Annapolis, Maryland, Eagle Handstamp, struck in blue on beautiful gold-design Valentine cover, with enclosure, cover further struck PAID 2 in blue, sent locally, as are all recorded uses of this handstamp in blue, light edge wear and the odd toning spot mentioned for strict accuracy, an exceptionally attractive example of this rare marking, which served as a model for the carmine Annapolis Postmaster Provisional of Martin Revell.
 

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Annapolis] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Baltimore, Maryland, 5c blue on buff cover, with handstamp of "James M. Buchanan" in black, blue "Baltimore Md. / Sep / 23" c.d.s., to Delia M. Black in Washington D.C., small W.H.C. (Warren H. Colson) handstamp on front and back, blue manuscript check, a fresh and very fine cover, with Buchanan handstamps in black being used earlier than the blue, and of greater scarcity; ex Hind, Weill Brothers (Christies, October 12, 1989). (USPCS Census 20028.)

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Baltimore] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

Millbury, Massachuetts, 1846, 5c black on bluish paper, margins clear on three sides, barely touching at left, tied to 1846 folded letter by neatly-struck red PAID straight-line, red "5" rate handstamp, postmarked with crisp "Milbury Ms. / Sep / 6" c.d.s., to Boston, two small tears at left of adhesive, unobtrusive filing folds, an iconic rarity, offered at auction for the first time in over forty years. (USPCS Census 20235)
Provenance:
- Robert S. Emerson (reported acquired circa 1929), recorded as subsequently sold by Ezra Cole upon Emerson’s death. (The Judge Robert S. Emerson Sales, Stanley M. Biermann, The Chronicle, Vol 120, 1983).
- H.R. Harmer, New York (4 June, 1980)
Literature:
- Illustrated in the Stamp Specialist (Vol. I, Part 4)
- Illustrated in American Philatelic Miscellany, edited by Susan M McDonald, 1976.
- Illustrated in “The Millbury Postmaster's Provisional Stamp - The Unused Copy”, The Chronicle, Vol 121, 1984.
Distinctive for its omission of both the name of the issuing postmaster and the corresponding town, the stamp’s primitive yet charming depiction of George Washington has enthralled collectors since its discovery. Philip T. Wall, in an introduction to his analysis of the Millbury Provisional, recounts the early years of the professional career of the man who would become the town’s Postmaster, Asa Holman Waters.  Waters had a privileged upbringing, attending both Yale University and Harvard Law School, before embarking on ventures in law, politics, banking, and, eventually, overseeing the family’s armory business.  These diverse pursuits meant that, upon his appointment as Postmaster of Millbury on 18 January, 1836, he was kept preoccupied by his many other engagements. Wall notes that Henry Waterman, a local jeweller, ran the post office on Waters’ behalf, and was ultimately responsible for the issuing of the now renowned provisional.
The USPCS Census records nine covers, three singles on piece, and five single stamps.  Interestingly, the rate markings used on the various on-cover examples are quite diverse. The cover offered here is the unique example with a simple “5”, while others have varying types of “5” or “V” in circle. All are struck in red.
An exceptional opportunity to acquire an iconic treasure of United States philately.
 
 

Get Market Data for [United States 7X1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

New Haven, Connecticut, 1845, 5c dull blue on white, with blue "E. Mitchell" signature, manuscript "Due –" with "5" handstamp in red alongside, postmarked with "New Haven Ct / Apr / 17" c.d.s., to Dr. Sowell in Athens, Alabama, in the hand of famed Yale chemist Benjamin Silliman Jr., small piece torn from back from removal of seal, cover has been professionally cleaned to remove staining, a fine-appearing example of this rare Postmasters’ Provisional, one of only a handful believed extant; Philatelic Foundation certificate no longer accompanies. 

