5c red brown, four large balanced margins, postmarked with ideal strike of Burlington, Vermont c.d.s. in red (Feb 16), a beautiful stamp in all respects, extremely fine.

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10c Green, Type II, horizontal pair (pos 16-17R1), large margins on three sides, just clear at right, with 1851 1c Blue, Type IV, tied to folded letter to Paris, France, by light strikes of red grid cancels "Providence RI” (23 Jul) c.d.s. alongside, manuscript endorsement "Per Steamer 'Collins Line' via New York & Liverpool," lightly-struck red “PAID” and black Calais entry c.d.s. , "8" (decimes) due mark struck in black, backstamped with British transit (6 Aug) and next-day Paris receiver, 1c stamp with colored-in surface scrapes at left in red of grid, else a fine and scarce Collins Line usage to France; with 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex Drucker Family.
 

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5c red brown, used with 1c blue, and 12c black, tied together by magenta grid cancels, on 1859 Election Returns cover front, postmarked with "Hartford Ct. / Mar / 26 /1859" c.d.s., to the town clerk of Roxbury, Connecticut, the 12c with pulled perf, else a fine franking and rare late use of the 1856 5c; with 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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10c green, Type II, large margins on three sides, barely touching at foot, tied by San Francisco Oct 20 c.d.s. to exceptional "San Francisco News Letter" illustrated newspaper, with printed "P.M.S.S. / Per Sonora / Oct. 20" (1857) at upper left, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cover with lovely depiction of eagle, steamship, locomotive, etc, printed along top of internal masthead "The News Letter is sold by all Wells, Fargo & Co Agents throughout the State of California", light vertical filing fold, a rare and most attractive example of this infamous publication of Frederick Marriott; with 2017 Philatelic Foundation certificate.  

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10c green, Type III, horizontal strip of three, mostly large margins all around, touching at upper left, tied to cover by "Peace Dale R.I. / Feb / 20" c.d.s., to Berlin, Germany, endorsed "Via Prussian / Closed Mail" in manuscript, red "N York 7 Br. Pkt Paid / Feb 24" transit c.d.s. and boxed "Aachen 10/3 / Franco", c.d.s. arrival backstamp (12 Mar), moisture stain at left, a lovely franking and otherwise very fine, with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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12c gray black, horizontal strip of five, ample to large margins all around, cancelled with multiple neatly-struck Cincinnati c.d.s. in blue, trace of red cancellation at lower left, positions 2-3 with light wrinkles, not detracting from the exceptional visual appeal of this rare multiple; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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3c dull red, Type II, horizontal strip of seven, positions 11R3-17R3, margins clear to large, including sheet margin at left, fresh color, cancelled with large part strikes of Greensburg c.d.s., scissor cut in margin betwee 13-14 and 15-16, else a scarce and fine multiple; backstamped Brettl BPP, Alcuri, and Jakubek.

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12c black with 3c dull red vertical pair, uprating 3c Nesbitt entire to Madrid, Spain, cancelled with neatly-struck PAID straight-lines, clear "Brunswick Me / Jul / 16 / 1860" c.d.s. also overstruck PAID, adjacent "New York Am. Pkt / Jul / 21" c.d.s. in red, endorsed "via London / Am Packet" and "By Ocean Steamers / to the care of the American Minister" in manuscript, blue Spanish "8Rs" due marking, London (2 Aug) transit and Madrid (5 Aug) c.d.s. arrival backstamps, refolded along top, just clear of perforations, a beautiful example of the 21-cent American Packet rate to Spain, with 2001 and 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificates; ex Piller, Sevenoaks. 

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12c black and 10c green, Type III, tied to cover to Wurttemberg by "Indianapolis Ind / Jul / 19 / 1858" c.d.s., paying the 22c rate to Germany by Hamburg Packet via Bremen, red "N. York 8 U.S. Pkt Paid / Aug / 7" exchange datestamp, blue "America / Uber Bremen / Franco" three-line transit, further endorsed "via Bremen" in manuscript at top, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and further indistinct German c.d.s. backstamps, tears to back flap and some light cover stains, a fine usage; ex Ishikawa.

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24c brown lilac, in conjunction with 1c blue, two 3c rose, and 10c yellow green vertical pair, all tied by black circle of wedges fancy cancel to folded cover to Genova, Italy, multiple script due markings, red "N. York Am Pkt Paid / May / 28" c.d.s. transit on front, London (9 Dec) and Genoa (12 Dec) backstamps, hinge remnants on reverse, light transit wear to front, a charming franking; with 2004 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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3c lake, imperforate on stamp paper, trial color block of eight, large even margins all around, showing complete "Engraved by the National Bank Note Company City of New York / No. 52 Plate" inscription in lower margin, never hinged, natural vertical paper crease through two stamps, a fresh and rare inscription proof block; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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12c black vertical pair, with 3c ultramarine horizontal pair, postmarked with black grid cancellations, "Wellesborough Pa / Jul / 26" double-circle c.d.s., to Paris, France, red "New York Paid 6 / Jul / 27" credit datestamp and boxed "P.P.", blue "Cherbourg" 1869 c.d.s. ties 12c pair, filing fold just clear of adhesives, a fine and desirable double-rate cover.

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24c brown lilac vertical pair and 5c brown, tied to cover to Shanghai, China, with circular black grid cancels, faint red "N.York Br. Pkt Paid / SP 29" c.d.s., red "32" manuscript and "1d" red handstamped credit markings, red "London / Paid" split-ring transit, endorsed "via Marseilles" in red, partial "Hong Kong / NO 17 / 63" transit and "Shanghai / NO 24" c.d.s. backstamps, back flap mostly removed, trivial edge wrinkles, a lovely franking to a sought-after destination; signed Jakubek BPP, with his 1987 certificate.

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1c blue, F Grill, tied to locally-addressed cover by ornate “Hinman & Titus / Dealers in / Groceries / and / Provisions / Moravia, N.Y. / Return if not called for in 10 days” commercial handstamp, a fresh and most unusual illustration of the 1c circular rate, very fine; ex Ishikawa.

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2c brown, block of ten, pair, and single, cancelled in manuscript, the single and pair tied by double-circle "Hiogo / Japan" c.d.s. to cover to Siegen, Rheinish Prussia, endorsed "via S. Francisco", where the block was cancelled with Nov 18 c.d.s., red "New York Paid All / Br. Transit / Nov 26" c.d.s., German c.d.s. receiver (8 Dec) on reverse, cover opened for display, one adhesive creased from being affixed over bottom edge, some edge flaws, but a remarkable and rare franking; with 1997 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
This cover, being undated, leaves the rate open to some conjecture. If sent in 1869, it is a 1c overpayment of the  25c rate, being 10c per 1/2oz from the United States to Prussia via New York, and 15c for Prussian closed mail via England. If sent in 1870, it is a six cent overpayment of the 10c transpacific and 10c transatlantic rate. If the latter, one would assume the sender would have simply used the block of ten, unless the earlier rate was still in mind.

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1c blue green to $5.00 dark green, tied to 2c Washington entire by oval "New York USA / Foreign / 9-23 / 1904" c.d.s., registered to Lucerne, Switzerland, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, two adhesion remnants on reverse, stamps chiefly fine, a rare and colourful franking.

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1c-10c "Kans." Overprints, set of eleven, tied to Nickels first day cover by "Washington D.C. / May 1 / 5 PM / 1929" duplex, fresh and very fine. 

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65c - $2.60 Graf Zeppelin, set of three on 2c Sesquicentennial Exhibition entire, tied by "Washington D.C. / Apr 19 / 5PM / 1930" duplex, dual United States and Germany flight cachets, with small circular "This Article Made the Complete Round Trip / Via Graf Zeppelin" handstamp, with Friedrichshafen (6.6.30) and New York (Jun 8) backstamps, light uniform toning, a rare flown Graf Zeppelin first day cover; with 1996 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Baltimore, Maryland, 1c blue on bluish paper, good impression, margins touching on three sides, cancelled with manuscript "x" and tied to cover by circular blue "1", postmarked with "Baltimore Md / Aug / 1" c.d.s. with enclosed letter, a scarce usage; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Baltimore, Maryland, 1c red, ample to large margins all around, tied by blue "Baltimore MD” c.d.s. (9 Jan), Heim Nicodemus & Co advertising cover, multiple hinge remnants on reverse from prior mounting, a scarce and attractive usage on an illustrated cover.

