Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The Benjamon Franklin Bailar Collection: A Postal Historical Study of America's First Postmaster Gen continued...

1851 Franklin Carrier Issue and Locals

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

2539

Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co., (1c) Black, Franklin, Large Die Essay on India (LO1-E var). 55 x 50mm, die sunk on 96 x 76mm card which is mounted on 101 x 82mm card, with outer border in a very unfinished state, lathework just barely impinges on portrait, pencil "For U.S. Carriers Stamp, Vignette 1851, Toppan, Carpenter Casilier & Co", few trivial scuffs and toned specks

EXTREMELY FINE. THE UNIQUE ESSAY FOR THE FRANKLIN CARRIER, WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY INCOMPLETE BORDER. A PHENOMENAL EXHIBITION ITEM.

This die essay is not listed in the Scott Catalogue or in the Brazer book. Its provenance is unknown, but it was evidently pulled from the die prior to engraving the labels at top and bottom or engraving the background lines around the oval (inside the lathework border). No other impressions from this state of the die are known. (Image)

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E. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $7,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2540

(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Horizontal strip of three, margins to cutting in, scissors-cut between left stamps and a few faults, cancelled by grids and tied by red New Orleans 5c integral-rate circular datestamp on small piece

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 1851 FRANKLIN CARRIER STAMP, USED OR UNUSED. AN IMPORTANT CLASSIC UNITED STATES ITEM.

In October 1851 a supply of 50,000 Franklin Carrier stamps was sent to New Orleans, where they were received on October 19. This strip of three -- the largest recorded multiple in unused or used condition -- was cancelled at the New Orleans post office. There was some confusion in New Orleans over the proper use of the designated Carrier stamp, as evidenced by surviving examples showing improper use. In this case the strip was evidently intended to prepay 3c regular postage, and was possibly accepted for that purpose by the New Orleans office

Ex Caspary. With 1979 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $26,000.00 (Image)

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E. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $14,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2541

(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Two large margins, clear at left and just touched at bottom right, rich color, fine impression, small spot at right, tied by clear strike of red "New York" dateless circle on brown cover to Henry Mathews, Union Hotel, New York City, with original enclosure: a printed invitation to "A COMPLIMENTARY BALL, FOR THE BENEFIT OF WILSEY M'GINNISS, Who was unfortunately run over by Engine 46...", the ball to be held on October 28, 1852, at Hebberd & Mathews' Union Hotel, also enclosed is an admission ticket printed on glazed card (glazing is oxidized), light creasing in cover does not affect stamp

VERY FINE. ONLY TWO OF THE THREE RECORDED 1851 FRANKLIN CARRIER COVERS FROM NEW YORK CITY ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. AN IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE RARITY.

Although New York City received the largest number of Franklin Carrier stamps (250,000), they were withheld from use until May 1852, allegedly due to a dispute over "discounting" the sale price (based on Travers papers). Therefore, Franklin Carrier covers from New York City are much rarer than covers from Philadelphia. The Franklin Carrier cover census by Dr. Vernon R. Morris, Jr. (Chronicle 229, February 2011) is the latest and most up-to-date published census. It contains only three Franklin Carrier covers accepted as genuine uses from New York City (two in private hands):

1) Undated buff cover to John J. Latting, 85 Fulton St., tied by red "New York" circle, ex Chase, Miller Collection, The New York Public Library

2) Sep. 15, 1852 folded letter to David Sands, 141 William St., tied by red New York circle, ex Caspary, Middendorf, currently in Mazza collection

3) Oct. 28, 1852 cover to Henry Mathews, Union Hotel, ex Seybold and Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 16, realized $25,000 hammer), the cover offered here

The enclosed invitation identifies the addressee, Henry Mathews, as co-proprietor of the Union Hotel at 22nd Street and Third Avenue, where the Complimentary Ball was to be held in memory of Wilsey McGinness, who "was unfortunately run over by Engine 46."

Morris Census No. 17. Ex Seybold and Golden. Signed Bloch. With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. $ 20,000-30,000

SOLD for $17,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2542

U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Clear strike of handstamp on bottom right corner selvage with part of 1c Blue, Type II (7) stamp impression from Position 100R2, used with vertical strip of three of 1c Blue, Ty. II (7), Positions 75/85/95R2, large margins to in, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Mar. 9" (1856) circular datestamps on buff cover to Marlton N.J., bottom stamp in strip with small scissors-cuts at bottom, missing top flap, some overall wear and waterstaining

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA U.S.P.O. DESPATCH CARRIER STAMP MADE FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER SHEET MARGIN OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 PLATE 2, SHOWING PART OF POSITION 100R2 AND USED WITH A VERTICAL STRIP FROM A FEW ROWS ABOVE ON THE SAME PLATE (AND PROBABLY THE SAME SHEET).

The Philadelphia carrier stamps printed on the sheet selvage of imperforate 1c 1851 stamps hold a unique position in United States philately. Elsewhere in the world there are very few instances in which sheet selvage was used to produce adhesive stamps -- the Emory Va. Confederate provisional and early stamps of Zanzibar come to mind as other examples. Two handstamps were used to create the Philadelphia carrier stamps: the Eagle oval (Scott type C31), which produced 7LB16, and the large oval (type C32), from which 7LB18 was made. These were probably necessary after supplies of the Eagle Carrier ran out in 1856. The earliest known use of the 1c 1851 from Plate 2 is Dec. 5, 1855, which points to this being an 1856 use.

The U.S.P.O. handstamped carrier adhesives on 1c sheet selvage are used in combination with 1c 1851 stamps to an unusually high degree, which we believe indicates both the regular postage and handstamped adhesives were provided together by the carrier.

Ex Colonel Green and Gibson. With 1974 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2543

1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Plate 1L, ample margins to in at top, tied by large "Paid" grid cancel, red "Boston Jan. 11" circular datestamp on blue folded cover originating in London and mailed at Boston, sender's directive "pr. Canada", stamp affixed over Baring Bros. London oval, which suggests that individual responsible for mailing in Boston was hiding its overseas origin, Very Fine (Image)

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E. $ 150-200

SOLD for $200.00
Will close during Public Auction

2544

1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Horizontal strip of three from Plate 2, margins to in and cancelled by manuscript "X", used with Glen Haven Daily Mail, Glen Haven N.Y., 1c Black on Green (71L4), large margins, pre-printing paperfold and tear, uncancelled as always but in this case fortuitously tied by "Homer N.Y. Mar. 31" circular datestamp on folded printed circular for Glen Haven Water-Cure with illustration of women and children bathing, some waterstaining and minor splitting along folds, still Fine and rare, especially with the three 1c stamps and the private post stamp tied, the Glen Haven Daily Mail was not a "local post", but served as a supplemental post to bring mail from the water-cure facility to the post offices in neighboring Homer or Scott, New York (Image)

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E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction