California Mails and Western Expresses, Carriers, Locals and Independent Mails continued...

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND SPECTACULAR COVER. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN A HALF-DOZEN EXAMPLES OF THE ADAMS 2-CENT ON BUFF EXIST. THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE THE ONLY BUFF STAMP SURVIVING ON A COVER TO A EUROPEAN COUNTRY.

We have located four or five covers bearing the Adams' City Express Post 2c on Buff stamp. Among our photographs is an image of a damaged cover to Germany, with the Buff stamp tied by a "New-York Jan. 20" circular datestamp, but this stamp was removed from the cover, its margins were trimmed, and it is now an off-cover stamp (ex Hall, lot 407). There is also a cover bearing the 2c on Gray (2L4), addressed to Baden via Le Havre with a New York Oct. 11 (1851) datestamp, from which the stamp has been torn out and replaced. The cover offered here is by far the finer of the two Adams' City Express Post covers to a foreign country -- it is also the only one bearing the Buff stamp.

This cover was carried on the Ocean Line's Washington, departing New York on June 14, 1851, arriving at Bremen on June 29. For an explanation of the rates and markings associated with U.S.-Bremen treaty mail, please refer to an article by James Van Der Linden in the Chronicle (Feb. 1986). We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Richard F. Winter and James Van der Linden in deciphering the old German writing and transit markings on this cover.

Ex Hall and D.K. Collection. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $10,000.00. (Image)

FINE. AN ASTONISHING COVER, ON WHICH THE RARE CITY EXPRESS POST STAMP WITH "ADAMS" DELETED IS TIED BY THE POST OFFICE DATESTAMP.

Of the few covers known with the Adams 2L4 stamp, this is believed to be the only one with the stamp actually tied by a cancellation of any type. In this instance, the New York 5c unpaid rate datestamp was struck over the local stamp.

Ex Needham and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE COVER. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED GENUINELY USED EXAMPLE OF THE ADAMS' CITY EXPRESS 2-CENT BLUE, PROVING THAT STAMPS FROM THE PRINTING STONE OF 100 SUBJECTS WERE ACTUALLY CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND NOT REPRINTS. CURRENTLY UNLISTED IN SCOT, BUT DESTINED TO BECOME THE UNIQUE USED EXAMPLE OF A MAJOR LISTING.

This cover was discovered by Elliott Perry and held by Richard Schwartz until he sold his collection (this cover was sold by private treaty). It is accompanied by articles published during the lengthy P.F. review process, a cover from the same correspondence and other documentation.

With 2005 P.F. certificate. (Image)

FINE FOR THIS ISSUE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL LOCAL POST STAMPS -- ONLY FOUR GENUINE EXAMPLES ARE REPORTED TO EXIST.

Researchers have argued over the origins of this post, but the best evidence available indicates that it was run briefly in 1856 as American Express Co. (no relation to the well-known firm by the name name) by proprietors Smith and the Dobson brothers. The name was changed to Smith's City Express Post after the Dobsons departed. (Reference: "Smith's City Express Post and the American Express Company", John D. Bowman, The Penny Post, July 2002.)

Illustrated in the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE FOR THIS RARITY. ONE OF TWO RECORDED GENUINE EXAMPLES OF THE SMITH'S CITY EXPRESS POST STAMP IN PRIVATE HANDS.

Evidence indicates that the American Express Co. local post (no relation to the well-known firm by the name name), which was started in New York City by Smith and the Dobson brothers, was re-named Smith's City Express Post after the Dobsons departed, probably sometime in 1856. Calvet M. Hahn explored the question of which Mr. Smith ran the local post in the Collectors Club Philatelist (March-April 1994). The American Express Company and Smith's City Express Post stamps were discussed in an article by John D., Bowman in The Penny Post (July 2002). Only two privately-held examples of the Smith's stamp are reported: the one offered here and another uncancelled stamp, ex Richardson. Two others are held in the Tapling Collection at the British Library.

With 2005 P.F. certificate stating "Unlisted Smith's City Express Post adhesive, succeeding Scott 4L1, the American Express Co. adhesive." (Image)