16L1a, New York, NY, Franklin City Despatch Post, 1847 (2c) Black on green, "Bouton" in black manuscript vertically at side, single with large margins except touching at top, uncancelled on folded letter sheet datelined "New York Wed. June 23d 1847", to North Stamford, Connecticut (name of addressee removed), red "New York 5 cts Jun 25" integral rate date stamp at right, stamp with creases and rubs (as usual on this fragile stamp), Very Fine and attractive, an exceptionally rare stamp, at the time of the Lilly sales there were believed to be two or three covers with this stamp known, and few more (if any) have come to light since then, R.A. Siegel estimates the total number on or off cover at six to eight (Scott $14,000)

Proprietor John R. Bouton continued to honor Franklin City Despatch Post stamps after taking over the service in mid-1847, before producing his own stamps later that year. The Franklin City Despatch Post stamps are incredibly rare either with or without Bouton's signature at right, as both were in use for a remarkably short period of time.

Provenance: Clarence E. Chapman (Private Transaction)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 321, 1967)

CV. 2,000

49L1, St Louis, Mo., Clark & Hall's Penny Post, 1851 1c Black on pink, margins large to just touching at right, uncancelled, used on envelope addressed to "Miss Emily W. Smith, Setauket, Long Island, New York," red "Saint Louis Mo. Apr 23 10" integral rate circular date stamp at left, manuscript docketed "Apr 21, 1851, T.H. Sanford", cover a bit ragged with stains and tears (mostly away from stamp), portion of backflap missing with repairs quite apparent, still Very Fine, two "W.H.C." (Warren H. Colson) handstamps at bottom right, only five examples of the "Clark & Hall's" stamp are known, all of them on covers (four being addressed to Miss Emily W. Smith), making this a rarity of the highest order (Scott $19,000 for cover with certificate)

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 2,500

CV. 250

69L1, Cincinnati, Ohio, Frazer & Co., 2c Black on green glazed surface paper, cut-to-shape (margins to cutting), affixed and tied by pen stroke on folded letter datelined "Cincin Dec the 14 1846", ms "10" at upper right, addressed to Greeneville, Tenn., some light wrinkling and folds but still a Fine and rare as Calvet Hahn recorded just three uses of this stamp on cover; signed Costales, faint "CEC" (CE Chapman) handstamp at upper right (Scott listed but unpriced)

Provenance: Clarence E. Chapman (Private Transaction)

John R Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 750

69L3 var, Cincinnati, Ohio, Frazer & Co.. 69L34 var., 2c Black on green, "& Co." obliterated, single with very large margins pen cancelled but not tied on folded letter datelined "Cin 16th June 1845" and addressed to Lexington, Kentucky, red "Cincinnati O. Jun 18" circular date stamp, the stamp with pen line through "& Co." suggesting that this may have been used when Frazer was the sole operator of this service (a possibility included in Ashbrook's The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857), cover with few bleached spots and vertical file fold well away from stamp, Extremely Fine and remarkably scarce, with only seven known covers bearing the Frazer eagle stamp on green paper

The stamp on this cover is the only Frazer eagle stamp on green with the "& Co." obliterated. Additionally there are a used single and a single on piece of 69L5, the Frazer eagle stamp on grayish, with part of the name crossed out. The Scott Catalogue mentions in a footnote that "two stamps of type L146 show manual ms. erasure of '& Co.'" We now know there to be three such examples. It was proposed by a Robson Lowe auction catalogue in 1973 that the four colors of Frazer stamps denoted different types of mail: local mail (green), out of town unpaid (pink), out of town paid (yellow), and incoming (grayish). Robert B. Meyersburg's "Frazer & Company City Despatch/ Express Post" (Penny Post Vol. 2, No. 3) put this theory to the test but found that ultimately the sample size was too small to draw any conclusions from.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1071, 1957)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 750