Get Market Data for [United States 8XU4] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

New Haven Connecticut, 1874, 5c carmine on hard white paper, signed "E. Mitchell" in blue ink, reprint for Chief Clerk for Mitchell Cyrus B. Peets, trivial thin spot on lower margin, else very fine and scarce reprint, one of only thirty made, offered with 5c red and dull blue on hard white paper, two examples from the reprints of the New Haven Philatelic Society, with stamped signature of E. Mitchell and with "1932 FINAL RE-STRIKE" and numbered on reverse, 260 restrikes were made on this occasion before the handstamp was defaced, fresh and very fine, alongsisde a concocted cover purportedly with the 5c dull blue impression, to famed dealer Warren H. Colsen in Boston, a charming creation.

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New York, New York,  5c black, signed ACM, reconstructed plate of forty used examples (5 x 8), showing all positions, almost all with four ample to large margins all around, each stamp with a red cancellation, positions 2 and 7 showing the double transfer, positions 31 and 36 with doubled framelines at bottom and top respectively, the odd small flaw to be expected, a wonderful reconstruction of carefully-chosen examples, which would be an exceptional challenge to duplicate, chiefly very fine; ex Farrington.

Get Market Data for [United States 9X1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

New York, New York, 5c black on bluish wove paper, signed ACM, AC connected, horizontal strip of four, positions 6-9, large margins on three sides, just clear at left, showing portion of three adjoining stamps at top, tied to cover by blue manuscript cancels, the left stamp further tied by red "New York / Mar / 17" c.d.s., "20" manuscript in blue and curved PAID handstamp in red, to Charles G. Folger in Geneva, New York, a few adhesive remnants on reverse, light stain to front, right stamp with diagonal wrinkle, yet a rare franking, one of four recorded; handstamped WHC (Warren H. Colson), ex Grunin, Zoellner, with 1998 Philatelic Foundation certificate.  
A rarity of exceptional quality, arguably the finest of the four recorded strips of four on cover. USPCS Census 20501.   Illustrated and discussed in USPCS Chronicle Volume 32, No. 3, page 3, "The Five Most Outstanding New York Postmaster's Provisional Covers" by Philip T. Wall)

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New York, New York, 5c black, signed ACM connected, very good to large margins all around, cancelled with centrally-struck red square grid and tied to small piece by red PAID, attractive and very fine; with 1973 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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New York, New York, 5c black, signed RHM, rejoined vertical pair, large balanced margins on all sides, cancelled with blue manuscript, partially hinge reinforced in margin between stamps, trace of uniform toning, yet a scarce multiple of fine appearance; with 1973 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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New York, New York, 5c black, signed A.C.M., four large margins, tied to folded cover by "New York 5cts. / Jul / 31" c.d.s. , to Hemer, p/Iserlohn, Germany, rated 1/8 (20p) in manuscript for routing via England and Rotterdam, (endorsed "p. Steamer Brittania,  backstamped "England / over Rotterdam", red English c.d.s. (16 Aug), and Emmerich transits, blue oval backstamp of the forwarding agents A. Rolker & Mollmann of New York, light filing folds and traces of discoloration around edges, a rare transatlantic usage, with 1987 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex-Consul Klep van Velthoven, Krug, Sweet.

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Providence, Rhode Island, 5c gray black, four large to very large margins, cancelled in pen and tied to folded cover by neatly-struck "Providence R.I. / May / 29" c.d.s., handtamped "PAID" and "5c" in matching red, to New York, horizontal filing folds and two pressed vertical folds, all clear of adhesive, lightly cleaned at bottom, a rare tied example of this Postmasters’ Provisional, of which very few such are recorded; ex-Ferrary, with his trefoil at lower right, Caspary (H.R. Harmer, New York,November, 1955, lot 120).

