Lot
1384 
St. Louis, Mo., 1845, 5¢ black on greenish, type I, position 1, ample to mostly large margins, ample at left, bright color, small preprinting paper fold at left, canceled by pen stroke cancels and tied by bold red straight line "Paid" handstamp on 1845 folded letter to William Pettus in St. Charles, Mo., matching "St. Louis Mo., Dec. 21" cds at left, manuscript "5" rating; vertical file fold well away from stamp and postmarks, Very Fine, ex Faiman. Scott No. 11X1 $17,500.
A CHOICE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5¢ ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER TIED ON COVER BY THE STRAIGHT LINE "PAID" HANDSTAMP.
Most examples of the St. Louis Bear Provisionals are either tied by manuscript or by the circular townmark. A rare single usage of the 5¢ value paying the 5¢ under 300 miles rate. This 5¢ single usage is considerably rarer than two 5¢ or a 10¢ on cover.