71L1, Glen Haven, NY, Glen Haven Daily Mail, 1854-58 1c Black on dark green, Type I, lovely stamp ("n" of "cent" nearly omitted) with huge margins at top and bottom, ample at the sides, uncancelled on neat little ladies cover addressed to Oneonta, New York, 1855 3c Dull red Type III (26) at upper left tied by black "Scott NY Jan 27" circular date stamp (enclosed letter is datelined "Glen Haven, Jan. 26th 1859"), envelope neatly opened at left, , Extremely Fine, an incredibly rare stamp with only five known on cover (Scott $6,250)

Glen Haven, New York was a community located on the southern tip of Skaneateles Lake. According to New York Heritage, during the late nineteenth century, the Glen Haven Hotel, situated at the southern end of the lake, offered its guests 'water cure' treatments, under the proprietorship of Dr. W.C. Thomas. These included half baths, dips in the cold lake, healthy eating with no coffee, tea or liquid; and drinking large amounts of water to cleanse the system." The area was also home to many reformers and radicals, including women's rights and temperance activist Amelia Bloomer (for whom the women's garment is named).

As Glen Haven did not have a post office until 1859, the Glen Haven Daily Mail was established to carry mail from guests in the community to the nearby post offices of Scott or Homer. Four distinct designs were used between 1854 and 1859; although 71L1 (offered here) is listed first in the Scott Catalogue, the fact that all known examples were used between October 1858 and February 1859 means that, in reality, it was likely the last to have been produced. The replacement of the Glen Haven Daily Mail with a United States post office soon after this stamp was printed helps to explain its extreme rarity. Several printing varieties are known, including the "defective 'n' in 'Cent'" exhibited by the stamp offered here.

CV. 750

81L1, Boston, Mass, Hill's Post, 1849 1c Black on rose, octagonally-cut single (well-clear margins all around) pen cancelled on folded letter addressed to"Edson Hill Esq (Firm of Hill & Berry), Manchester, N. Hampshire," manuscript "Paid" at top and directions "PM Please deliver and oblige OBH" (Oliver B. Hill, operator of this local post), red "Boston 5 Cts 28 Sep" integral rate circular date stamp and matching straight-line "Paid," some bleed-through from message, slight ink erosion at top and along folds, still Very Fine and attractive, only seven covers with this stamp known, this being the only cancelled example, particularly interesting being written by Oliver B. Hill himself, 1999 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $6,500)

Provenance: David Golden (R.A. Siegel Sale 817, 1999)

CV. 500

85L1, Rochester, NY, Hoyt's Letter Express, (5c) Black on vermilion, with Pomeroy's Letter Express 5c Blue (117L3) on folded letter datelined "Scottsville August 10th 1844" and addressed to NY City, each stamp cancelled but not tied by a single pen stroke, fair strike of framed "Boyd's City/ Express Post/ Aug 13" date stamp in red, ms "Single" at lower left indicating a single letter sheet, Hoyt issue two clear and two wide margins, Pomeroy's just clear to large margins (light corner crease), letter with extensive hinge reinforcement/sealing of edge separations, vertical file fold, still Very Fine and one of just 4 covers known with a Hoyt Letter Express franking; signed Costales (unpriced in Scott)

The cover began its journey in Scottsville, New York, travelled about 12 miles to Rochester where it caught up with Pomeroy's Letter Express who carried it down to New York City. It was then given over to Boyd's for delivery at 61 Water Street.

Provenance: John R Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 1,000

87L4, New York, NY, Hussey's Post, 1858 1c Brown red, margins ample to just touching frame line at lower right, nice crisp on-the-nose "1ct Paid Hussey 50 Wm. St Dec 8" circular date stamp so bold and fresh it practically looks new, on wrapper to local New York City address on Broadway, Dec 14 1858 receiving docketing on back, vertical file fold well away from stamp, Extremely Fine, almost certainly one of, if not the finest example of this issue, signed George B. Sloane (Scott $450)

