Lot
2505 
American Post Card Co., New York, Forerunner Postal Card Essay (Unstated Value) Dark Green on Buff, on manila paper facing folded over and gummed at bottom to a .0125" thick white wove card 127x77mm, patent information and company address at edges, franked with 1873, 3¢ green (158) tied by cork handstamp with matching "Washington, D.C., May 7" cds alongside, addressed to Durham, N.C. with written on internal card side; some edge wear from opening and stamp with light corner crease, F.-V.F.USPCC No. S1E-Ea Estimate $400 - 600.
A VERY RARE USED USAGE OF THIS POSTAL CARD ESSAY, WITH ONLY A COUPLE KNOWN.
This is one of only three cards approved by the U.S. Patent Office. Patent #51,623 was grated to Charles A. Rowland of Clinton, Ill. on December 19th 1865; Rowland later applied to improve his design with Patent #117818 on August 8th 1871, and then assigned his rights to the American Post Card Company. The message is intended to be written on the inner side of the lower panel, then folded and sealed by the top and side flaps.
Realized: $550