CV. 750

CV. 300

CV. 250

CV. 500

70b, 1861 24c Steel blue, along with 30c Orange and 3c Rose (Scott 71, 65) all tied by Boston "Paid" in large grid on 1861 cover addressed to Singapore, E. I. (East Indies), manuscript "Via Marseille" and red crayon "52" at upper left, light strike of red London transit at center and red "Boston Pr Pkt Paid" backstamp, "American Academy of Arts and Sciences" embossed imprint on backflap, docketing on back indicates received "Feby 4th 1862," cover with trivial edge toning and tears not affecting the stamps or markings, sent via the 57c rate for British mail via Marseille which was introduced in December 1861; 1988 Peter Holcombe and 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificates

Provenance: Theodore Gore (H.R. Hamer Sale 1358, 1961)

CV. 2,000

72, 1861 90c Blue, single plus additional single 1862 24c Lilac (Scott 78) each tied by circular grid cancels on 1863 folded letter addressed to "Messr. Augustine Heard & Co. Shanghae China," red "N. York Am. Pkt Paid Apr 11" and double circle "London Pr 23 63" transit marks, Hong Kong July 9 backstamp, sent "p Hansa via Marseilles" (manuscript directions at upper left), the cover is very slightly soiled and each stamp is noted as having a small corner crease in the accompanying certificate, a classic 90c issue use; this cover is number 12 in the 1988 Starnes/Herzog census (Chronicle Vol. 40, No. 4, which lists only 7 examples of this particular franking); 1975 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott for a single 90c stamp on cover is $25,000 and does not price this combination)

Provenance: Sidney A. Hessel (H.R. Harmer Sale 2343, 1975)

CV. 7,500

CV. 500

119, 1869 15c Brown and blue, Type II, single with strong colors tied by circle of wedges cancel on 1869 cover to Paris France and redirected to Baden Germany by Munroe & Co. in Paris, red "New Paid York Aug 26 6" exchange mark at right, blue "Serv. Am. Calais" transit and black Paris receiving mark, redirection postage was paid with a France 30c Brown on yellowish (Scott 34) tied by a bold strike of Paris "3" star cancel, the 15c stamp with creases and the cover with small edge flaws including a small corner replacement at the upper left, Very Fine appearance; one of only four 15c type II covers listed in the 1869 Cover Census with foreign stamps paying the redirecting fee (three of these with French franking and the fourth with Turkish postage due stamps)

Provenance: Ryohei Ishikawa (Christie's Robson Lowe, 1993)

CV. 2,000

United States City Despatch Post, New York City, 6LB5a, 1842-45 3c Black on blue green, Double impression, single with dramatic doubling (1.5mm downward shift of the design) and ample to large margins, tied on folded letter with Valentine»s Day message (datelined "Feb 14, 1844") and folded into the form of an envelope, just tied by red boxed "U.S." cancel with a matching "City Despatch Post U.S. Feb 19" postmark at right, locally addressed to "218 Rivington St," cover with tears at the center not affecting the stamp nor the markings and stamp with tiny edge flaws at the top; Fine and rare with only about 5-6 examples of the double impression known (Scott $1,500 for a used single, unpriced on cover), 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificate

The USPCS census only records 3 examples of this stamp on cover, not including this cover. One, addressed to Andrew Jackson (3/1/43), demonstrates a slight shift upwards in the second impression. Another, addressed locally to a Mr. Hutchings in New York City (10/22/??) shows a dramatic downward shift in the second impression that is very similar to the stamp on this cover (the third cover, dated 1/25/43, was last sold by Nutmeg in 2006).

CV. 500

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Semi-Official Carrier, 7LB5, 1849-50 1c Black on rose with "J-J", uncancelled stamp on complete cover front with additional portions of the letter sheet on reverse, addressed to Lynnford Kentucky, lightly struck blue "Philada Pa Jun 17 10" town marking at right, Very Fine and choice (Scott for a "used" example $7,500)

Only two examples of this stamp on or off cover are recorded with the other example, also untied, on a cover with a 5c 1847. When both items were first sold in the Caspary Auction (March 1957) this front realized $1,100 and the cover with the 5c 1847 sold for $1,300.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1069, 1957)

Ambassador J. William Middendorf, II (Frajola Net Price Sale 4, 1990)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

