Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 5, large margins except just clear at left, tied by manuscript "X" cancel, red "Charleston S.C. Jun 15" cds and matching "Paid" rating handstamp with red manuscript "48" cent rating on folded cover to Dorking, England, New York red "6" cent credit rating for double the 3¢ American packet credit, carried by Collins Line Pacific departing New York Jun. 21st to Liverpool arriving Jul. 1st, red Liverpool Paid (7.1) arrival cds, forwarded upon arrival to London, Very Fine, Ex-Hind. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $3,000 - 4,000. A REMARKABLE TRANSATLANTIC USE OF THE HONOUR'S CARRIER STAMP. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, vertical strip of three, Positions 5/7/9, with huge left sheet margin, slightly in at right, light crease in margin, manuscript cancel in pencil, used on large embossed valentine cover to Miss L. A. Mills on Line Street, with beautiful decorative Valentine enclosure which appears to have originated with the cover; minor edge tears, Very Fine; with 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $2,000 - 3,000. ONE OF ONLY THREE VALENTINES BEARING A MULTIPLE OF THE HONOUR'S 4LB8 STAMP ARE RECORDED. The three recorded multiples used on cover are:1. (no date) Valentine cover with uncancelled vertical strip of three (Pos. 5/7/9), ex Kuphal2. (no date) Valentine cover with uncancelled horizontal strip of three (Pos. 7-8-9), ex Caspary, Boker, Golden and D.K. Collection2. (no date) cover with pen cancelled horizontal pair (Pos. 3-4), ex Hall, D.K. collection. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 3, three large margins, slightly in at bottom, tied by manuscript squiggle cancel, light but clear strike of blue "Wil. & Ral. R.R. Feb. 10" Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad route agent's cds with matching "5" cent rating handstamp on 1852 folded letter to New York City, Very Fine, ex-Chapman, Hall. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. AN OUTSTANDING USE OF CARRIER STAMP ON MAIL GIVEN TO THE ROUTE AGENT OF THE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH RAILROAD. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 1, three full margins, slightly in at left, tied by manuscript cancel, used with 3c brownish carmine (11A), clear to ample margins, cancelled by manuscript cross-hatch cancel, blue "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad" route agent's circular datestamp with matching manuscript "Feby 17" dating on circa 1852 blue folded letter to Boston Mass.; two file folds with one affecting carrier stamp, Very Fine, ex-Remele, Abt (with album page and route map), Golden. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. A RARE USE OF CARRIER STAMP ON MAIL GIVEN TO THE ROUTE AGENT OF THE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH RAILROAD. According to the Abt pages, Charles Remele had speculated that the Charleston carrier department somehow ensured letters would reach the southern terminus of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad at Wilmington, perhaps via a coastal vessel since Charleston was 150 miles away. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 12, huge margins except just touched at top, tied by manuscript cancel, used with 3¢ dull red (11A), margins to slightly in, vibrant shade, tied by blue "Charleston S.C. '3 Paid' Feb 13" cds on buff cover to Endfield Center N.Y.; some edge wrinkling, Very Fine; with 1975 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 3, large margins to touched at top, manuscript "X" cancel, blue "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad Jun. 15" route agent's cds and matching "10" cent rating handstamp on buff front with flap to Philadelphia Pa.; light central crease, Fine, a scarce railroad use, ex-Hall. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 3, three margins, touched at bottom, manuscript cancel, used with 3¢ dull red (26), small faults from edge placement, tied by "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Dec 7 1858" cds on cover to Anderson C.H. S.C. with fancy McCarter & Co. booksellers brown cameo corner card, Very Fine. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 9, Later State, four large margins including part of adjacent stamps, tied by manuscript cancel and red "Charleston S.C. '10' Jun 20" integral-rate cds on buff cover to Bristol R.I.; edges refolded, Very Fine and choice, a scarce example tied by red Charleston cds, ex-Golden; signed by Sloane. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $600 - 800. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 4, late state showing broken "N" in "Honour's", large margins showing parts of adjoining stamps, intense shade and impression, uncancelled, blue "Charleston S.C. Paid Nov 11" cds on buff cover to Philadelphia Pa. with Wm. Barritt auctioneer and commission merchant's corner card, charge-box notation below; some slight wrinkles, Very Fine and choice use, ex-Waterhouse, Golden. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $400 - 600. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 3, four large to full margins, manuscript cancel, blue "Charleston S.C. '5' Sep. 3" integral-rate cds on buff cover to Mount Clio S.C., Very Fine, ex-Chapman, Caspary and Hall. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $400 - 600. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 9, Later State, mostly clear except cut in at bottom, tied by manuscript "X", used with 3c orange brown (10), ample margins to slightly in, intense shade, tied by red grid on cover front only to Augusta Ga., matching red "Charleston S.C. '3' Jul. 31" integral-rate cds, 1851 docketing at left, F.-V.F., a rare combination use with the 3¢ orange brown 1851 issue., ex-Golden. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 5, three large margins, touched at right, tied by manuscript cancel, blue "Charleston S.C. '5 cts' May 11" integral-rate cds on brown buff cover to Effingham S.C.; edge flaws, Fine, ex-Golden. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, large margins to just into ornaments at top right, strong impression, uncancelled, used on locally addressed buff cover with bold blue "Charleston S.C. 1" cds with integral drop rate; horizontal fold below stamp, F.-V.F. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, four margins, cancelled by manuscript "X" on dark buff cover addressed "Present" and with "Legare St" added at lower left later, original enclosure also addressed simply "Present", Very Fine. Scott No. 4LB8  Estimate $200 - 300. Charleston had only the government approved carrier service in the South. In 1849, John H. Honour was appointed the first letter carrier, and he continued until he retired in 1860. There was soon sufficient demand for the service to occupy two people. Honour had several typeset stamps printed through the years, and the stamps were sold directly to the public. Initially called "Honour's City Express", later it was referred to as the "City Post" or "Penny Post". His successors continued on during the Civil War but not use stamps. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, period after "Paid", First Setting, large to huge margins, cancelled by manuscript that barely ties, complete neat strike of red "Charleston S.C. '10' Dec. 28" integral-rate cds on small white cover to Pittsfield Mass., Extremely Fine, ex-Caspary, Middendorf and Golden. Scott No. 4LB8a  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. A REMARKABLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE HONOUR'S 2¢ BLACK ON BLUISH WITH PERIOD AFTER "PAID" VARIETY. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, period after "Paid", First Setting, three huge margins, barely touched at left, tied by manuscript "X" cancel, red "Charleston S.C. '10' Apr 26" integral-rate cds on buff cover to Greenville S.C., 1851 docketing at left, faint staining, Fine and scarce use, ex-Golden. Scott No. 4LB8a  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, "Cens", Position 2, later state showing dropped period after "Post", gap between "N" and "O" of "Honour's", lower right pearl out of alignment, three margins, slightly in at bottom, manuscript "X" cancel, used with 3¢ dull red (11), large margins to clear, tied by "Charleston S.C. '3 Paid' Apr. 23" integral cds on buff cover to Anderson C.H. S.C. with fancy McCarter & Co. booksellers green cameo corner card, Very Fine and attractive cover, ex-Hall. Scott No. 4LB8b  Estimate $750 - 1,000. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, three margins, slightly in at top, cancelled by manuscript "2", used with 3¢ dull red (11A), margins to touched, internal crease, tied by "Charleston S.C. Apr" cds on yellow buff cover to Baltimore Md.; two light vertical file folds, F.-V.F. Scott No. 4LB11  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE HONOUR'S "PENNY POST" STAMP USED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 3¢ 1852 ISSUE. $0 (Image)

Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, huge margins including portion of bottom stamp, just in at top right, cancelled by manuscript "2", used with 3¢ dull red, type I (25) with left guideline selvage, tied by "Charleston S.C. Aug 13 1857" cds on orange buff to New York N.Y.; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine. Scott No. 4LB13  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)