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Charleston, South Carolina, Steinmeyer's City Post, 2c black on pink paper, sheet of 10, large sheet margins, hinged original gum, partially disturbed in places, the odd small tone spot, signed "J.F. Steinmeyer Jr." at foot, lower left corner slightly trimmed and small corner crease at lower right, else a fine and scarce sheet.

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Cincinnati, Ohio, Williams' City Post, 2c brown on wove paper, margins just touching to ample, tied to locally-addressed cover by partial blue "City Post" c.d.s., manuscript dated 1854, a rare cover; ex-Knapp. 

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Cleveland, Ohio, Bishop’s City Post, (1c) blue, mostly large to very large margins, close at upper left, fresh and deep color, tied to cover by red "Cleveland O / Paid / Feb / 9" c.d.s. with "10" in manuscript written overtop of 9, on cover to Conrad Armstrong, Attorney at Law on South 4th Street, with enclosed letter, adhesive with tear at left, just touching frameline, cover with some pressed creases, portion torn from back flap, and multiple adhesion remnants on reverse, nevertheless a rare on-cover example of this City Post, one of only seven recorded in the Allen census, and the only one with the stamp tied to cover, signed Costales, Jakubek; ex Golden, Boker.

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Louisville, Kentucky, Brown & McGill's USPO Despatch, 2c blue, unused block of four, without gum, large margins all around showing complete framelines, pleasing light shade, hinge thin to bottom pair, yet a rare block, this carrier’s stamps being infrequently seen in multiples, fresh and very fine appearance.

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New York, New York, United States City Despatch Post, 3c black on blue-green glazed paper, large margins on all sides, cancelled with centrally-struck octagonal "US" in red, postmarked "New York / 10 Cts / 7 / Sep" c.d.s., to Saginaw, Michigan, small tear to back flap, scarce and fine; with clear 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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New York, New York, United States City Despatch Post, 3c black on blue glazed paper, large margins on all sides, with sheet margin at foot, affixed to folded letter and cancelled with red octagonal "U.S.", postmarked with red "City Despatch Post" c.d.s. (1 Jun), locally-addressed to the corner of Grove and Bleeker Streets, light filing folds, attractive and fine; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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New York, New York, U.S. Mail, 1c black on rose wove paper, two 1c black on yellow, and two 1c black on buff, margins chiefly clear to large, each being tied to cover by red New York c.d.s. or PAID handstamp, one 6LB11 addressed to Washington, D.C., another franking being a striking sheet margin single, a few adhesives with discoloration as often seen, else a chiefly fine group.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Mail, 1c black on rose, with "L.P.", large portion of frameline present on three sides, not cancelled but affixed to small cover, with floral embossing at upper left, dated "9 May" in manuscript, H.C. Gibson owner's backstamp, scarce, a fine and charming cover, one of only 12-15 examples recorded in the Lyons census, signed Jakubek.
 

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Mail, 1c gold on black on glazed paper, large even margins on all sides, tied to cover by red star cancellation, 3c orange brown affixed at left and tied by blue "Philadelphia PA / Oct / 4" c.d.s., a late usage thus, to Boston, Massachusetts, the carrier adhesive with some imperfections typical of this printing, else fine. 

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St. Louis, Missouri, 2c blue, tied to locally-addressed cover by boxed "1CT" handstamp, with free strike alongside, manuscript "Valentine" notation at left, adhesive with various faults and repaired, yet a great rarity, this being one of only five covers recorded; with 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
Provenance: Ambassador J. William Middendorf II, Frajola Net Price Sale 4, 1990.

