Lot
1447 
Baltimore Large "Paid" in Double-Line Handstamp, two covers with this in red at top left, manuscript "PO" at top left, blue Baltimore Md. cds, blue "5" in oval and matching "Paid" straightline cancels. Beatty correspondence to Hagerstown Md., one Sep. 15, 1845 and other Aug. 22, 1846, Very Fine and scarce, ex-Weill Bros.; each with 1989 P.F. certificate. Estimate $200 - 300.
This marking has sometimes been confused with the prepaid provisional entires but Baltimore postal history specialist Denwood Kelly believed that these handstamps were applied by the sender to the top of the letter of prepaid bundles deposited at the post office. These two covers were offered in the Weill Postmaster sale 10/12/89 as lots 606 and 608, fetching a combined $2,600 hammer.
Realized: $1,100