Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.P.O. Despatch, 1850-52, 1¢ blue on buff. Unusually bold impression, even margins mostly clear of design with pencil rule line at bottom, slightly creased at bottom right, uncancelled, affixed on brown cover to local Philadelphia street address; small opening tear at left, Very Fine, ex-Hall, with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 7LB14; $3,250 as off-cover; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

ONE OF ONLY APPROXIMATELY TWELVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE U.S.P.O. DESPATCH 1¢ BLUE ON BUFF STAMP, ON OR OFF COVER. Scott $3,250 as off-cover
Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Scott $3,250 as off-cover
Est. $3,000

U.S.P.O. Dispatch Phila., Dec 3, 8 AM. Bold strike of octagon datestamp ties 1¢ blue (24) interesting plate flaw at bottom, intense shade, second bold strike adjacent on cover to local Philadelphia street address, docketing on back dated 1861, which indicates late acceptance of 1¢ 1857 Issue by Philadelphia carrier department, Extremely Fine and unusual demonetized carrier use, ex-Golden, with 2000 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Jun 23 '64, 1st. Cds cancels unsealed 2¢ black (U46) entire addressed to local Philadelphia address, with Great Central Fair illustrated battlefield scene with fallen soldier in black, return address imprint at side, sharp "Great Central Fair, June 23, 1864" cds clearly struck at lower left, Extremely Fine, ex-Dr. Martin, with 2009 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000.

THE FINEST OF ONLY THREE RECORDED BLACK JACK ENTIRES WITH THE GREAT CENTRAL FAIR POSTMARK.

Each of the three recorded entires is addressed in the same hand to different local residents (see Kantor book, Fig. 138). Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Apr 4 '64, 3rd. Double-circle local delivery datestamp ties 2¢ black (73), perf flaws, with additional clear strike of cds adjacent on cover with Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission black illustrated imprint showing battlefield scene, addressed to the Soldier's Reading Room, Satterlee Hospital, West Philadelphia, enclosed letter reads "…Mrs. G.W. Harris begs to inform Miss Jones of her appointment to the Committee of Hospitals, & collecting work from Invalid Soldiers & Sailors, for the Central Fair…"; some edge wear and hint of toning, F.-V.F., with 1996 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Satterlee General Hospital, which existed from 1862 to 1865 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the largest Union Army hospital during the Civil War. In the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg, thousands of Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners were treated at Satterlee. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Sep 1 '66, 1st. Double-circle local delivery datestamp with circle of wedge fancy cancel ties 2¢ black (73) on cover with red The Adams Express Co. cameo corner card to local Philadelphia address, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

The 2¢ general issue stamp satisfied the new federal drop rate for "city mail." By 1864 Philadelphia delivered city mail four times a day, specified in the circular datestamp. Despite more frequent service, the government was still no match for the hourly deliveries by Bloods Penny Post many years earlier. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Jan 31. City delivery cds on National Union Club cover with enormous full-face portrait of Ulysses S. Grant in uniform, Rea Sharp imprint, bearing 2¢ black (73) cancelled by quartered cork to local street address, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, ex-Walcott (with notation that he paid $100 for it, which was before 1935), with 2000 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS SPECTACULAR ULYSSES S. GRANT PATRIOTIC COVER, ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH A BLACK JACK FRANKING. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Philada. Pa. Post Office, Mar 9 '67, 3rd. Double-circle datestamp duplexed with circle of wedges cancel ties 2¢ black (73), tear, on orange buff cover to local Philadelphia street address, "NOT FOUND" straightline and some delivery notes; reduced at left, F.-V.F., ex-Wolf, Metzger, with 2009 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The addressee of this letter could not be found despite additional attempts at delivery. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Dead Letter Office) Philada. Pa. Post Office, Jan 26 '65, 3rd. Double-circle datestamp ties 2¢ black (73) on orange cover to local street address, reverse with script "Not called for / No such person can be found" two-line handstamp and matching "Dead, Phila. Post Office, Mar 4, 1865", Very Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Philadelphia maintained its own dead letter office. Most letters in the Dead Letter Office were inbound inter-city mail. Familiarity with who resides in town, died, or moved away, and when they did so, was generally much greater for residents of the same town compared to elsewhere. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

U.S.P.O. Despatch, Pre-Paid One Cent. Bold strike of double-oval ties 1¢ blue (24) and 3¢ dull red (26), matching "Philadelphia, Pa, Sep 5" octagonal datestamp on cover Berlin Md.; 1¢ crease, 3¢ perf creases, reduced slightly at left, Very Fine, ex-Moeldner, Brown, Hall, with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

U.S.P.O. Despatch, Pre-Paid One Cent. Unusually sharp strike of double-oval handstamp ties 1¢ blue (24) on orange cover to local street address, Very Fine and choice, ex-Emerson, Hall, with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Germany, 1933 Nothilfe souvenir sheet. O.g., never hinged, rich colors, fresh and pristine, free from the usual faint sheet bends from gum, Extremely Fine and choice, one of finest examples of this difficult sheet we have ever offered, with 2001 Schlegel certificate. Michel No. Block 2 €6,000 ($7,380).
Scott No. B58; $5,600. Scott $5,600
(Image)