Get Market Data for [United States 10X1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

St. Louis, Missouri, 5c black on greenish paper, four singles, three Type II, one Type I, each a four-margin example cancelled in manuscript, on folded cover, Charney & Whelen correspondence, manuscript "40" in black, postmarked with red "St. Louis Mo. / Nov 25" c.d.s., to Philadelphia, pressed filing folds clear of adhesives, small "WHC" (Warren H. Colson) backstamp, signed Jakubek, with his certificate, a beautiful and rare franking of this iconic Postmaster's Provisional; ex Caspary (H.R. Harmer, New York, November 15, 1955, lot 138).
The St. Louis Bears is one of the most recognizable designs in philately. Issued in 1845-6 by Postmaster John Wimer, the stamps were printed in denominations of 5c, 10c, and 20c. The stamp, based on the Great Seal of Missouri, was printed on panes of six, two rows of three, with each position being engraved individually. Printed on wove paper, in shades of greenish to grayish lilac to bluish, with later printings being in thin, hard (pelure) paper. Sixty eight examples on cover are recorded in the USPCS Census, almost all being single frankings; ten bear two issues, two have three, one, the cover offered here, with four, and one, the largest known multiple, with five.
An exceptional franking.

Get Market Data for [United States 11X2] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

5c red brown, four large balanced margins, postmarked with ideal strike of Burlington, Vermont c.d.s. in red (Feb 16), a beautiful stamp in all respects, extremely fine.

Get Market Data for [United States 1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

10c Green, Type II, horizontal pair (pos 16-17R1), large margins on three sides, just clear at right, with 1851 1c Blue, Type IV, tied to folded letter to Paris, France, by light strikes of red grid cancels "Providence RI” (23 Jul) c.d.s. alongside, manuscript endorsement "Per Steamer 'Collins Line' via New York & Liverpool," lightly-struck red “PAID” and black Calais entry c.d.s. , "8" (decimes) due mark struck in black, backstamped with British transit (6 Aug) and next-day Paris receiver, 1c stamp with colored-in surface scrapes at left in red of grid, else a fine and scarce Collins Line usage to France; with 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex Drucker Family.
 

Get Market Data for [United States 9, 14] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

3c dull red, Type II, horizontal strip of seven, positions 11R3-17R3, margins clear to large, including sheet margin at left, fresh color, cancelled with large part strikes of Greensburg c.d.s., scissor cut in margin betwee 13-14 and 15-16, else a scarce and fine multiple; backstamped Brettl BPP, Alcuri, and Jakubek.

Get Market Data for [United States 11A] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

3c Dull red, 1851, Type II, three-margin single tied by Epping NH c.d.s. (12 Aug) on ornate ladies envelope with lovely hand-drawn border extending on to the backflap, featuring framed illustration of a castle on the front side and a lute-carrying minstrel and bird on the back, a most attractive and scarce cover.

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5c red brown, used with 1c blue, and 12c black, tied together by magenta grid cancels, on 1859 Election Returns cover front, postmarked with "Hartford Ct. / Mar / 26 /1859" c.d.s., to the town clerk of Roxbury, Connecticut, the 12c with pulled perf, else a fine franking and rare late use of the 1856 5c; with 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

10c green, Type II, large margins on three sides, barely touching at foot, tied by San Francisco Oct 20 c.d.s. to exceptional "San Francisco News Letter" illustrated newspaper, with printed "P.M.S.S. / Per Sonora / Oct. 20" (1857) at upper left, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cover with lovely depiction of eagle, steamship, locomotive, etc, printed along top of internal masthead "The News Letter is sold by all Wells, Fargo & Co Agents throughout the State of California", light vertical filing fold, a rare and most attractive example of this infamous publication of Frederick Marriott; with 2017 Philatelic Foundation certificate.  

10c green, Type III, horizontal strip of three, mostly large margins all around, touching at upper left, tied to cover by "Peace Dale R.I. / Feb / 20" c.d.s., to Berlin, Germany, endorsed "Via Prussian / Closed Mail" in manuscript, red "N York 7 Br. Pkt Paid / Feb 24" transit c.d.s. and boxed "Aachen 10/3 / Franco", c.d.s. arrival backstamp (12 Mar), moisture stain at left, a lovely franking and otherwise very fine, with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Get Market Data for [United States 15] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

12c gray black, horizontal strip of five, ample to large margins all around, cancelled with multiple neatly-struck Cincinnati c.d.s. in blue, trace of red cancellation at lower left, positions 2-3 with light wrinkles, not detracting from the exceptional visual appeal of this rare multiple; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Get Market Data for [United States 17] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census