2008 Rarities of the World continued...

FINE. A RARE STAMP WITH ONLY EIGHT REPORTED EXAMPLES ON COVER.

Ex Caspary. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ADAMS & CO.'S EXPRESS STAMP WITH BLACK OVERPRINT.

Ex Boker and Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 433, realized $2,600 hammer). The Hall Collection contained an example with a fault, other than these two we have not offered another since keeping computerized records. (Image)

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE ADAMS & CO. 1L6 STAMP.

Ex Boker (realized Sfr. 2,400 in 1973 Robson Lowe sale) and Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 434, realized $3,750 hammer). (Image)

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL LOCAL POST STAMPS -- FIVE 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 Dobson, and was changed to Smith's City Express Post after Dobson departed. Several excellent forgeries of this stamp exist (the example in the Golden sale is evidently one of the forgeries). An article by William W. Sammis (Penny Post, April 2005) reports a fifth genuine copy of 4L1.

Ex Ferrary and Schwartz (Siegel Sale 824, lot 380, realized $8,000 hammer) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE BENTLEY'S 10L2 STAMP WITH "PAID" CANCEL. ONLY SIX OF THE SEVEN RECORDED STAMPS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

Ex Schwartz. (Image)

VERY FINE. ONE OF FIFTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST RED STAMP. A WONDERFUL "PRIMITIVE" AMONG PHILATELIC RARITIES.

A census of Philadelphia Despatch 15L1 and 15L2 stamps may be found at our website: siegelauctions.com/1999/817/yf81786.htm#98. The cover offered here is No. 6 in the listing. (Image)

FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF BROWNE & CO.'S 2-CENT STAMP AND 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE.

The Browne & Co. 1c stamp, Scott 29L1, was designed with the "Brown & Co." spelling error. The correct spelling with the "e" at the end appears on the 2c stamp and the markings used by the post. (Image)

ONE OF FIVE OR SIX KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE BROWN'S EASTON DESPATCH POST 2-CENT ON VERMILION, SCOTT 30L1.

The Easton Whig newspaper announced the establishment of Browne's Easton Despatch by William J. Browne, located at 4 North Third Street in Easton, on October 7, 1857. The announcement reads, in part: "...letters, notes, circulars, bank notices, invacations of whatever nature etc. Letters etc. may be left at the letter box and prepaid stamps can be obtained at the office at the rate of 2 cents per every distance not over two miles from the Courthouse, either in this state or in New Jersey." A later notice (Feb. 10, 1858) advertised Browne's post in connection with sending Valentines and mentioned service to Easton, South Easton and Philipsburg -- the latter a violation of the laws governing post roads.

Of the six 30L1 stamps located in our records, there is some doubt about the genuineness of an uncancelled stamp affixed to a cover, leaving four pen-cancelled stamps and one uncancelled stamp. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY RECORDED BLOCK OF THE RARE BROWNE'S EASTON DESPATCH ENGRAVED STAMP.

The engraved stamp with a portrait of Washington, 30L3, was the subject of recent scholarly study by Larry Lyons (The Penny Post, April 2006). In his article, he documents at least 37 examples and reconstructs the original plate layout using the multiple offered here. This block of six and pair, and three or four additional pairs, are the only known multiples. Lyons assigns Positions 2-3, 4-5/7-10 to this block and pair.

Ex Weekes, Souren, Boker, Lilly and Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 850, realized $5,500 hammer). Scott Retail as block of six and pair. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON A CALIFORNIA PENNY POST COMPANY 7-CENT ENTIRE.

The 3c 1851 stamp was necessary to pay the U.S. government rate from one of the towns served by the California Penny Post Co. to San Francisco. In this case the origin is unknown. The 7c Penny Post Co. entire was designed to pay the rates for delivery to the post office (2c) and delivery from the post office in San Francisco (5c), although it appears that this cover never entered the regular mails. Eight used entires are reported in Lyons census in July 2005 Penny Post.

Ex Polland and Piller. With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)