1944 Piece taken from package containing live bees, sent to Redding, CA, 15¢ Special Handling along w/ some damaged Prexies tied by unclear oval cancels, "special handling" handstamp and Redding parcel post receiver, some staining to piece, packaging of this kind was seldom preserved; F-VF; bonus: modern version of similar item, a 1997 shipping label for package of live queen bees, from apiary in Georgia to Virginia, meter pays the First Class postage w/ special instructions & health label from GA Dept of Ag, VF; both on annotated exhibit pgs, ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$150-200 LE

1944 Large Piece from parcel containing a book, sent from Cleveland, OH to an Italian POW at Fort Meade, MD; 10¢ Special Handling stamp plus 4¢ Prexy pays postage; various pmks & a note from censor stating POWs may only receive books directly from publishers or booksellers; unusual usage, F-VF ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$150-200 LE

Mailing card for film reel canister, sent in 1947 from New Berlin, NY to church in Massena, NY, postage paid w/ 20¢ Special Handling plus 6¢, 10¢ & 50¢ Prexies, handstamps for special handling & insurance; reverse of card for return several days later used 7¢ & pair 30¢ Prexies for insured return (no special handling); VF ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$150-200 LE

RARE Special Handling insured parcel post tag, late usage of QE stamps in August, 1957 (stamps withdrawn in October); $1 Liberty pays parcel post and 10¢ & 15¢ pairs pay the new (July, 1957) 50¢ Special Handling rate for parcel weighing over 10 pounds, tied by boxed Edgartown / MASS. handstamps; one of only (5) QE covers w/ a Liberty Series stamp; VF ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$150-200 LE

1931 Paper label for COD shipment of (500) live baby chicks from hatchery in Petaluma to Bellflower, CA, 20¢ Special Handling used along w/ 9¢ pair & 50¢ Fourth Bureau, oval cancels, Special Handling & COD violet handstamps, VF ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$200-250 LE

Large part of 1932 wrapper used to send live alligators from Florida to New Jersey, franked w/ 11¢ Hayes & 10¢ Special Handling, both tied by Jacksonville ovals, couple purple "Special Handling" handstamps; by their nature, few of these kind of package wrappers were saved, F-VF ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$300-400 LE

Label on piece of carton used in 1935 to mail live chicks from hatchery in Michigan to New York, franking incl 20¢ Special Handling along with 5¢, 20¢ & 50¢ Fourth Bureau tied by Zeeland, Mich. (2) wavy line roller cancels; by their nature, very few of these kinds of labels were preserved, F-VF ex-Rufe (Image)

Est. US$300-400 LE