The first five Philadelphia Carrier Stamps (7LB1-5) bear intials in the last line of text: "L-P," "S," "H," "L-S," and "J-J." Although these were intended to represent men who served as carriers (as first identified by Luff), only "John Johnson" appears to have received the correct initials. As described in an article by Elliott Perry (Chronicle Vol. 34, No. 4), which illustrates the cover offered here, most of the early Philadelphia Carrier Stamps (7LB1-9) are known in two types: "Group I," which has elevated periods in the top line of text, and "Group II," which has periods in-line with the bottom of "U.S.P.O." Both examples of 7LB5 belong to "Group II," although the one-time existence of "Group I" stamps can be inferred. The cover offered here was the discovery copy, first reported by Eugene Klein in 1911.

CV. 1,000

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.P.O. Despatch Pre-Paid One Cent, 7LB16, 1855 (?) 1c Black on white, cut square, just into at top and left, tied by circular grid cancellation on dark buff cover addressed to Wilmington, Delaware, additionally franked with a strip of three of 1c Blue, type IV (Scott 9, margins to just cutting) to pay the to the mails rate, Very Fine and rare (considered one of the finest known examples of this stamp), there are only 5 examples of this stamp recorded in any condition and only two on intact covers, the other franked with a 10c Green and addressed to San Francisco (Scott notes, but does not price, this usage)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer sale 1069, 1957)

Henry C. Gibson (Private Transaction)

Produced by applying a handstamp to the sheet margins of the US 1851 1c issue, both 7LB16 and 7LB18 are amongst the most novel stamps in the history of American philately. At the extreme left edge of the stamp on the cover offered here (right edge if oriented upright), the traces of the ornaments of the 1851 1c can be seen. Although the "Large Oval" type (7LB18) was produced using this same method it is much more common than the "Eagle at Top" type (7LB16).

The history of Carriers Stamps in Philadelphia is incredibly interesting and well-documented by Scott Trepel in The 1851 Issue of United States Stamps: A Sesquicentennial Retrospective (2006, Part VI). After using the typeset issues (7LB1-9) from 1850 to early 1851, Philadelphia began using the lithographed issues (7LB11-13) and the federal Franklin and Eagle issues (LO1-2) concurrently. From early 1853 onward only the Eagle issue is known used, until a cluster of covers appears in 1856 using what can only be called a "provisional" handstamped issue (7LB14/18), presumably stemming from a shortage of LO2.

CV. 2,000

Williams' City Post, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1854 9LB1, 2c Brown, horizontal pair, fresh color, clear to large margins except just touch at top right, usual brushed on original gum, light natural paper wrinkling, vertical fold mostly between the stamps, pinhole in left stamp, still Very Fine, the unique mint pair (Scott $7,500)

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. "Flintstone" Collection (Robson Lowe, 1973)

CV. 1,500

Williams' City Post, Cincinnati, Ohio, 9LB1, 1854 2c Brown, tied on small envelope addressed "Dr. A. E. Heighway/ at Capt. J. C. Culbertsons/ Northside 6th Street/ West of Mound" by blue circular "City Post" handstamp used by Browne & Co. of Cincinnati, with contents datelined "18 January 1855," stamp clear to large margins, the envelope with slight edge soiling from photo mounts and a couple tears on the reverse, a Very Fine and extremely scarce usage, 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificate

The Siegel census, as of 2016, notes the existence of only six uses of this stamp on cover but does not include this one. A 2006 census by John Bowman published in the "Penny Post" records eight covers and does include this particular cover. Bowman records this cover as being sold by H. R. Harmer in January 1974 as lot 689. There appears to be only two examples of this stamp used on cover and tied by the Browne & Co. "City Post" handstamp. The other cover was sold as part of the Edward Knapp collection in 1941. Scott does not price this stamp on cover and tied by the "City Post" handstamp. It prices a stamp on cover tied by a manuscript cancellation at $4,500.

Claudius C. Williams (the namesake of this particular stamp) ran a local post in Cincinnati before being appointed letter carrier by the Post Office Department in October of 1854. According to Bowman, carrier service was available at one cent "to the Mails" and at two cents for local (intra-city) delivery. The local rate could therefore be paid with Williams' stamp (9LB1) or two of the federal Eagle carrier stamps (LO2).

