Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

Independent Mails: American Letter Mail Co. continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

569

American Letter Mail Co., (5c) Black on Gray (5L2). Horizontal pair, large margins to full at right, manuscript "X" cancels, used on Mar. 7, 1845 folded letter from Norwich Conn. to New York City, red American Letter Mail Co. New York oval handstamp, file folds and edgewear which lightly affects the stamps at top, Fine appearing and scarce use of a multiple for double-rate franking (Image)

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E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

570

American Letter Mail Co., (5c) Black on Gray (5L2). Three singles, large margins to just clear at bottom of one, bold pen cancels tie stamps to cover or to each other, notation "Deliver Early tomorrow March 10/45 Paid", from Philadelphia (based on similar correspondence) to New York City, red American Letter Mail Co. New York oval handstamp, pencil "52W" Wall Street address, file folds including one thru stamp at right, Fine and scarce triple-rate use, only one cover is recorded with an intact strip of three of the Large Eagle stamp (Image)

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E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction

571

American Letter Mail Co., (5c) Black on Gray (5L2). Three singles arranged side-by-side, large margins to clear on one, heavy file fold results in tear at bottom of center stamp, left stamp small edge nick, pen "X" cancels, on Oct. 11, 1844 folded cover addressed to New York City, red American Letter Mail Co. New York oval handstamp, light pencil delivery address notation, addressee's last name crossed out, Fine appearing and scarce triple-rate use, only one cover is recorded with an intact strip of three of the Large Eagle (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction

572

American Letter Mail Co., (5c) Blue on Gray (5L3). Cut close all around with parts of inner framelines showing, manuscript "X" cancel, used on folded cover to New York City, red "Forwarded by the American Mail Co., Office, 56 Wall St., N.Y." oval handstamp applied on arrival (probably originated in Philadelphia), manuscript "Paid", docketed with Jan. 15, 1845 origin date, file folds clear of stamp

FINE. ONE OF TWELVE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RARE BLUE EAGLE STAMP OF AMERICAN LETTER MAIL COMPANY.

This use of the rare Blue Eagle stamp probably occurred shortly before the independent mail firms were effectively abolished by the government. On July 1, 1845, the postage rate for distances under 300 miles was reduced to 5c per half-ounce. By the same Act of Congress, Federal law prohibited the carrying of letters by private companies between cities where the Post Office Department offered inter-city mail service. American Letter Mail Company, which had aroused popular support for cheaper domestic postage, was a catalyst for the 1845 legislation. However, it could no longer sustain its fight with the government over mail routes and closed on June 30, 1845.

The Large Eagle stamp in Blue is recorded on covers dated from August 1844 through June 1845, with about half of the reported covers addressed to Hopkins & Weston in New York. The Blue and Black color scheme for the American Letter Mail Co. Large Eagle stamps, which lack a denomination (unlike their predecessor issue, the Small Eagle), may have been modeled upon Great Britain's 1840 Penny Black and Two-Pence Blue. The Blue stamp was used for the single rate, but its original purpose might have been to pay a double rate.

Ex Geisler and Dr. Morris. With 1988 and 2009 P.F. certificates (Image)

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E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

573

American Letter Mail Co., (5c) Blue on Gray (5L3). Cut close all around but with framelines intact, manuscript "X" cancel, used on cover front only from a folded letter to New York City, faint strike of red American Mail Co. handstamp with matching "Paid" straightline, note on back indicates June 23, 1845 date which would make it a very late use (American Letter Mail Co. closed on June 30, 1845), the stamp is Very Fine and a rare sound example, only 12 genuine full covers bearing the Large Eagle stamp in Blue are recorded, dated from August 1844 through June 1845, with about half of the reported covers addressed to Hopkins & Weston in New York as on the front offered here, Scott Retail as used off-cover (Image)

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$ 1,750.00

SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

574

Forwarded by/American Mail Company/Office 12 State Street, Boston. Red three-line handstamp with "Collect/6-1/4 cts./New York/Office" framed handstamp on June 24, 1844 folded letter to Boston, file fold, Very Fine (Image)

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E. $ 200-300

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

575

American Letter Mail Co. Balance of 32 covers, 16 stampless with red company handstamps, nine covers with No. 5L1 Small Eagle, cancels including oval of stars and pen, the majority of these tied including one by company datestamp, seven of No. 5L2 Large Eagle with pen or blue initials cancels, most of these not tied, faults to be expected including file fold creasing, a few toned and one 5L1 defective, still a number of attractive and useful covers, the stamped covers alone with Scott Retail more than $8,000.00

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction