1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, on cover to Trenton, N.J. canceled with "Paid" handstamp and matching "Elizabethport, N.J., Nov 2" cds's, manuscript "For Old Abe Inquire at the Back Door (Over)" directive at left, printed Abram, Spare This Head Lincoln poem affixed on reverse reading…Abram, spare this head, Touch not a single hair, Of its official life, For Old Buck placed it there! If victims you must have, Strike at my friends, Jo Yard, Josephus Shaun and Speer - Dear Abram, hit 'enormous margins hard! But spare this head of mine, And I will never fail, To bless "that same old Coon, A sittin on a Rail!", with additional "Honest Old Abe." in manuscript above; opened at side for display, Very Fine, an unusual Lincoln political propaganda cover; with 2012 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, tied by grid handstamp on fresh cover to the American Express Office in New York City, matching "Springfield, Ms., Nov 23" cds, with blue Thompson & Co's Express illustrated train and Mercury corner card, Very Fine and choice; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $500 - 750. This express corner card is also known in red and used from Thompson's Springfield office. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, natural s.e., tied by St. Louis boxed "1ct" handstamp on locally addressed cover to the Truino Telegraph; some cover edge splitting, Very Fine, a rare over payment of the drop rate; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $400 - 600. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, tied by Richmond, Va. cds on cover to Lowell, Mass., with illustrated "O.W. Blake, Dialect Comedian" corner card cover showing Vagabond, Very Fine, a very early comedian advertising cover; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, tied by grid handstamp with matching "Seneca Falls, N.Y., Mar 28,1861" cds on cover to Logansport, Ind., with red Cowing & Co. Seneca Falls, N.Y. illustrated design showing Fire Hose Wagon, Very Fine; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, tied by "Seneca Falls, N.Y., Oct 15" cds on cover to Logansport, Ind., with red Cowing & Co. Seneca Falls, N.Y. illustrated design showing Fire Hose Wagon, Very Fine; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, well centered, bright color, tied by "Vancouver, W.T., Feb 9" cds on fresh cover to San Francisco, Cal., Very Fine and choice, a scarce Washington Territorial usage (ASCC lists this townmark at $750). Scott No. 26  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, canceled by "Homer, N.Y., Nov 5" cds on Stephen Douglas campaign cover to Genseo, N.Y., with shield containing Douglas & Johnson's names, verse at top and "Raynor - New York" imprint at left; some restored edge wear, F.-V.F., ex Neiken, Walcott. Milgram No. SD-39. Scott No. 26  Estimate $150 - 200. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, exceptional centering with design completely free from perforation impinging on the design, grid canceled on Liberty & Flag patriotic cover to Albany, N.Y., matching "Hartford, Vt., July 25" cds alongside, Extremely Fine, a superb stamp on cover; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $150 - 200. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, o.g., never hinged, precision centering amid beautifully balanced margins with perforations clear of design at top and bottom, rich vibrant color and exceptional freshness, an Extremely Fine to Superb gem, a marvelous never hinged stamp; with 2006 P.S.E. Graded encapsulation (XF-Sup 95, SMQ $1,050). Scott No. 26  $65 for hinged. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, o.g., never hinged, exceptional centered amid large margins with perfs well clear of design at top and bottom, strong bold color, Extremely Fine and choice; with 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  $65 for o.g. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, vertical strip of 5, town cancels, well centered, strong color, bottom stamp with small perf flaws, otherwise Very Fine, an attractive and rare multiple; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, double transfer and line through "Postage" and "Three Cents", position 87R15, also showing doubling of all four rosette centers, blue town cancel, choice centering amid wide margins, strong bright color, Extremely Fine; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26 var.  $2,500. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE AND DRAMATIC DOUBLE TRANSFER VARIETY. $0 (Image)

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III, quadruple plate flaw, positions 17-19L28, center stamp in horizontal strip of 3, o.g., lightly hinged, well centered, bright color, Very Fine and attractive, listed but unpriced in the Scott catalog, with a used example cataloging $2,000; with 2013 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 26 var.  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC PLATE FLAWS ON THE 1857 3¢ ISSUE. $0 (Image)