CV. 2,000

CV. 100

Bayonne City Dispatch (New Jersey), 9L1, 1883 1c Black, tied by proper violet 3-ring cancel and lightly struck "Bergen Poing N.J. May 19" town marking on cover addressed to NY City, additionally franked with 1c Ultramarine and 2c Vermillion (Scott 206, 183) paying the domestic postage for delivery in NYC, stamp full margins, cover is slightly reduced at left and the stamps with trivial toning, Very Fine overall.

This is the only cover recorded in John Bowman's 2002 article published in the Penny Post as being used outside of the local area of Bayonne, passing through the US mails and requiring US postage There is one other cover with the additional franking of a 3c Green (Scott 207), but as this is a local to Bayonne use, the stamp may not have been required.

Provenance: Brad Arch (R.A. Siegel Sale 825, 2000)

Edgar Kuphal (R.A. Siegel Sale 925, 2006)

As discussed in Bowman's article (Vol. 10, No. 4), there is some debate as to whether the Bayonne City Dispatch provided legitimate service or was philatelically inspired. The late date (1883) seems to suggest the latter, although research by Robert Kaufmann provides a logical explanation for the service. The present-day city of Bayonne was served by four government post offices (Bergen Point, Bayonne, Van Buskirk, and Saltersville), but delivery between these offices often involved sending the mail to New York City and back again, with delivery taking four or five days. Therefore a local service carrying mail within Bayonne would have been a benefit to local businesses. Ultimately, Bowman concluded that Bayonne City Dispatch was "probably legitimate, possibly philatelically inspired, and collectible in light of their scarcity."

CV. 1,000

Berford & Co’s Express, 11L3a, 1851 10c Violet, Horizontal tête-bêche pairs, two nearly four margined pairs (from the same block of four) with six strikes of the red "B & Co. PAID" company handstamps (one tying the left pair to the envelope and the others cancelling the individual stamps), c.1852 cover addressed to "Lieut. Bush,/ U. S. Ship 'St. Lawrence'/ Valparaiso," ms. docketing on back side indicating reception on "April 28th" and signed by a "WH Vincent," pair positioned horizontally with a light pre-use crease, the other pair was removed and replaced on this cover of origin and has a light bend due to a fold in the cover which has a small piece out at lower left, Very Fine and choice; 2001 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $75,000)

One of two covers recorded bearing a Berford & Co.»s tête-bêche pair and the only cover with two tête-bêche pairs, additionally one of only four covers with Berford franking showing the 40c rate to the West Coast of South America. There are thought to be less than 20 covers total extant from this short-lived company, and only five covers with the 10c value.

Provenance: George B. Mason (Private Transaction)

Senator Ernest R. Ackerman (Private Transaction, 1928)

John H. Hall family collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000)

D. K. Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 862, 2003)

An article in the July 8, 1851 issue of the New York Evening Post, titled "The Government Beaten in Cheap Postage," reads in part:

Let the government come down as low as it may in its charges for doing what is properly the business of individuals, private enterprise, if left free, underbids it. It is supposed by many that the government has given the people cheap postage, and certainly the rates are low compared to what we have already paid. But Berford &. Company, whose Express office is established in this city, gives us cheaper postage yet.

After a tumultuous several-year existence that included frequent legal troubles with the United States government, advertisements for Berford & Co. appear to cease abruptly around April of 1854, suggesting the end of the service. For the few years that they existed, however, Berford & Co. was quite popular (as evidenced by the article quoted above). In the early 1850s Berford & Co. were advertising service to Rio de Janeiro, Valparaiso, Panama, and California. The 40c rate to the west coast of South America was most often paid with four 10c stamps (three of the four covers known), with the fourth cover featuring a unique rate make-up of a 3c stamp, two 6c stamps, and a 25c stamp.

Only three tête-bêche pairs of 11L3a exist (all contained on two covers), making this amongst the scarcest varieties of all local stamps. According to Elliott Perry this cover was missing the righthand pair when Senator Ackerman acquired it and the right edge of the cover was folded over. It was only at a later date that the missing pair was once again offered and reunited on its original cover. This unlikely occurrence adds an air of romance to what is already one of the most significant local covers in existence.

