Lot
1172 
Metropolitan Post Office Baggage and Package Express, large orange rectangular label (105 x 30 mm), affixed on circa 1855 blue folded letter bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair tied by blue grid cancel, matching "Millwood, Va. Jany 25" blue cds with ms. date to the American Bible House, New York City, forwarded by Metropolitan with pink "116 Nassau St., N.Y." address label; file folds through label and right stamp, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A REMARKABLE 1851 ISSUE USE IN COMBINATION WITH THE METROPOLITAN POST OFFICE EXPRESS LABEL.
From the Siegel Golden sale, the 1854-55 and 1855-56 New York City directories list William H. Laws as proprietor of the "Post Office" at 13 Bible House, which was located across from the Williams' address on the Metropolitan local post stamps. The 1856-59 directories list Laws at the same address, but the name "Metropolitan Post Office" is used. In 1859, Laws is listed with the business "Books", which suggests the end of his involvement with the post. A trade directory links Williams and Laws in a partnership at 162 Ninth Street. (Reference: Patton book, p. 228, and Perry correspondence).
Mosher illustrates a label used by the Metropolitan Errand & Carrier Express Co. (1855-57) that is different from this label. It does not list or illustrate a label with this wording.
Realized: $2,600