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Allen's Dispatch, Chicago, Illinois, (undenominated) red on yellow, tied to cover by violet eagle, alongside oval "Allen's City Dispatch / 125 Clark Street / Feb 3 1883", with lovely illustrated advertisement for I.N.W. Sherman, carriage and wagon manufacturers, depicting the company's factory, to Empire Warehouse Co. at Market & Quincy Streets, adhesive with some light soiling from use, a scarce franking, particularly desirable on an advertising cover; ex Kuphal.

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Boyd's City Express, New York, 2c black on green, glazed surface paper, serrated perforations, affixed to folded letter, internally dated May 6, 1846, cancelled with black handstamp, red 'PAID" below and oval "Boyd's City / Express Post" (6 May) adjacent, some light toning, yet a rare example of this privately prepared perforated stamp; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Bradway's Despatch, Millville, New Jersey, undenominated, margins touching to clear, affixed to small embossed cover, cancelled in manuscript, used in conjunction with 3c dull red, tied by Millville N.J. c.d.s. (15 Jan), to Phoenix, Rhode Island, some peripheral edge toning of no importance given the cover's great rarity, the earliest of only four examples recorded by Lyons; ex Caspary, Ambassador J. William Middendorf II.

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Brady & Co's Penny Post, Chicago, Illinois, 1c violet, margins well clear of design on all sides, affixed to cover, without postal markings, wrinkles, a scarce and unusual local franking, as the origins of this stamp remain a matter of conjecture; with 1961 B.P.A. certificate, signed by Robson Lowe. 

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Brigg's Despatch, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (2c) black on yellow buff, margins touching oval on two sides, tied to folded letter (27 June, 1848) by blue "Philadelphia Pa / 5 cts. / Jun / 29" c.d.s., to West Chester, filing folds, one crossing adhesive, some staining, yet a rare local, this being a particularly desirable example due to its being tied to the cover; ex-Boker. 

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Broadway Post Office, New York, (1c) black, large to very large margins, affixed to folded letter, internally dated 13 November, 1851, handstamped PAID in red, with neatly-struck oval "BROADWAY CITY EXPRESS / POST OFFICE" at left, to Cedar Street, New York City, light filing folds well clear of adhesive, an otherwise fresh and attractive example, rarely found on cover.

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Brooklyn City Post, undated embossed Valentine cover, handstamped with bold black PAID and crisp oval "Brooklyn City Post", to Miss Burnham on Butler Street, the odd spot of staining, else a lovely and rare cover, one of only two recorded examples of this elusive City Post, with 1984 P.F. Certificate ex-Golden.

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City Dispatch, St. Louis Missouri, 2c black on wove paper, trial color plate proof, typically large margins all around, well clear of outer frameline at all points, with manuscript “T. C.” initials in blue, diagonal crease, crease at upper left, and a few small yellow spots near top margin above “AT”, the latter two not mentioned on accompanying certificate, a rarity of this mysterious local post, of which little information is recorded; with 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
Two examples are recorded of the St. Louis City Dispatch, both black on blue paper. The discovery example is on cover, and was recorded in the famed Ferrary collection, later selling to John Boker via W.H. Colson. The second example, a single stamp, was first noted in a collection purchased by H.R. Harmer, was later also acquired by Boker. It was offered in the 1973 Robson Lowe sale of his Carriers and Locals, and subsequently resided in the famed Golden collection.

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Cummings' City Post, New York, 2c black on yellow, affixed to lovely gold illustrated Valentine cover, red boxed "PAID AHC" struck just above, faint red Cummings Express c.d.s. alongside, adhesive with some scuffing, otherwise a most attractive usage of this Cummings "Letter and Heart" stamp. 

