| 1531 |
 |
 Reed's City Despatch Post, San Francisco Cal.,
(unstated value) Black on Blue Glazed (126L2). Three large margins, outer oval frameline just touched at top, uncancelled, used on small unsealed local cover addressed to John S. Hagar Esq., the well-known District Judge, State Senator and U.S.
SenatorEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF REED'S CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP ON BLUE PAPER. ONLY THREE REED'S STAMPS ARE KNOWN IN TOTAL (TWO ON BLUE PAPER, ONE ON GREEN), EACH USED ON COVER. THIS PIONEER CALIFORNIA LOCAL POST STAMP IS
ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST DESIRABLE OF ALL LOCALS. All that is known about Reed's City Despatch Post was provided by Henry B. Phillips, who published Filatelic Facts and Fallacies during the 1890's and included an article on Reed's post
in the April 1894 issue. Subsequent writers have repeated Phillips' statements, almost verbatim, and we shall, too. The December 17, 1853, edition of the Daily Alta California carried an advertisement by Reed that is considered to be the
inaugural announcement of this post, the earliest established in San Francisco. The other known contemporary reference to Reed's City Despatch Post is found in the San Francisco 1854 city directory published by Le Count & Strong, which states that
the post was owned by Henry Reed and held its offices at Adams & Co.'s Express on Montgomery Street. It is clear from the advertisements and one of the recorded covers that Reed operated the City Despatch Post as a local delivery arm of Adams. Under
the direction of Daniel H. Haskell, the Adams firm prospered as an express company and banking house in California. In 1855, in the midst of a national banking crisis, the firm was dissolved, and its express business was taken over by Freeman & Co.
Presumably, the City Despatch Post closed at this time. Henry Reed is possibly the same-named employee of the Holladay Overland Mail and Express Co. who operated the Penny Express Co. in 1866. Our records contain three Reed's covers: 1) 126L1
Green Paper, tied by Adams & Co. large double-circle datestamp on Jul. 15, 1853 folded letter from Guatemala to James Bell & Co., San Francisco, framed "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" handstamp, discovered by E. W. Smith in 1903 in San
Francisco warehouse (per 1927 letter to Needham), ex Ferrary, Jessup and Boker; 2) 126L2 Blue Paper, uncancelled, used on unsealed cover to John S. Hagar Esq. in San Francisco, ex Wiltsee, Caspary, Boker, Clifford and Golden, the cover offered
here; and 3) 126L2 Blue Paper, uncancelled, slight creases, used on cover to "Mr. Warren, Horticulturalist", original publisher of the California Farmer, same handwriting as No. 2 cover to Judge Hagar, ex Phillips, Lichtenstein,
Needham, Jessup, Golden, Kuphal and Geisler. In our opinion, the great rarity of Reed's City Despatch Post stamps, coupled with the post's historic position as the first San Francisco local, makes this one of the most significant and desirable
of all American local post covers. Illustrated in 1944 Stamp Specialist White Book on p. 6. Ex Wiltsee, Caspary, Boker and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $27,500.00 (Image) Search for comparables at
SiegelAuctions.com |
E. $ 10,000-15,000
SOLD for $16,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