CV. 150

87L4, New York, NY, Hussey's Post, 1858 1c Brown red, horizontal pair and single, margins ranging from huge to well in at right side of pair, all tied by impeccably neat strikes of black "1 Ct. Paid Hussey 50 Wm. St. Sep 1" circular date stamps, yellow cover with insurance company corner card addressed to Brooklyn, cover with small tears and spindle hole at lower left, backflap missing small piece, still Very Fine, a very rare multiple of this stamp on over (Scott $1,000 for pair on cover)

Provenance: Clarence E. Chapman (Private Transaction)

Edward S. Knapp (Parke-Bernet Galleries Part One, 1941)

CV. 200

87L55, New York, NY, Hussey's Post, 1877 Black, "Copyright 1877," stamp with large balanced margins tied by two fair strikes of magenta oval Hussey's handstamp, locally addressed within New York City, vertical file fold well away from stamp, an exceptionally clean and Extremely Fine cover, we believe this issue to be severely underpriced, 1959 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $600)

Scott 87L55 is the first of the Hussey's "running messenger" type design, which was the last major design type to be used by the company. For decades Scott has carried a note that states: "Error of design, used provisionally. Stamp was never copyrighted. Printed singly." In The Private Local Posts of the United States Volume I: New York State, Donald Scott Patton notes that "[Elliott] Perry considers that this note may well be accurate." Any further information on this stamp is exceedingly scarce; a discussion of copyrighting and trademarking postage stamps by Clifford Alexander (Penny Post Vol. 14 No. 1) provides some insight into the legal troubles faced by Robert Easson with the production of this stamp.

The addressee of this cover, the Honorable Clarkson Nott Potter, was an attorney and politician who served in the House of Representatives from 1869 to 1875, and again from 1877 to 1879. Later in life he served as the President of the American Bar Association, from 1881 until his death in early 1882. His brothers include Henry Codman Potter, celebrated Episcopal bishop, and Robert Brown Potter, Union general who was shot during the Siege of Petersburg. In 1888, actor Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes) purchased the building at 16 Gramercy Park and converted it into the Players Club.

CV. 300

102L2, New Orleans, La, Mason's New Orleans City Express, 1850-51 2c Black on yellow, stamp with ample margins except slightly cut into ornament at top left, just tied by red circular "Mason's Express 23 Royal St." handstamp (additional clear strike on reverse) to folded letter datelined "New Orleans, July 1st, 1851" addressed to Sodus Point, New York, red New Orleans July 4 integral-rate cds shows the new 5c rate (inaugurated July 1), light foxing and a vertical crease well away from the stamp, still Very Fine, only of only six covers (this being #5) recorded per Robert A. Siegel's 2009 census (Scott $10,000)

The author of this letter, Edward Featherly, was a native of Sodus Point who was working in New Orleans as an engineer around 1849 to 1851. He later went on to serve for the Union in the Civil War. He concludes this letter to his mother by writing, "I cannot pay the postage as I shall send it to the post office by Mason's City Express." This cover was illustrated in the first part of Elliott Perry's "The Carrier Stamps of the United States: New Orleans" (edited by Robert B. Meyersburg, Chronicle Vol. 37, No. 2), in which he discusses the relationship between Mason's New Orleans City Express and the New Orleans carrier department. Mason's seemed to cease operation around the time carrier service was introduced, although a direct link has yet to be uncovered.

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 3,000

108L4, New York City, NY, Metropolitan Post Office, 1852-53 1c Red, cut-to-shape and affixed on 3c Nesbitt envelope addressed to Boston, cancelled by the "Paid/W. H. Laws" framed handstamp and tied by "New York Mar 9" date stamp, sealed backflap tear, bit of light overall aging, Very Fine example of a "to the mails" cover and an unusual use on stationery envelope, "CEC" (CE Chapman) handstamp in address panel where normally found

Provenance: Clarence E. Chapman (Private Transaction)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 967, 1955)

