1851, 12¢ black, diagonal bisect. Bottom right half tied by "New-York Ship Sep. 25" cds on ca. 1853 cover to West Chester, Pa., clear strike of red boxed "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" handstamp applied in San Francisco, "6" due handstamp overstruck by second "New York, Ship, Sep 25" cds and crossed out with "7" due in blue manuscript (5¢ unpaid rate + 2¢ ship fee), accompanied by dateline portion of enclosure; cover with couple minor edge tears and stamp with negligible small tear at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, an Extremely Rare Use of the 1851 12¢ Bisect in Combination with the "Via Nicaragua/Ahead of the Mails" Handstamp, ex Grunin; with 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 17a  Estimate $5,000 - 7,500. During the period from 1853 to April 1855, bisected 1851 12¢ stamps were used on mail from San Francisco to prepay the 6¢ over 3,000 miles rate to the east coast. Upon arrival in New York, the bisects were either accepted or rejected. In this case, the New York office did not accept the bisect, but incorrectly applied the 6¢ due marking for a letter received from a non-contract vessel addressed to the port of arrival. This was then corrected by applying the New York "Ship" datestamp and 7¢ rate for a non-contract ship letter to another post office. $0 (Image)

1851, 12¢ black, diagonal bisect. Lower left portion of stamp with sheet margin, tied by light San Francisco, Cal. cds on 1853 cover to Wilmington, Del., boxed "From the Noisy Carriers' Publishing Hall, San Francisco, Cal." label at bottom left; some corner wear, Very Fine, pictured in Coburn's Letters of Gold (pg. 116), ex Wiltsee, Jessup, Edwards & Haas; with 1995 P.F. certificate declining opinion as to the usage of the label. Scott No. 17a  Estimate $2,000 - 3,000. Between July and September of 1853 supplies of 3¢ stamp where exhausted in San Francisco as well as other towns in California. During this period, 12¢ stamps bisected where excepted to pay the 6¢ rate between California and the eastern states. $0 (Image)