Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The William H. Gross Collection: 1847 and 1851-56 Issues continued...

Via Nicaragua Markings

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

338

3c Dull Red, Ty. II, Diagonal Half Used as 1c (11Ad). Bottom right diagonal half, large margins to just in at bottom, tied across the cut by bold strike of New York City grid cancel on blue folded printed market report to Philadelphia dated "San Francisco May 31, 1853" with summary of passengers arriving from January 1 to May 30, 1853, and market summary by Geo. N. Shaw & Co., clear strike of blue "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" two-line handstamp, sender's route directive "via Nicaragua", file folds well away from bisect, some minor splitting along folds

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BISECTED USE OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE, PAYING THE ONE-CENT CIRCULAR RATE FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO PHILADELPHIA, WITH THE RARE "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" BLUE ITALICIZED HANDSTAMP.

The census of 3c 1851 bisects, published by David Beals in Chronicle 76 and updated by Stanley Piller, contains a total of 16 covers. Of these, one is the strip of four bisects used from Milton, Massachusetts, seven were bisected for use as 1c stamps to pay part of the 10c transcontinental rate, and eight were bisected to pay the 1c circular rate. Of the eight used to pay the 1c circular rate, only two originated on the West Coast. This circular is dated before the Post Office Department instructed postmasters to reject fractions of stamps as payment of postage in September 1853.

Illustrated and described in the Chase 3c book (1942 edition) on pp. 217-218. Illustrated in Letters of Gold (p. 111). Illustrated in Chronicle 40. Ex Chase, Brown, Emerson, Wiltsee, Polland, Ishikawa and Hackmey. With 1975 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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E. $ 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $14,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

339

3c Dull Red, Ty. II (11A). Vertical pair, large margins to slightly in, bright shade, tied by "New-York Nov. 14" circular datestamp on orange-buff cover from San Francisco to Brunswick Me., well-struck blue "Forwarded via Nicaragua From Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall, San Francisco" framed handstamp, faint strike of blue "Stmr. Sierra Nevada/Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" oval handstamp, sender's route directive "Via Nicaragua", fresh and Very Fine, attractive and scarce use, a remarkably clear strike of the large framed Noisy Carriers marking, ex Wiltsee, LeBow and Hackmey, with 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

340

12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top left diagonal half, large margins, bright shade, tied across the cut by "New-York 7cts. Sept. 25" circular datestamp with integral due rate on blue folded letter to New Bedford Mass. dated August 31, 1853, clear strike of red "VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS" framed handstamp, vertical file fold, bisect with tiny tear at top right and horizontal crease (nearly invisible and not noted on earlier certificate)

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 ISSUE BISECTED FOR THE 6-CENT TRANSCONTINENTAL RATE, BUT REJECTED BY THE NEW YORK POST OFFICE SOON AFTER THE THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC THAT BISECTED STAMPS WERE INVALID FOR POSTAGE.

This letter was carried on the Vanderbilt Line's Brother Jonathan, departing San Francisco on September 1 and arriving at San Juan del Sur on September 15. It was carried from Chagres on the Northern Light, departing September 16 and arriving at New York on September 25 (source: Wierenga, U.S. Incoming Steamship Mail 1845-1875). According to research by James Allen, the 1st Assistant PMG's first official notice to postmasters that bisected stamps were invalid was published on September 12, 1853.

With 1995 and 2007 P.F. certificates. Ex Hackmey. (Image)

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E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $5,250.00
Will close during Public Auction