cancelled by grid, matching "Adrian Mich. Feb. 15, 1861" cds to North Ridgeway N.Y.; barely reduced at right, stamp with crease, few cover flaws, gently cleaned, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

A SCARCE ILLUSTRATED DESIGN FROM THIS FAMOUS MIDWESTERN BALLOONIST.

William D. Banister of Michigan was a professional balloonist active in the 1850s and 1860s. His is considered the earliest confirmed aeronatical stationery in America. Banister's epic achievement was a 350-mile balloon flight in four hours from Adrian, Mich. to Clarion Penn. Pilot and passenger were found unconscious, still ensnared in a tree, when rescued.

Realized: $750

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1469    

French Balloon Caricature, all-over french caricature of balloons descending amid crowd, on cover with blue "Danville, Vt. Dec 30" cds and manuscript "Paid 3 cts" at right to Worcester Vt., original 1851 enclosure; ink smudge, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

A RARE FRENCH BALLOON CARICATURE USE IN VERMONT.

Realized: $1,050

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1470    

Wise Manned Balloon, handstamped cachet of manned balloon illustration with "Wise" inscription and flags, on circa 1861 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire cancelled with partial Dec. 5th cds and addressed in Wise's hand to Professor Lowe in Washington D.C.; large tear, and some edgewear, Fine and rare use.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

This envelope was from John Wise to T.S.C. Lowe, Chief of the United States Balloon Corps. Wise was the most acclaimed balloonist in America in his time. He established a flight record of 802 miles in 20 hours in 1859. Lowe was the chief aeronaut of the Union Army from June 1861, to the end of 1862 and organized the aerial units of the Union Army.

Realized: $1,050

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1471    

Wm. D. Banister, Aeronaut, Adrian City, Mich., partial strike of illustrated corner card handstamp depicting a manned balloon, on orange cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) cancelled by grid, partial cds to Belmont Wisc.; faulty, Fine appearance, a scarce illustrated design from this famous Midwestern balloonist.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1472    

Wise Manned Balloon, handstamped cachet of manned balloon illustration with "Wise" inscription and flags, piece of orange cover bearing pen cancelled 3¢ rose (65), huge margins, s.e. at right, addressed in Wise's hand to Dabney D.C. at Sidney College Va., Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

John Wise was the pre-eminent aeronaut of his time. He aspired to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 1859. Starting from St. Louis for New York, Wise set a long distance record of 802 miles. From Lafayette, Ind. in the balloon "Jupiter", Wise carried 146 pieces of mail starting in August 1859. This example of Wise's handstamp is most unusual for being at the right side of this 1861 circa envelope.

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1473    

"Secession" Balloon, blue Civil War patriotic design showing burst balloon with falling soldier, on cover bearing 1¢ blue (24) strip of three, tied by town cds duplexed with circular grid cancel; top edge repair and no flap, Fine and rare design.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $260

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1474    

Balloon, blue-black hot air balloon handstamp struck at top left of local Philadelphia cover to Professor Lowe bearing Blood & Co., 1854 (1¢) bronze on lilac (15L14), acid tied, "Blood's Penny Post Philada. May 24 8A.M." double-circle datestamp, Very Fine, a very early balloon-related cover sent to Professor Thaddeus Lowe.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED BLOOD & CO. LOCAL USE WITH A BALLOON HANDSTAMP.

References: Illustrated in Catalog of Classic American Airposts and Aeronautica 1784-1900 by Schoendorf on p. 33.

Realized: $900

email this lot to a friend

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

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1476    

1859-63, Correspondence to Balloonist Prof. Lowe, group of 5 covers addressed to Prof. Lowe including 1859 Providence R.I. to Lowe in New York bearing 3¢ dull red (26) docketed by Lowe at left, and 1860 Washington D.C. #26 address to "Mr. Lowe, Professor, Balloon" in Philadelphia, etc.; mixed condition, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.9MB)

Realized: $750

email this lot to a friend

Lot 1477    

Airmail Via Seaplane, From Midway Islands, To Honolulu, T.H., May 20 1935, purple 4-line handstamp on "6th Marines, F.M.F., USS Utah, Midway Islands" penalty cover to San Diego, Cal., bold "U.S.S. Utah, May 17, 1935, Midway Islands" postmark, Very Fine.
Estimate    $250 - 350.

email this lot to a friend