"Old Stamps Not Recognized". Boldly-struck two-line handstamp tying 1857 3¢ dull red (defective) on cover to soldier at Camp Seward, Washington D.C., used with Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa. (1¢) Bronze on Lilac (large margins to slightly in), acid tied, postmarked "Philadelphia Pa. Aug. 26, 1861" cds and "Due 3" handstamp, part strike of "Blood's Penny Post Philada. Aug. 26, 2-1/2 P.M." double-circle handstamp at left, flap opened to show full 3¢ stamp which overlaps edge, reduced at left, Fine, ex-Gallagher; with 1976 & 2007 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 26+15L14  Estimate $7,500 - 10,000. One of Two Complete Covers with the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" Handstamp and Blood's Local Adhesive. August 26, 1861, is the First Day the Demonetized 1857 Adhesive Stamps were no longer valid for postage in Philadelphia.The contract with Toppan, Carpenter & Co. for printing the postage stamps of the 1857 Issue expired on June 10, 1861. A new contract was made with the National Bank Note Co. The designs were changed and the old issue was demonetized, as large stocks of some denominations remained on hand in the seceded post offices of the South.An elaborate plan was devised for phasing out the old and issuing the new stamps, which were not ready until mid-August 1861. To begin, supplies were issued to major post offices. Then, the post office would advertise to exchange the old for the new. Finally, after a short exchange period, the old stamps would no longer be recognized as valid postage.Philadelphia was one of the first to receive the new stamps, and so the 1857 Issue and old-style embossed envelopes were demonetized by that post office earlier than at many others. The new 1861 Issue embossed envelopes were announced as available on August 8, with a five-day exchange period expiring on August 13. The new 1861 Issue adhesive stamps were announced as available on August 19, with a six-day exchange period expiring on August 25. (Source: Elliott Perry, Pat Paragraphs reprint, parcel post. 97, 140-141).After the expiration dates, any old-style embossed envelope or adhesive stamp would be marked "Old Stamps Not Recognized" and postage due. Nesbitt and Star Die entires are known bearing the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" handstamp dated on August 17 and 19, 1861. The earliest recorded use of this marking on an adhesive is August 26, 1861, the first day the stamps were invalid for postage in Philadelphia (two covers recorded, each with 3¢ 1857, including the one offered here). According to the Levi records, there are two other 3¢/Blood's combinations with the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" handstamp: a complete cover dated September 14 (Rumsey Sale 7, lot 2150, April 1999, realized $25,000 hammer) and a front only dated August 27 (ex-LeBow, Siegel Sale 886). $0 (Image)