Sale No: 110
Lot No:730
Symbol:Cat No:OX1

Official Seal, 1877, brown. Tied on reverse by blue "Post Office, Boston Mass., Apr 17, 1879" cds repairing damage on cover with preprinted address to Boston Mass. bearing 6¢ pink (186) tied by partial "Chicago Ill. Apr 1" duplex, bold purple "Received in this Condition." straightline and matching "B.D., Boston, Apr 16" carrier datestamp, Fine and rare cds tied use, ex-Gottlieb.
Scott Nos. OX1; $1,000.

THE EARLIEST OF ABOUT A DOZEN RECORDED 1877 POST OFFICE SEAL USES, ONLY THREE ARE TIED BY POSTAL MARKING. US$0 (Image)

Scott $1,000

Sale No: 110
Lot No:731
Symbol:Cat No:OX1

Official Seal, 1877, brown. Used to seal top edge of officially-opened unpaid cover, "Milwaukee Wis. Feb 27" cds on cover to Kewaskum Wis., second "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 28" circular datestamp on back, clear strike of "Held for Postage" handstamp, blue crayon "3c" and matching "2706"; opened a bit roughly at right, back toning, Very Fine and rare use at the Dead Letter Office, ex-Richardson, with 1991 P.F. certificate.
Scott Nos. OX1; $1,000.

While this cover lacks a Dead Letter Office handstamp, the presence of the Milwaukee cds on the back and the crayon markings on the front indicate handling likely by the Dead Letter Office. Despite its official designation as a seal for use by the Dead Letter Office, only a handful of the "Post Obitum" seals are known used there, with the remainder used by postmasters.

Reference: Illustrated and Discussed by Kotanchik in his book on p. 83. US$0 (Image)

Scott $1,000

Sale No: 110
Lot No:732
Symbol:Cat No:OX1

Official Seal, 1877, brown. Used to seal top edge of officially-opened unpaid cover bearing illegal 3¢ green stationery cut-out to Littleby Mo., cut-out has been partially pealed off, framed "Held for Postage" handstamp, "Alton, Ill. Apr 30" origin cds, blue crayon "3c" and matching "3883" file number, accompanied by Postal Service blue D.L.O. (UO16) penalty entire canceled by indigo "Washington D.C. May 21" 1879 cds sending letter to addressee, toned and opened roughly at right, F.-V.F. and unique pair demonstrating the Dead Letter Office use.
Scott Nos. OX1; $1,000.

Additional postage was apparently not supplied and the letter was sent onward to the addressee. This lot proves the Kotanchik theory of DLO office handling characteristics. This cover can be dated to 1879 by indication of the Washington D.C. cds struck in indigo ink, which was introduced in 1879, and the lack of a year slug, which was added to the device by July 1879. US$0 (Image)

Scott $1,000

Sale No: 110
Lot No:733
Symbol:Cat No:OX1

Official Seal, 1877, brown. Used to seal left edge of cover tied on reverse by cork cancel duplexed with "Providence, R.I. Apr 30" cds, bearing 3¢ green (184) tied by "7" barred oval duplexed with "Philadelphia Pa. Apr 17" cds to Providence R.I., "Carrier, Apr 18" backstamp and pencil "Try 45 Westminster", underneath label "Opened by C.F. Wilcox, 45 Westminster" at left, "Advertised, May 10" cds, blue crayon "10", Very Fine, One of Only Three Recorded Covers with the Seal tied by a postal marking..
Scott Nos. OX1; $1,000.

Another principal use for the seals was to document that a letter had been opened by mistake, either by someone not the intended recipient or, less likely, by a postal employee. After Mr. C.f. Wilcox opened the letter and determined he was not the intended Chas Wilcox Esq., the Providence post office then applied the seal to indicate the letter had been officially resealed, although not before someone noted the sender was D.C. Haldeman. US$0 (Image)

Scott $1,000

Sale No: 110
Lot No:734
Symbol:Cat No:OX2a

Official Seal, 1879, brown. Two singles, affixed to 5¢ Garfield (U223) entire to Austria also bearing 6¢ lake (282) tied by Philadelphia Jan. 20 1895 duplex, returned to sender after failed delivery via the Dead Letter Office due to lack of return address, Philadelphia added the 1888 chocolate (OX5) seal; faulty, Fine, an unusual use with both engraved and typographed seals.
Scott Nos. OX2a; Estimate $100 - 150. US$100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Sale No: 110
Lot No:735
Symbol:Cat No:OX8

Official Seal, 1892, light brown, rouletted 5½. Three tied on reverse by purple "Received at New York P.O./(Reg. Div.) in Bad Condition" two-line handstamp, additional strike on face of cover bearing 1¢ blue (219) pair and 10¢ green (226), tied by cork cancels duplexed with "Villisca, Iowa. Jul 30, 1892" cds registered to New York City, pink "Request Examination on Delivery" label affixed; some light stain spots, a Very Fine and scarce seal use, ex-Gerlach.
Scott Nos. OX8; $750 on cover. US$0 (Image)