CV. 200

109L1, New York, NY, G.A. Mills' Despatch Post, 1847 (2c) Black on green, single with large to ample margins just tied to folded letter datelined "New York Dec 8th 1841" by clear strike of red "Hudson Riv. Mail N.Y. Dec 8" route agent's cds, two strikes of matching red "5" rating (one partially off the cover) at right, addressed to Quaker Hill, New York, light bleaching from wax seal and some light aging at right side, stamp with few barely noticeable tiny scuffs, still Very Fine, an exceptional and unique example of this local stamp cancelled by a steamboat marking

Amasa C. Hall and Gustavas A. Mills founded Hall and Mills' Despatch Post around October of 1847; shortly thereafter Hall left the company, which continued to be operated solely by Mills from 6 Wall Street through early 1848. In Larry Lyons's 2006 census (Penny Post Vol. 14, No. 4) he lists 13 covers with this stamp that are possibly genuine (this being #4), although no information besides the cancellations is given as this cover has evidently been off the market for many years. Based on the Lyons census this is the only example of a Mills' Despatch Post stamp used with a Hudson River Mail handstamp.

CV. 450

113L1, Overton & Co., 1844 (6c) Black on greenish, cut to shape with clear margins all around, cancelled but not tied by black "Paid" on folded letter datelined "Greenman & Northrop, Boston, Nov 3/44,", addressed to NY City, cover with light stains (one of which appears to tie stamp), small abrasion and vertical file folds away from stamp, Very Fine and scarce with perhaps as few as 20-25 known covers with this attractive early pictorial stamp

Covers with the Overton & Co. stamp are known from between September 1844 (earliest known cover franked with an Overton stamp is docketed Sept 3, 1844) and June 1845, prior to July 1, 1845 when the federal government put an end to inter-city independent mail carriers, though the New York office may have continued to operate as a private local letter delivery company. As noted in the Scott catalogue, most of Overton's business was carrying mail between Boston and New York (as is the case with this cover). Greenman & Northrop, the sender, was an early manufacturer of stoves in Boston.

CV. 300

127L1, Baltimore, Md, Ricketts & Hall, 1857 1c Red on bluish, single cut to shape (complete stamp with name and address in outer ring), affixed but not tied to flap of orange cover addressed to "Hon. George C. Whiting, Commissioner of Pensions, W. City, D.C.," US 1855 3c Dull red Type 1 (11) tied by faint blue "Baltimore Md. Feb 17" circular date stamp, attractive framed "Basil Root, Justice of the Peace" Baltimore corner card, backflap cut at top, stamp affected by some cover wrinkling and a horizontal cover crease running through the bottom of stamp (barely perceptible), Very Fine, unbelievably rare with only seven total stamps known, including three covers (Scott listed but not priced on cover)

Most everything that is known about Ricketts & Hall (which is not much) comes from three sources: Denwood N. Kelly's pioneering research in the Collectors Club Philatelist Vol. 50, No. 6, Stephen Gronowski's "Ricketts & Hall One Cent Dispatch" (Penny Post Vol. 4 No. 2), and Steven M. Roth's "Census, With Occasional Commentary: Covers Carried By Private Mail Posts In Baltimore, Maryland" (Chronicle Vol. 49, No. 1). From these sources it can be gleaned that Ricketts and Hall One Cent Dispatch was a short-lived post probably operated by John Ricketts, a printer, and Robert Hall, a tailor. An advertisement from the February 10, 1857 Baltimore Sun proclaims, "Pre-pay your postage! Pre-pay your postage!!" Only seven stamps are known to exist today, all but one of which are cut to shape, and three of which have the outer address circle cut away (including one cover). The other cover bears a square-cut stamp.

George C. Whiting was Commissioner of Pensions during the Buchanan administration and served in various government posts throughout his life, beginning in the Treasury Department during Andrew Jackson's administration (Jackson and Whiting's father were very close friends and fellow Masons) and including some time as acting Secretary of the Interior. When succeeded at the Pension Office, he was transferred to a specially created office concerning the African slave trade. Whiting also became a Mason and served as a Grand Master for nearly 30 years.

Provenance: Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 321, 1967)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 7,500