U.S. Carriers and Locals, Featuring the Gordon Stimmell Collection

**1842-45 City Despatch Post, New York, N.Y.**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
500		(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Top left corner margin block of six with stitch watermark, original gum, four stamps Mint N.H., Extremely Fine, a superb corner-margin block of the first adhesive stamp issued in the Western hemisphere, ex Hind and Knapp, Scott Retail as block of four and a pair (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 2,850.00 SOLD for $1,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
501		(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Huge margins all around, tied by "City Despatch Post N.Y. Feb. 24 O'Clock" (1842) Type I double-line circular datestamp with "N.Y." inverted on locally-addressed folded letter, which mentions "the Victoria is to sail for the Sandwich Islands from this port." letter with some repairs including along folds, stamp is Extremely Fine, very early use within a few weeks of the commencement of the City Despatch Post, this style of datestamp was only used during this early period (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 2,500.00 SOLD for $3,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
502		(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Huge margins all around with framelines of adjacent stamps at top and right, tied by red "Free" in frame, matching "City Despatch Post N.Y. ? Apr. O'Clock" (1842) double-line circular datestamp, overall light toning and splits along folds, Extremely Fine stamp and attractive overall appearance, Scott Retail for tied on cover $2,500.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $850.00 Will close during Public Auction
503		(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Huge even margins, tied by red "Free" in frame handstamp with matching "City Despatch Post N.Y. Jun. 21 4 O'Clock" (1842) double-line circular datestamp on rebacked cover front to Wall Street address, gently cleaned, Extremely Fine stamp and beautiful appearing cover (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction
504		U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large margins, tied by orange-red "U.S." in frame struck twice and also by matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Sep. 7 9 O'Clock"(1842) double-line circular datestamp on folded cover to street address, manuscript "Paid", part of side panels removed, cleaned and strengthened along vertical file fold, still Very Fine, very early date, ex Meyersburg (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 2,500.00 SOLD for $350.00 Will close during Public Auction
505		U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Green Glazed (6LB5). Tied by one of two light strikes of red "U.S." in frame, matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Feb. 14 O'Clock" Valentine's Day circular datestamp on hand illustrated embossed envelope to N.Y. street address, blue pen illustration of a young man in a hat with patched pants carrying a flag with address of a young lady, "Care of Post Office" in corner of flag, sun and building in background, stamp with creases and cover with edgewear, still Very Fine appearance, a most striking and unusual Valentine design (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $400.00 Will close during Public Auction
506		U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Green Glazed (6LB5). Large margins all around, cancelled by red "U.S." in frame and manuscript "Lectures", red "U.S. City Despatch Post Sep. 29 9 O'Clock" circular datestamp on 1843 folded letter to local street address, stamp with couple light creases, light cover soiling, otherwise Very Fine (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 300-400 SOLD for $160.00 Will close during Public Auction
507°		U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 2c on 3c Black on Blue Green Glazed, Red Surcharge (6LB7). Ample to large margins, deep shade, uncancelled, originally affixed on back of folded printed invitation from American Agricultural Association of New York University to W.A. Seeley at 213 Fulton Street, the stamp torn in half on opening, it has subsequently been repaired and affixed to the front of the circular on which it originated, red "U.S. City Despatch Post, Mar. 2 4 O'Clock" circular datestamp, vertical file folds at sides including one reinforced with scotch tape ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE WORLD'S FIRST GOVERNMENT-ISSUED OVERPRINTED STAMP. A COVER OF TREMENDOUS PHILATELIC SIGNIFICANCE AND APPEAL. The world's first government-issued, overprinted stamp is the 2c on 3c U.S. City Despatch Post carrier issue, Scott 6LB7. It was overprinted in late 1845 or early 1846 to meet the need for a 2c stamp to prepay the carrier fee after the drop-letter rate was modified on July 1, 1845. Only four stamps are recorded, including three genuinely used on covers. To understand why it was necessary to revalue U.S. City Despatch Post stamps from 3c to 2c, it is helpful to look at the effects of the July 1, 1845, postal reform (as per the Act of March 3, 1845). As is