2014 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE LARGE DIE PROOF OF THE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE IN THE ISSUED COLOR.

Neinken notes in his book on the 10c stamp that it is likely that design and production of the 10c 1855 was rushed. The new 10c rate went into effect on April 1, 1855, and the new stamps were not placed into use until May. The die proof shows slips of the engraver's tool, and the overall layout is slightly skewed.

Our sale records contain only two full-size die proofs in Green: 1) 41 x 54mm, the proof offered here; and 2) 97 x 102mm, ex Finkelburg (Sale 816, lot 1091). We also record four cut-to-shape die proofs in Green. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE II, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.

With 2009 and 2014 P.F. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo). This is the only example certified by the P.F. to achieve this grade. P.S.E. has certified none at this grade. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST USE OF A 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE STAMP FROM CALIFORNIA. IT IS ALSO ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FIVE RECORDED INTACT COVERS BEARING THIS RARE SAN FRANCISCO LOCAL POST STAMP, OF WHICH FOUR ARE USED WITH THE 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE.

This remarkable cover is the earliest recorded date of use of the 10c 1855 Issue from the West Coast. Depending on the date the first supply of 10c 1855 stamps arrived in San Francisco, this June 30 date might be the earliest possible use of the 10c on mail bound for the East Coast via Panama. An analysis of the stamp production dates and sailing data follows.

The date of issue of the 10c stamps has been reported as May 4, 1855 (Luff book) or May 10, 1855 (A Description of U.S. Stamps and Postal Cards, published by the Post Office Department). The Travers Papers indicate that the stamps were ready for delivery a few days after the intended May 1 issue date. The earliest reported use of the 10c stamp from any post office is May 12 (Type II) from Eastport, Maine. It would have taken 25 to 30 days for the first supply of the new stamps to make their way to the West Coast via Panama. There are two possible sailings.

The USMSC George Law sailed from New York on May 5, 1855, and arrived in Aspinwall on May 16. The PMSS Golden Gate left Panama around May 18 and arrived in San Francisco on May 30. If the stamps were available as early as May 31, then they could have been used on mail carried on two PMSS steamers from San Francisco: the John L. Stephens on June 2 and the Golden Gate on June 16; however, no 10c covers are recorded for those sailings.

It is more likely that the 10c stamps were on the May 21 sailing of the USMSC Illinois, which arrived in Aspinwall on May 30. The PMSS Sonora left Panama around June 1 and arrived in San Francisco on June 15. The stamps were probably not in circulation by the time the Golden Gate sailed on June 16.

The sender of this cover paid 5c for the California Penny Post Company to bring it to the wharf for mailing aboard the next outbound steamship on the Vanderbilt Line's route via Nicaragua. The manuscript notation "too late for Nicaragua" indicates that this missed the June 30 sailing of Vanderbilt's Cortes, which arrived in San Juan del Sur on July 13. This Nicaragua sailing would have left early in the day to beat the PMSS sailing via Panama. Had this cover been on the Cortes, it would have been postmarked on arrival at the New York City post office (Frajola Census No. 702 was carried on the Cortes). Instead, the Penny Post Co. brought the cover to the San Francisco post office, where it was postmarked on June 30, then bagged for the same-day departure of the PMSS Sonora, which arrived in Panama on July 15 after a stop in Acapulco. It was then carried from Aspinwall to New York on the USMSC George Law, which departed July 16 and arrived on July 25.

The California Penny Post Co. charged 2c for carrying a letter to the post office for an ocean-mail departure via Panama, which explains why a company agent wrote "too late for Nicaragua" on this cover. The Frajola census records only four covers with this combination of the 10c 1855 and 5c adhesive, plus one other 5c Penny Post adhesive cover with a 3c 1851 (http://www.rfrajola.com/cpp/cpp.htm ).

Illustrated in Neinken 10c book (p. 13). Ex Eno, Jessup, Pearce, Haas and Kapiloff. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE. AN UNUSUAL AND SUPERB FRANKING FOR THE 21-CENT AMERICAN PACKET RATE TO HONG KONG. CARRIED BY THE COLLINS LINE AND DELIVERED TO LIEUTENANT EARL ENGLISH ON BOARD THE U.S. SLOOP OF WAR LEVANT.

Under the command of U.S. Navy officer William N. Smith and with Lieut. Earl English aboard, the U.S.S. Levant sailed on Nov. 13, 1855, for Rio de Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope, and Hong Kong, where she arrived to join the East India Squadron on May 12, 1856. On July 1 the U.S. Commissioner to China boarded the Levant for transport to Shanghai, arriving on August 1. At the outbreak of hostilities between the British and Chinese, the Levant arrived in Whampoa on October 28. The Levant took part in protecting American interests, and, in November 1856 saw action during the American amphibious assault on Chinese fortifications on the Pearl River. The Levant received the major part of the Chinese bombardment, with 22 shot holes in her hull and rigging, one man dead, and six injured. The Levant cruised between Hong Kong and Shanghai until she departed Hong Kong on December 7, 1857, arriving at the Boston Navy Yard on April 6, 1858 (source: Wikipedia).

This cover to Lieut. Earl English was carried on the Collins Line Atlantic, departing New York City on Sep. 27, 1856, and arriving in Liverpool on Oct. 9.

Ex Vogel (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 10-CENT TYPE IV ON A FRESH WELLS FARGO FRANKED 3-CENT NESBITT PIECE.

With 2013 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EARLY USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE AND ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING PAIRS ON OR OFF COVER.

Carried on the Cunarder Europa, which departed New York Oct. 1 and arrived Liverpool Oct. 12.

Ex Newbury, Grunin and Hill. With 1987 P.F. certificate. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COVER TO IRELAND, BEARING TWO PAIRS OF THE 1851 12-CENT BLACK PAYING THE DOUBLE 24-CENT RATE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE CORNER SHEET-MARGIN PAIR. A PHENOMENAL COVER FROM NUMEROUS FAMOUS COLLECTIONS.

This cover was carried on the Cunarder Asia, which departed New York March 22 and arrived in Liverpool on April 3.

Ex Brown, Brooks, Moody, Caspary, Grunin and Zoellner. Signed Ashbrook. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. A RARE BISECTED USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON AN INTRA-EAST COAST COVER AND ONE OF THREE KNOWN TO US WITH THE "N.YORK & PHILA. R.R." RAILROAD ROUTE AGENT'S DATESTAMP.

Ex Gibson (Christie's R.L May 20, 1984 sale) (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com