CV. 15,000

Philadelphia Despatch Post, 15L1, 1843 3c Red on bluish, initialed "R & Co.," cut square (only recorded example, all others are cut into an octagonal shape), lightly tied by large numeral red "3" and attached with a wafer on 1843 folded cover/wrapper with red "Philadelphia Pa. Jun 13" postmark, addressed to "Mr. Fredk Fritz, Present," cover with manuscript "Refused" above address, Very Fine; one of only 14 or 15 recorded covers with this stamp and the only one with the stamp cut square (Scott $8,500)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1069, 1957)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

A 2013 Penny Post article Dr. Vernon R. Morris, Jr. (Vol. 21, No. 2) records 14 covers with 15L1, all used between February 15 and November 8, 1843 (R.A. Siegel reports 15 covers). The cover offered here is #3 in Morris's census. Following the British "Penny Black" and Greig's City Despatch Post in New York City, the Philadelphia Despatch Post was only the third entity in the world to issue stamps for the prepayment of postage (15L1, 3c red on bluish, and the earlier 15L2, 3c Black), both of which are extremely scarce. To this end, Morris states that "15L1 participated in the advancement of written communication through specialization and innovation of postal service dedicated and restricted solely to local service in one city." The significance of this cover, then, which has not been offered publicly in over 60 years, is considerable. Although primitive in design, the Philadelphia Despatch Post stamps represent an important step in the develpment of the American postal system.

CV. 1,500

Bradway’s Despatch Millville, NJ, 21L1, 1857 Gold on lilac, four margined single with manuscript cancels not tied on 3c Red on white entire (Scott U9) which is cancelled by a "Millville N.J. Jan 27" postmark, addressed to Philadelphia, entire with light creasing and soiling, Very Fine and extremely rare; a 2014 census by Larry Lyons (NJPH Vol. 42, No. 3) lists only four covers with this local stamp, including an ex-Boker cover to Philadelphia dated Jan. 17; given the circumstances we believe this date to be an error, and this to be the cover once owned by Boker (Scott "on cover, not tied, with certificate" at $9,250 and "on cover, not tied, with 3c #11, with certificate" at $12,000), 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificate (mentions "tiny gum stains")

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

An enigmatic local company that has confounded collectors since it first appeared in catalogues as early as 1863. Lyons presumed the operator to be Isaac Bradway, and based on the dates of the known covers it appears the service only opperated between January and March of 1857. There are no known examples either used or unused off-cover. "Bradway's Dispatch," with an "i" in place of an "e," was the subject of a fantasy stamp of a radically different design by S. Allen Taylor. The cover offered here is the only Bradway's Despatch cover not pictured in the Lyons census; this is apparently the first time it has ever been offered at public auction.

CV. 1,000

Brooklyn City Express Post, Brooklyn NY, 28L3, 1855-64 2c Black on crimson, nearly four margined stamp with circular black ring cancellation on envelope with "Troy House/Troy NY" corner card, addressed to "Wall Street New York," oval "Boyd's City Express Post Nov 3 9" handstamp at center showing conjunctive usage with Boyd's, cover with a trivial spot along the bottom center edge, Very Fine, originated in Brooklyn and and delivered by Boyd's City Express Post completely outside the mails (Scott $400 for a stamp tied on cover, $70 for used)

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

A 2007 census by Larry Lyons and published in the Penny Post (Vol. 15, No.2) lists this cover and is one of only six covers with this stamp showing a conjunctive use with Boyd's. Brooklyn and New York were separate cities so that letters between the two required proper US postage plus applicable drop and/or carrier fees. Private local posts found a niche by carrying letter mail on the ferries travelling between Manhattan and Brooklyn. While the stamp is not tied on this cover, it does have the proper Brooklyn City Express Post cancellation and shows the proper conjunctive usage.

CV. 100

Brooklyn City Express Post, Brooklyn NY, 28L5, 1855-64 2c Black on dark blue, four margined single showing the dividing lines on all four sides, cancelled and just tied by black blob cancellation on dark buff 1857 cover addressed to Virginia and additionally franked with 1857 3c Dull red (Scott 26) tied by "Brooklyn N.Y. Nov 1" town marking, "Nov 4 1857" docketing, Very Fine and attractive (Scott $500 for a stamp on cover tied by handstamp)

While this cover is not listed in the 2007 Lyons census it does fall within the known dates of usage of this stamp (1851-58). Lyons notes that the normal cancellation is a black ring, but there are examples in his census of stamps with a black "bloblike" cancel (suggested to perhaps be an under-inked or worn out device).

CV. 100