1857, 3¢ rose, type I + 12¢ black. Tied to 1858 printed circular to Bordeaux, France by red "New York/Paid/12" cds, New Orleans origin, black "Too Late" straightline handstamp designating the circular was too late for despatch by the Br. Packet "Niagara", Extremely Fine, ex-Chase, Baker, Haas.
Scott No. 25+36; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

A VERY RARE OVERPAYMENT ON PRINTED CIRCULAR TO FRANCE, A MAGNIFICENT COVER. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Guideline single tied by "Paid" in circle handstamp with red "Providence R.I., Aug 30, 1858" cds at right on cover showing Professor James A. Allen Balloon in Flight illustrated corner card featuring an eagle & shield adorned balloon in flight, Very Fine and rare, a very early and possibly unique James K. Allen illustrated balloon cover, ex-Piller.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

James A. "Professor" Allen was the patriarch of the Allen family of balloonist from the Providence, Rhode Island. Allen was an assistant to Prof. Thaddeus Lowe in the Union Army's Balloon reconnaissance corps and played an important roll during the Civil War flying an Observation Balloon as a member of Union Army's "Balloon Observer Corps" (March 23, 1862 to Jun. 1863). Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Bright color, tied by partial strike of "Springfield Ill. Nov 27, 1860" cds on orange cover showing beardless Lincoln three-quarter portrait in ornate frame (Milgram AL-55), Mendel of Chicago imprint, addressed to Richview Ill., original matching enclosure showing AL-55 design datelined "Springfield Ills, Nov 26, 1860"; cover reduced at right with edge fault, Very Fine.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

A BEAUTIFUL ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAMPAIGN DESIGN THAT WAS POPULAR THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST AND WAS BASED ON A PHOTOGRAPH BY SAMUEL FASSETT. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Tied by bold "Perkins, Ills., Aug 7" cds on cover to Lawrence, Kans. with all-over Abraham Lincoln railsplitter campaign design (AL-80) showing "Honest Abe Lincoln on his flat boat" and Rufus Blanchard - Chicago imprints; cover a bit reduced at right, Very Fine, illustrated in Milgram Abraham Lincoln Illustrated Envelopes and Letter Paper 1860-1865 (page 48), with 1980 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS ABRAHAM LINCOLN RAILSPLITTER CAMPAIGN COVER.

This Lincoln vignette was used by the Republican newspaper "The Republican Standard" that was published by Rufus Blanchard. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Tied by "Syracuse N.Y., Sep 14, 1860" cds on cover to Cortland, N.Y. with Abraham Lincoln dual-framed portrait campaign design (AL-106) with Eagle & Flag motifs and "Lincoln & Hamlin" caption in banner; light cover file fold, Very Fine.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

A RARE LINCOLN CAMPAIGN DESIGN MAILED JUST PRIOR TO THE ELECTION. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Couple short perfs, manuscript cancel and tied by red "North Cambridge, Ms. Dec 24" balloon cds on small neat envelope to South Lancaster, then forwarded to Leominster, Ma. with black "South Lancaster Mass. Dec 26" cds and manuscript "3c Due" under Leominster Provisional Postage Due, 3¢ black on pink label, Very Fine.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE LEOMINSTER PROVISIONAL POSTAGE DUE USAGE. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Tied by "Montgomery Springs, Va." cds on cover with beautiful illustrated green Montgomery White Sulphur Springs cameo corner card showing building to Knoxville Tenn.; James Logan docketing at left, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $500 - 750.

A STUNNING ILLUSTRATED GREEN CAMEO ADVERTISING COVER FROM MONTGOMERY WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS.

Montgomery White Sulphur Springs was once a thriving resort located in a valley in Montgomery County, Virginia that opened in 1856 with the capacity to accommodate 1,000 guests. It was easily accessible because of close proximity to the Virginia-Tennessee Railroad. After negotiations with the Confederate government in the spring of 1861, the resort was converted into a general hospital. General Hospitals received the injured, seriously wounded, and postoperative patients. Because patients were usually sent by train, location of a general hospital near railroad access was vital and Montgomery White Sulphur Springs was an ideal location. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Well centered with beautiful shade, tied by sharp strike of blue "Charlottesville Val. Dec 13" cds on light buff cover with black Farish House, Geo. L. Peyton cameo corner card, addressed to Staunton Va.; Dec. 1859 docketing at left, an Extremely Fine, ex-Judd, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $500 - 750.