Scott $5,600

Cameroun, 1911, Kaiser's Yacht, 20pf ultramarine, vertical bisect. Left half, tied by "Longji, Kameroun, 19/5 11" cds, official seal adjacent on cover to Hamburg, Germany, Very Fine and scarce bisect use, with 2018 P.F. certificate. Michel No. 10 €9,000 ($11,070).
Scott No. 10a; $6,750. Scott $6,750
(Image)

Scott $6,750

U.S.P.O. Dispatch Phila., Jan 5, 5 PM. Octagonal carrier datestamp ties 1¢ blue (63), additional strike at top right, on locally addressed Philadelphia buff cover with Leeds Patent Ventilator Co. black cameo corner card with illustration of chimney ventilator, address in corner card crossed out; slightly reduced at top, 1¢ large tear at lower right, Very Fine appearance, a spectacular cameo design.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

The "U.S.P.O. DESPATCH, PHILA." octagon datestamp has been recorded from January 6th 1861 until April 9th 1862 at the main Philadelphia post office only. It was not used at any of the four Sub-Posts. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

U.S.P.O. Dispatch Phila., Feb 6, 8 AM. Octagon datestamp ties 1¢ blue (63), second bold strike adjacent on light buff cover with blue "Freight Station Penna Rail Road" shield cameo corner card to local Philadelphia street address, receipt "Recd Feby 6th 1862" docketing, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

U.S. Penny Mail, Phila. Pa., A, Apr 11, 10½AM. Octagon datestamp cancels 1¢ blue (U19) on buff entire and additional sharp strike at top center to local Philadelphia street address; reduced slightly at top with partial flap, Very Fine and clear strike of the U.S. Penny Mail datestamp, with 2010 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The "U.S. PENNY MAIL, PHILA. PA" handstamp was reserved for branch offices and has been recorded from Summer 1861 until beyond July 1, 1863. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

U.S. Penny Mail, Phila. Pa., A, Jun 11, PM. Fine strike of octagon datestamp ties 1¢ blue (63) on reverse of orange buff cover to local Philadelphia street address with blue "Joseph Maples, Sculptor & Marble Cutter" cameo corner card illustrated with a large monument, additional strike of U.S. Penny Mail octagon datestamp on front; toning on reverse, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Philadelphia Pa., Mar 22. Sharp strike of cds with matching "1" in octagon rating handstamp on red The Adams Express Co. cameo corner card buff cover to local street address; minor cosmetic restoration, Very Fine appearance, a beautiful Philadelphia carrier use.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

During the mid 1850s, the Philadelphia carrier Department provided all services for one cent, despite Postmaster General directives otherwise. This cover was delivered to a street address in the Spring Garden district. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Philadelphia "15 July 1854". Dateline on folded letter bearing 1¢ blue, type IV (9) right straddle-pane margin single with center line, position 70L1L, recut once at top and twice at bottom, tied by Philadelphia "1" in octagon rating handstamp to local Philadelphia street address; 1¢ light diagonal crease top right, otherwise Very Fine and scarce, ex-Neinken, with 2010 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Illustrated in Ashbrook in Volume 2 on page 70. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Philadelphia Pa., Dec 1. Cds ties 1¢ blue, type IV (9 var.) triple transfer, one inverted, recut once at top, Position 91L1L, large beautifully balanced margins, deep rich color, on small cover to local street address, endorsed "Mrs. Lippincott" at top, an Extremely Fine gem, ex-Wagshal, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Philadelphia Pa. Mar 12. Octagonal datestamp ties 1¢ blue, type V (24) vertical pair with part captured imprint and "8 P" of plate no. at right, positions 40/50R8, on small cover to local street address, Very Fine and desirable use with the plate and imprint capture, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Philadelphia Pa. Mar, 1859. Two strikes of octagonal datestamps tie 1¢ blue, type V (24) horizontal strip of four, on blue newspaper wrapper to local street address, manuscript "four newspapers" at left; few small faults affect right stamp only, otherwise Very Fine and exceedingly scarce multiple newspaper use, ex-Sevenoaks, with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

THIS IS THE LARGEST FRANKING OF THE 1¢ 1857 STAMP USED TO PAY THE NEWSPAPER RATE.

Illustrated and discussed in an article by Calvet M. Hahn in Stamp Collector. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

(Inbound Carrier Fee) "Frederica Ga, 25 Novr". Manuscript postmark on cover bearing 1¢ blue (24) with left part imprint selvage, position 51L10, and 3¢ dull red (26), each tied by neat circular grid cancel on cover to Philadelphia Pa., Very Fine and scarce "From the Mails" carrier use, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The 1¢ paid for delivery to the street address in Philadelphia "from the mails". Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

(Inbound Carrier Fee) Freeport Ill. Feb 12, 1861. Cds on cover bearing 1¢ blue (24), dot on head variety and 3¢ dull red (26), each canceled by matching circular grid to Philadelphia street address; each stamp with light diagonal crease, cover reduced slightly at top with small piece out, Very Fine appearance and scarce "From the Mails" carrier use, ex-Neinken, Wagshal, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The 1¢ paid for delivery to the street address in Philadelphia "from the mails". Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400