1863, 2¢ black, used with four 3¢ rose (65) singles, tied by strikes of New York "Steam / Ship" two-line handstamps on inbound Caribbean cover from the Thomas Looker correspondence to Cincinnati Oh., cover endorsed "Ship Letter", backflap torn, Very Fine; with 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Nos. 73  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. AN UNUSUAL BLACK JACK STEAMSHIP USE FROM THE CARRIBEAN. This cover is from the Thomas Looker to his wife while he was the paymaster serving on the U.S.S. "Brooklyn", a new 2,532 ton screw sloop that was first assigned to the Home Squadron when first commissioned on Jan. 26th 1859. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, canceled by manuscript 1866 year date cancel on Horace I. Gray, Card & Job Printer corner card cover to Baldwin, Maine, with 1866 Maine Board of Selectman preprinted address panel, original unused printed order form for various stationery items; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine. Scott Nos. 73  Estimate $500 - 750. Horace I. Gray is the postmaster responsible for the Cumberland Me. town precancel postmark. The cover here is a later usage of a Gray ad cover without the town precancel. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, two singles, tied by bold strike of "St. Louis Mo. Aug 12" duplex with quartered cork cancel on yellow cover with beautiful script address to Albany N.Y., red white and blue patriotic shield label at upper left, fresh and Very Fine, sold as is in respect to label. Scott Nos. 73  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, tied by partial "Galveston Tex Dec 24" duplex on 1866 printed circular to Bremen, Germany, endorsed "per. Bremen Steamer via New York" at top, New York black "Paid All" straightline handstamp; small spindle hole and light crease, F.-V.F. Scott Nos. 73  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, manuscript "F.A.S., Dec. 19 /66" cancel, used on attractive light blue and red 1866 Farmers & Mechanics Bank for $100 signed by "F. A. Sheaff"; some folds and cut cancel, Fine and attractive. Scott Nos. 73  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, cancelled by circular grid cancel on dark violet lady's envelope to Prattsville, matching "Meriden Con Jan 6" cds; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and attractive. Scott No. 73  Estimate $150 - 200. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, light blue segmented grid cancel, precision centering amid evenly balanced margins, bold color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine to Superb, a remarkable gem centered 2¢ Blackjack with complimentary color cancellation; with 1997 and 2014 P.F. certificates, the latter Graded (XF-Sup 95, SSV $700). Scott No. 73  $80. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, die II, hybrid large die proof, mounted on India and die sunk on full size 146 x 226mm card with gold gilded edges on three sides, deep color, Very Fine. Scott No. 73P1a var.  Estimate $500 - 750. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, die II, plate proof on card, set of the five printings of 1879, 1885, 1890, 1893 and 1894, each fresh with large margins all around, Extremely Fine and rare set; each signed by J. Lee on back. Scott No. 73P4a  $375+. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, die II, plate proof on card, set of the five printings of 1879, 1885, 1890, 1893 and 1894, full to large margins, Very Fine and rare set. Scott No. 73P4a  $375+. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, die II, small die proof, on white wove mounted on original gray card, fresh with extra large margins, Extremely Fine and choice, only 85 were produced & one of the few still on original gray card from the Roosevelt albums, ex-Fosdyke. Scott No. 73P2  $1,300. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, die II, small die proof, on white wove mounted on original gray card, particularly bright and fresh, Extremely Fine and choice, only 85 were produced & one of the few still on original gray card from the Roosevelt albums. Scott No. 73P2  $1,300. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ Black, on Francis Patent Experimental Paper, Die I on imperforate greenish wove paper, o.g., also accompanied by second stamp on toned wove paper and perforated, F.-V.F. Scott No. 73-E  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

1863, 2¢ black, Trial Color Plate Proofs on India., five singles different colors of light blue, green, olive green, vermilion, dull rose and gray black; all four margins; some flaws, mostly Very Fine. Scott No. 73TC3  $1,250. $0 (Image)