A GEM ILLUSTRATED CAMEO ADVERTISING COVER WITH TREMENDOUS EYE APPEAL. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1857, 3¢ dull red, type III. Rich color, tied by circular grid cancel, matching on orange buff cover with illustrated blue William M Shewell, Boots. Shoes. at Merchants Hotel cameo corner card showing the hotel building, addressed to Frankford, Philadelphia, Extremely Fine and choice, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 26; Estimate $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1859, 10¢ green, type V. Manuscript cancelled single with "Butteville, March 3/63" (Oregon) manuscript postmark on cover to Concord Corner, Vt., with Illustrated Four-Horse Stagecoach Design and "Via Visalia & Los Angeles" banner, side of stagecoach showing "Overland Mail, To All Part of the Union" slogan, stamp recognized as demonetized and manuscript notation "old stamp" added alongside and "Due 10" below; trivial cover wear and slight reduction at right, Very Fine.
Scott No. 35; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

AN EXTRAORDINARY COVER WITH THE "VIA VISALIA & LOS ANGELES" STAGECOACH DESIGN USED FROM OREGON IN COMBINATION WITH THE ATTEMPTED USE OF THE DEMONETIZED 10¢ 1857 ISSUE IN MARCH 1863, LONG AFTER THE POST OFFICE TOLERATED THE USE OF OLD STAMPS. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1859, 10¢ green, type V, vertical pair + 1¢ blue, type V. Paying the 21¢ French mail rate on 1860 cover to Mons, Belgium, grid canceled tying 10¢ pair, red "San Antonio, Tex., Paid, Jan 4" origin cds with red crayon "21" cent rate restatement below, red "New York '18' Jan" integral rate exchange cds, French (11.20) entry cds and matching "PD" framed handstamp, reverse with Paris (1.31) transit and Belgian (1.31) receiving cds's, trivial pulled perf in top 10¢ stamp, otherwise Extremely Fine.
Scott No. 35 + 24; Estimate $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1857, 12¢ black, plate I. strip of three, used with 1¢ blue (24), couple scissor cut perfs at top, each cancelled by magenta circular grid, "Hartford Ct. Jul 8 1858" cds on mourning cover to St. Petersburg, Russia, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Jul 10" exchange backstamp and magenta "14" cent credit rating, carried by Vanderbilt Line Ariel from New York Jul. 10th to Bremen arriving Jul. 25th, red "Aachen Franco" (7.24) framed transit and blue manuscript "f3" rating, Russian arrival backstamp, Very Fine and coice.
Scott No. 36; Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A RARE 1857 ISSUE MOURNING COVER USAGE TO RUSSIA.

The 37¢ rate to Russia via Prussian Closed Mail is rare, with most examples coming from the Pierce correspondence to St. Petersburg. This mourning cover example to the American Minister with a 12¢ strip is in outstanding condition. Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

1860, 30¢ orange. Used with 3¢ dull red (26), straddleline s.e. at right, each tied by Boston "Paid" grid cancels on blue 1861 folded letter to Manila, Philippines, red "Boston Br. Pkt., Paid, Jun 18" exchange cds and matching "28" credit handstamp to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Australasian from New York Jun. 19th to Queenstown arriving Jun. 29th, red London Paid (6.29) transit cds and red manuscript "1" pence colonial credit, then by P&O Line Ceylon from Southampton Jul. 4th to Alexandria arriving Jul. 18th, then overland to Suez departing on P&O Colombo Jul. 20th to Galle arriving Aug. 4th, then by P&O Pekin Aug. 5th to Hong Kong arriving Aug. 21st, "Hong Kong, AU 21, 61" arrival backstamp, from there it went by coastal steamer to Manila arriving Aug. 26th; ink stains at bottom and small piece out of address, Fine and marvelous use, ex-Kapiloff, with 1992 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 38; Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED 30¢ 1860 ISSUE USE TO THE PHILIPPINES IN PRIVATE HANDS.

Excellent letter content from a merchant to George H. Peirce regarding the Union Blockade and a sober view of the war's future: "The slight skirmishes thus far recorded will have the effect to prepare our soldiers for the realities of the battle field & will give us more confidence in their powers when the real struggle does commence…". A late use of the 1857 and 1860 adhesives, which, by the time the letter arrived, had been demonetized because of the Civil War. Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

1860, 30¢ orange. Deep rich color, tied by blue "Baltimore Md. Jul 8" cds on 1860 mourning cover to Baden, Germany, sharp strike of red "Boston Br. Pkt. '7 Paid' Jul 10" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Boston Jul. 11th to Queenstown arriving Jul. 22nd, red "Aachen, Franco, 24 / 7" framed transit, reverse with Jul. 25th arrival and black wax seal; no flap, Very Fine and choice use at the 30¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 38; Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A BEAUTIFUL 30¢ 1860 MOURNING COVER USAGE TO BADEN, GERMANY WITH GREAT EYE APPEAL. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1860, 30¢ orange. Used with 3¢ dull red (26), s.e. at left, tied by large grid cancels, matching "Brooklyn N.Y. Nov. 20" cds on 1860 cover to Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, Africa, partial red "New York Br. Pkt. Nov. 21" exchange backstamp and magenta "28" credit to G.B. carried by Cunard Persia from New York Nov. 21st to Queenstown arriving Dec. 1st, red London (12.3.60) transit and large red "1" British Colonial credit marking, red Cape Town arrival backstamp; 30¢ small flaws at left from edge placement, still Very Fine and scarce use paying the 33c rate by British Mails via Plymouth, ex-Hubbard, Dupuy, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 38; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