Scott $750 on cover

Sale No: 110
Lot No:736
Symbol:Cat No:OX10

Official Seal, 1898, brown. Affixed over right edge to seal rough opening on incoming 1900 cover from Canada to West Carrollton Ark., bearing Canada 2¢ carmine tied by "Paris Ont MR 9 00" duplex, manuscript "Opened by Mistake by Rev. A. T. Tibbets" endorsement at left and additional "Advertised, April-1-1900" & "Unclaimed", sent to dead letter office with magenta "Dead Letter Office, Received in Bad Condition, May 8, 1900, Foreign Division" postmark, Fine and scarce, ex-Kotanchik.
Scott Nos. OX10; $250 on cover; Estimate $100 - 150. US$100-150 (Image)

Scott $250 on cover
Est. $100-150

Sale No: 110
Lot No:737
Symbol:Cat No:OX13

Official Seal, 1907, blue. Seal at right on spectacular 1908 European-size cover from Germany to the United States returned and forwarded to France bearing U.S. 5¢ postage due, French 5c, 10c postage dues, and German official seals sealing all sides; numerous postmarks include rare red "Division of Dead Letters/ Feb 15, 1909/Received in Bad Condition at/ Foreign Branch" four-line handstamp, Very Fine.
Scott Nos. OX13; Estimate $150 - 200. US$150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Sale No: 110
Lot No:738
Symbol:Cat No:LOX8, LOX8a-c

Typeset Seal, black on white, rouletted. Tête-bêche block of four, Setting 1, containing four types with roulette 12½ at left and top and roulette 11½ at right and bottom, original gum; two stain spots at top, Fine appearance, rare with only three panes recorded.
Scott Nos. LOX8, LOX8a-c; Estimate $300 - 400. US$300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Sale No: 110
Lot No:739
Symbol:Cat No:LOX8e

Official Seal - Typeset, black, rouletted 11½ and 12½ compound x 12½. Compound block of 4, one each clockwise LOX8, LOX8e, LOX8d, LOX8c, o.g., two with h.r., others lightly hinged, well centered, Very Fine.
Scott Nos. LOX8e; $1,000 compound block. US$0 (Image)

Scott $1,000 compound block

Sale No: 110
Lot No:740
Symbol:Cat No:LOX8f

Official Seal - Typeset, black, rouletted 16½. Block of 4, o.g., minor hinge reinforced, Very Fine.
Scott Nos. LOX8f; $800+. US$0 (Image)

Scott $800+

Official Seal - Typeset, black, rouletted 16½ on 3 sides. Handstamped "Augusta Kas.", light horizontal crease, Very Fine appearance, the unique listing copy in Scott.
Scott Nos. LOX8g; $300. US$0 (Image)

Scott $300

Sale No: 110
Lot No:742
Symbol:Cat No:LOX11f

Official Seal - Typeset, black, rouletted 11½ at top and side. Setting 3, complete pane of four, o.g., light diagonal crease affects three and stain affects right pair, Very Fine appearance, one of only three recorded panes.
Scott Nos. LOX11f; $750. US$0 (Image)

Scott $750

Sale No: 110
Lot No:743
Symbol:Cat No:LOX36

Official Seal - Typeset, black. Affixed to small piece of envelope, "Opened Through Mistake" crossed out and manuscript "Recd Unsealed" added, Chelmsford Mass. cds, clipped at top left and wrinkled, Fine appearance, the only recorded example and illustrated in Scott.
Scott Nos. LOX36; $750.

Illustrated and described in Kotanchik on p. 224, where he surmises that it may have been printed by Morrill Brothers due to the rouletting. US$0 (Image)

Scott $750

Sale No: 110
Lot No:744
Symbol:Cat No:LOX8

Official Seal - Typeset, black, rouletted 11½. Used to seal roughly opened right edge of 2¢ carmine entire canceled by "Montour Falls, N.Y. Oct 1, 1902" duplex to Watkins N.Y., pencil "Opened by mistake J.E.F." at left, Watkins (10.1) arrival backstamp, Very Fine use.
Scott Nos. LOX8; $750. US$0 (Image)

Scott $750

Sale No: 110
Lot No:745
Symbol:Cat No:LOX8c

Official Seal - Typeset, black, rouletted 12½ x 11½. Setting 1, position C, affixed to reclosed right edge of 1897 cover from Chihuahua, Mexico to Silver City N.M., bearing Mexico 5c blue, Silver City Jul. 19 cds backstamp, docketing, seal faulty from opening; a Very Fine use.
Scott Nos. LOX8c; $750.

ONE OF TWO RECORDED USAGES OF A TYPESET SEAL ON A FOREIGN ORIGIN LETTER, AND THE ONLY RECORDED TERRITORIAL USE OF A TYPESET SEAL. US$0 (Image)

Scott $750

Sale No: 110
Lot No:746
Symbol:Cat No:OXSP1

Sea Post Seal, 1895, black, Bremen. Label seals left edge of 2¢ green entire bearing 2¢ lake (219D) and 1¢ Columbian (230) tied by "Menasha, Wis. Sep 26", New York (9.28) machine transit backstamp; label partial, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott Nos. OXSP1; $1,750.

AN EXTREMELY RARE "NEW YORK - BREMEN" SEA POST OFFICIAL SEAL.

Sea Post Offices operated on board transoceanic steamers and processed mail posted on board or picked up at ports along the voyage. The need for official seals was very limited. US$0 (Image)

Scott $1,750