Sale 98: The Transportation Sale

Lot 4221    

(New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co.) NY, blue manuscript postmark and matching "10" rating on buff cover to Trenton, N.J. bearing New York Postmaster Provisional, 5¢ Black (9X1a) two singles for double weight, stamps uncancelled but left stamp just tied by "NY" postmark, adhesives fresh and with large margins, except left stamp in at left; right with tiny margin tear, Very Fine and rare; with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Towle No. 240-Sp unlisted    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A REMARKABLE RAILROAD USE OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER PROVISIONAL.

The franking was disallowed as the cover was put onto the mail car at Jersey City, at Philadelphia the franking was disallowed and a manuscript charge of 10¢ applied before being sent back up the line to Trenton.

Realized: $2,500

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Lot 4222    

(New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co.) NY, bold blue handstamp in circle with matching "5" in double circle rate handstamp on blue folded cover to Washington D.C., Very Fine.
Towle No. 240-Sp-c var.    Estimate $300 - 400.

It is believed by most authorities that this marking to have been applied to New York-Philadelphia mail carried by railroad and posted at convenience boxes at stations or ferry terminals. They were probably postmarked by post office clerks at New York. They occur at an early period when there were contract difficulties between the P.O.D. and the New Jersey railroads. Most of these examples predate the January 1847 appointment of the first route agent on the New York-Philadelphia route.

This is similar to Towle 240-Sp-c, however the rate handstamp on this cover is a double circle not a single circle.

Realized: $325

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Lot 4223    

(New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co.) N. York & Phila. R.R., Nov 10, route agent cds ties 3¢ orange brown (10A), vivid color with four ample to mostly huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, additionally tied by strikes of matching red circular grid on 1851 folded letter from New York City to New Orleans La., "Recd 19 Nov. 1851" receipt, Very Fine and choice, a lovely cover and a scarce railroad usage with an 1851 3¢ orange brown, ex-Wagshal.
Towle No. 240-B-1    Estimate $300 - 400.

Carried south to Philadelphia for transfer via Washington to the Great Southern Mails for New Orleans.

Realized: $250

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Lot 4224    

(New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co. / Philadelphia & Trenton Railroad) PHILADA. RAIL ROAD, straightline in red and black applied on two folded letters, red strike datelined "Philadelphia, November 14, 1850" to Providence R.I. with bold red "New-York, 5 cts., 16 Nov" integral-rate cds; black strike datelined "Trenton July 8 1851" on Camden & Amboy Railroad illustrated bill of lading to Naugatuck Conn. with black "New-York '5 cts.' Jul 11" integral-rate cds, Very Fine exhibit pair.
Towle No. 240-D-1    Estimate $200 - 300.

The "Philada. Rail Road" straightline marking was applied at New York on arriving railroad mail.

Realized: $450

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Lot 4225    

(New York and Philadelphia Railroad) NY, blue straightline in partial circle with matching "5" in double circle on 1845 folded cover to Philadelphia, datelined "6 October 45", Extremely Fine and choice.
Towle No. 240-SP-c    Estimate $200 - 300.

Towle states most authorities believed that this marking to have been applied to New York-Philadelphia mail carried by railroad and posted at convenience boxes at stations or ferry terminals. They were probably postmarked by post office clerks at New York or Philadelphia depots or post offices, most likely at the latter point. They occur at an early period when there were contract difficulties between the P.O.D. and the New Jersey railroads. Most of these examples predate the appointment of the first route agent on the New York-Philadelphia route, during Jan.1847.

However, noted Postal Historian, Richard Frajola states, "Although this "NY" marking has historically been considered a railroad route agent marking, I believe the marking was most likely applied at Philadelphia to indicate that the letter was received from New York in a closed bag (although the closed bag was carried must of the way by rail)".

Realized: $375

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Lot 4226    

(Pennsylvania Railroad) PHILAD^A RAIL ROAD, red straightline handstamp along with two matching grid cancels and "New York, Nov 29" cds tie two 1847 5¢ red brown (1) singles both four margins and fresh color, on blue folded letter datelined "Philada Nov. 28, 1850" to Boston Mas., adhesives both with four margins & fresh color; right stamp with minor margin crease, Very Fine; with 2010 P.F. certificate.
Towle No. 240-D-1    Estimate $500 - 750.

Realized: $400

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Lot 4227    

(Pennsylvania Railroad) "Philada. Railroad", red straightline ties D.O. Blood & Co., 1c Bronze on Black (15L13), additional acid tie, along with matching "New-York, Nov 30" cds and square grid tying 5¢ red brown (1), large to huge margins, stamp with tear at right, on blue 1850 folded letter datelined at Philadelphia Pa. to New Haven Conn.; vertical file fold does not affect stamps, Very Fine, ex-Frelinghuysen.
Towle No. 240-D-1    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

A SCARCE PHILADELPHIA RAILROAD COMBINATION USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE AND D.O. BLOODS LOCAL POST.

The red straightline was applied on arrival at New York City to indicate mail was received from a train out of Philadelphia.

Realized: $700

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Lot 4228    

(Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad) Baltimore Rail Road, Jan 11, red cds with manuscript "25" rate for over 400 miles on 1838 folded letter from Baltimore to Ludlow, Vermont, Very Fine, this is the second earliest recorded usage of this marking.
Towle No. 239-D-1    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $100

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Lot 4229    

(Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad) BALTIMORE. R.R., JULY 27 1838, red straightline handstamp on 1838 folded letter from Baltimore Md. to New York City with manuscript "18¾" rating for over 150 miles, light vertical band of toning; ex-Hannen; Very Fine.

BALTIMORE, MD. R.R., AUG 18 1838, red straightline handstamp on folded cover docketed "Baltimore Aug 15, 1838" to Philadelphia Pa. with manuscript "12½" cent rating for under 100 miles; ex-Wyer, Extremely Fine and choice.
Towle No. 239-C-2, 239-B-1    Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED DATED RAILROAD ROUTE AGENT HANDSTAMPS, OF WHICH ONLY THREE EXAMPLES IN TOTAL ARE RECORDED.

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Lot 4230    

(Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad) Baltimore Rail Road, Aug. 28, blue cds ties 10¢ Black (2) large margins, on buff cover to Prescott, Pa. with second cds strike at right; hint of cover restoration, Very Fine and rare, ex-Boker, Gross; signed Ashbrook.
Towle No. 239-D-1    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

ONLY A HANDFUL OF 10¢ 1847 COVERS ARE KNOWN USED ON THIS RAILROAD, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST TO CARRY MAIL UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

Realized: $950

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