A WONDERFUL 1857 ISSUE USE TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, SOUTH AFRICA. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1860, 30¢ orange. Vibrant color, cancelled by two strikes of red NYFM circular grids in criss-cross pattern, matching "N. York Am. Pkt. '7 Paid' Sep 14" credit cds on 1861 folded letter to Glogau, Prussia, although endorsed per Cunard Line Asia, missing the sailing and New York "TOO LATE" handstamp applied, carried by Havre Line Arago from New York Sep. 14th to Havre arriving Sep. 27th, red "Aachen 28 7 / Franco" framed handstamp, Sep. 30th receiving backstamp, Very Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 38; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

A CHOICE USE OF THE 30¢ 1860 ISSUE BY PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAL TO GERMANY.

An unusual usage, apart from the routing this also overpays the Prussian Closed Mail rate which was reduced from 30¢ to 28¢ on Sep. 1, 1861. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1861, 1¢ blue, types I & II. Bottom margin block of 4, positions 85-86, 95-96L12, with top stamps type II (swing positions), bottom stamps type I, o.g., hinge remnants, rich bright color, F.-V.F., ex-Neinken, Wagshall.
Scott No. 18,20; $8,750.

AN EXTREMELY SCARCE MINT COMBINATION BLOCK OF THE 1857 1¢ ISSUE FROM PLATE TWELVE. Scott $8,750
(Image)

Scott $8,750

1857, 1¢ blue, type II. Position 80L12, straddle-pane single showing guideline and significant portion of adjacent stamp at right, full o.g., wide margins and exceptional centering with perfs clear of design, bold color, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. Graded certificate (XF 90).
Scott No. 20; $1,100.

A CHOICE MINT POSITION SINGLE OF THE 1857 1¢ TYPE II FROM THE SCARCE PLATE 12. Scott $1,100
(Image)

Scott $1,100

1857, 1¢ blue, type II. Position 19L12, neat Dighton, Mass. town cancel, gorgeous rich vibrant color, choice centering, long full perforations, Extremely Fine and choice, a gorgeous stamp, with 2011 P.F. certificate for pair.
Scott No. 20; $300. Scott $300
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Scott $300

1857, 1¢ blue, type IIIa. Scarce St. Louis boxed "1ct." cancel, choice centering and margins with wide break at top clearly visible, deep intense color, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 22; $500. Scott $500
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Scott $500

1857, 1¢ blue, type IV, cracked plate variety. Position 2L2 showing full vertical crack along the right side of design, light town cancel, exceptional centering, rich color and sharp detailed impression, Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott No. 23 var.; $1,100.

ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 1¢ TYPE IV SHOWING THE "BIG CRACK" PLATE FLAW. Scott $1,100
(Image)

Scott $1,100

1857, 1¢ blue, type V. Position 95R7, light unobtrusive town cancel, perfect centering and encompassed by huge balanced margins, rich vivid color, a Superb jumbo, this is the only example to receive this grade with none higher, ex-Wagshal, Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (Superb 98J, SMQ $4,000).
Scott No. 24; $40.

WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1857 1¢ TYPE V ISSUES IN EXISTENCE. Scott $40
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Scott $40

1858, 5¢ brick red, type I. Full o.g., rich vibrant color; natural vertical pre-printing paper fold and some minor perforation flaws, Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 27; $80,000.

AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1858, 5¢ TYPE I IN THE BRICK RED SHADE WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM - ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL MINT CLASSIC ISSUES WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM.

Although chronicled as the first of the 1858-61 5¢ Issues, the 5¢ brick red was not actually used for months after the red brown and Indian red type I shades, making it the third issue in the series. A search of the Philatelic Foundation Certificate Search revealed approximately 20 mint examples bearing original gum including the Worthington block of four which is though to be unique. Of these examples, about half bear some type of fault and all have perforations impinging on the design on one or two sides. Scott $80,000
(Image)

Scott $80,000

1860, 5¢ brown, type II. O.g., fairly light hinging, choice centering with wide margin at left showing large part captured imprint, rich intense color and sharp early impression, remarkably fresh, Extremely Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 30A; $2,200. Scott $2,200
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Scott $2,200

1857, 10¢ green, type I. Town cancel, remarkable centering with evenly balanced margins encompassing, rich bold color, Extremely Fine, a wonderfully choice used example of the 1857 10¢ type I issue, rarely encountered so nice, with 2016 P.F. Graded certificate (XF 90, SSV $4,500).
Scott No. 31; $1,200. Scott $1,200
(Image)

Scott $1,200