well-known to most U.S. stamp collectors, the July 1st reforms created the simplified 5c and 10c postage rates and laid the foundation for adhesive stamps to be used in this country. The postmasters' provisionals appeared first, followed in 1847 by the first General Issue (Scott 1 and 2). However, at the same time inter-city rates were lowered, Congress raised the drop-letter rate from 1c to 2c. A drop letter is one brought to a post office that is not transmitted to another post office. Congress raised the drop-letter rate out of fear that the new postage structure would cause a severe decline in postal revenues. By raising the intra-city rate, Congress hoped to offset some of the anticipated losses. The consequences of this legislation for the U.S. City Despatch Post were immediate and dire. Prior to July 1, 1845, a drop letter could be taken by the carrier to or from the post office for 3c, which included 2c for the carrier department and 1c for the post office (drop postage). Beginning July 1, an extra cent was required for the drop postage, making the total amount equal to 4c. Although other classes of mail were unaffected by the drop-rate increase (including carrier letters that by-passed the main post office), the U.S. City Despatch found itself at a severe disadvantage competing with local posts, who generally charged 2c for a city letter. In the post-July 1 period, not only did Boyd flourish, but many smaller local posts entered the scene, hoping to capture a share of the market for intra-city letter delivery. By November 1846, the U.S. City Despatch Post was closed. Government carrier service would not appear again in New York City until 1849 under Robert Roberts' supervision. The three recorded 6LB7 covers were mailed during the first eight months of the 2c drop-rate period. The covers are listed chronologically as follows: 1) Jan. 9, 1846 (red "New York 2 cts"), stamp cut in and tied by filing crease, addressee's name crossed out, no carrier markings, ex Ferrary, Hind, Waterhouse and Middendorf; 2) Feb. 14, 1846 (red "New-York 2 cts" and red carrier datestamp), stamp tied by filing crease, to Rev. R. S. Cook, Tract House, ex Hunter, Caspary, Boker, Golden and D.K. (Siegel Sale 862, lot 40, realized $65,000 hammer); and 3) Mar. 2, 1846 (red carrier datestamp), stamp originally affixed on back over folds and torn in half upon opening, to W. A. Sesley, 213 Fulton St., no other markings, ex Caspary, the cover offered here. In addition to the three stamps on covers, there is a stamp off cover, previously affixed to a cover dated Oct. 29 (1845 or 1846), but which did not originate. The rarity of the 2c on 3c stamp suggests that it was used on a very limited basis, during a period of decline for the U.S. City Despatch Post. By overlaying the "2" overprint on the "2" in the drop-rate datestamp, we have determined that they are identical in size and shape. The overprint was probably made from a modified integral-rate marker and struck by hand on each stamp. Ex Caspary. Accompanied by 1965 letter from Ezra Cole describing it as "absolutely genuine". With 1985 P.F. certificate. Accompanied by folded letter of Feb. 24, 1846 bearing same circular datestamp and red "New-York Feb. 24 2cts." circular datestamp showing the "2" which was used to surcharge the stamp. Scott Retail as on cover, not tied $70,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 7,500-10,000 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
508		U.S. City Despatch Post, Cover Balance. 10 stamped covers and 18 stampless, stamped covers includes one Greig's No. 40L1, the others cover the range of the Carrier Dept. issues Nos. 6LB3 and 6LB5, mostly on folded letters, majority of the stampless showing the red U.S. City Despatch Post handstamp, also a proof from the defaced die, mixed condition with some flaws to be found, one stamp cut to shape by sender and tied, still Fine-Very Fine with many collectible covers View PDF of contents of this lot Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,500-2,000 SOLD for $1,600.00 Will close during Public Auction
509		(Cummings & Wright) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed (40L2). Large to full margins, light creasing, tied by red "New-York 10 cts. 13 Oct." (1847) integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter to Philadelphia, Very Fine, this falls into the period when the City Despatch Post Office was owned by Cummings and Wright, tied examples of the 2c Green 40L2 stamp are very scarce (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 750.00 SOLD for $400.00 Will close during Public Auction
510		(Mead's) Post Office City Despatch, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green Glazed (40L2). Large margins all around, bright color, cancelled by light strike of red "Free" in frame on 1847 folded letter to South Hardwick Vt., red "New York Apr. 3 5cts" integral-rate circular datestamp uprated with with manuscript "10", small toned spot at bottom of cover, otherwise Very Fine, used before Cummings and Wright took over from Mead (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 300-400 SOLD for $190.00 Will close during Public Auction