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D.O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Despatch Post, (2c) black, with background shading, large margins, tied by faint manuscript "X" to  locally-addressed folded letter datelined Philadelphia, November 9, postmarked with neatly-struck double-circle "City Despatch / D.O. Blood & Co / 2 Cts.", accompanying certificate suggests the manuscript “X” is “probably” not contemporary, nevertheless a scarce and attractive cover, unrecorded in the Morris census, with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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D.O. Blood & Co, Philadelphia Despatch Post, (3c) black on grayish paper, initialled "R & Co" (Robertson & Co, the operators and prececessors of D.O. Blood), showing distinctive double impression, four ample to large margins, tied to undated folded letter by red "3", partial "Philadelphia Despatch Post" c.d.s. at left, wrinkles and vertical fold, a rare local issue showing the doubling of the design, ex-Caspary, offered with folded letter, dated Indianapolis, also with "Philadelphia Despatch Post / 10 A.M." c.d.s., ex-Gibson; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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D.O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (2c) black on pale green, margins ample to large, cancelled in manuscript and with black grid obliterator, docketed upon receipt "rec'd July 14th/48", a few light creases, adhesive with tiny edge tears at top, else fine; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate. 

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Eagle City Post, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (2c) black on grayish paper,  without "WS" initials, cut to shape and affixed to cover, cancelled in manuscript, red handstamped "5" alongside, postmarked "Norristown Pa / Aug / 7" c.d.s., to Nathan R. Potts of Philadelphia, some wrinkling affecting adhesive, the odd spot of discoloration, yet an immensely rare local stamp, one of only four examples recorded; ex Needham, Gibson, and Middendorf, with Gibson's ownership mark on reverse. 

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Hanford's Pony Express, New York, 2c black on orange-yellow, margins clear of oval on three sides, affixed to small cover postmarked "New York 5 cts. / 21 / Jan", to Newport, Rhode Island, some wrinkling and small repair at top left, a scarce franking; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Hill's Post, Boston, Massachusetts, 1c black on rose, large margins all around, affixed to folded letter, postmarked "Boston 10 Cts / 18 / Oct" c.d.s., to Cincinnati, Ohio, some adhesion remnants to reverse, a rare franking, with only seven covers recorded, all but one of which have the adhesive untied, and one of which is also addressed to Ohio and postmarked on the same date as the example offered here; with clear 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Hussey's City Post, 1c brown red, large margins on three sides, into at bottom, tied to full-front insurance company advertising cover by neatly-struck "1CT Paid / Hussey 50 Wm. St", back flap removed, a most attractive usage.

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Mason’s New Orleans City Express, 1850-1, 2c black on yellow, imperforate, on folded letter datelined Franklin House (Mrs. Taylor’s), 39 Canal Street, tied by red grid cancel, postmarked "N-ORLEANS CITY EXPRESS POST. LA / FEB / 6" with day in manuscript, to Leads Foundry, horizontal filing fold, some adhesion remnants on reverse from prior mounting, overall exceptionally fresh. A rarity; ex-Burrus.
One of only two recorded examples of the 1c over 1/2c Mason’s New Orleans City Express, and the only example on cover.
Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary

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Messenkope's Union Square Post Office, New York, (2c) black on pink paper, margins clear of outer oval on three sides, affixed to cover to Amos Street, with partial enclosure dated July 5, 1850, from the Manhattan Gas & Light Company, cover with some tears and adhesive fauty, nevertheless a rare franking, with George B. Sloane guarantee signature on reverse, sent during the early period following the takeover of the company by Joseph E. Dunham from Charles Messenkope; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate

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Metropolitan Post Office, New York, (2c) blue, die cut, tied to folded cover front by boxed "PAID / WH LAWS" hanstamp, free strike at left, postmarked "Metropolian / P.O. / Mar / 20", to G. Robertson 135 Water Street, filing fold creasing adhesive, yet a rare franking, with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex Caspary, Boker.

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Pinkey's Express Post, New York, 2c black on green glazed paper, on folded letter internally dated July 9, 1851, and noted "Fourth Avenue, 94 / Opposite 11th St", postmarked "New-York 5 Cts/ Jul / 10", to Boston, Massachusetts, stamp with portion torn off at left and otherwise creased, some peripheral discoloration to cover, yet a rarity, this being the discovery cover, one of only handful of such stamps believed extant; ex-Ferrary, Boker, signed Jakubek. 

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