City Despatch Post 1842/45: 3 c. black on light blue surfaced paper, a fine large margined example with two small Plate Flaws (one in margin only under 'H' of 'Three'), cancelled by octagonal framed 'U.S.' in red with circular 'City Despatch' cds at right (May 6) in red. Scarce and attractive cover Scott = $ 750. (Image 1) (Image)

Hale & Co, Boston 1844 (Dec 12): Cover from Boston to Hartford, Ct. addressed to the President of the Hartford Springfield Rail Road Co.; franked by cut to shape 1844 6 c. red on bluish cancelled by manuscript pen cross with two oval 'FORWARDED / BY / HALE & Co. / FROM SPRINGFIELD' handstamps in green adjacent. (Image 1) (Image)

New York Postmasters' Provisional 1845/46: 5 c. black, a good used example inititalled 'ACM' in red ink (Alonzo Castle Monson) and cancelled by two pen strokes in blue ink. Horizontal bend not affecting the fine appearance of this scarce stamp Scott = $ 500. (Image 1) (Image)

New York Postmasters' Provisional 1845/46: 5 c. black, a superb huge margined used example inititalled 'ACM' in red ink (Alonzo Castle Monson) tied to 1846 entire letter to Pelham, New Rochelle, New York by curved PAID in red. Repeated strike at right and 'NEW YORK / 5 cts.' datestamp in red (Nov 12). A fine entire. Cert. Philatelic Foundation (2002) Scott = $ 725.rnrnProvenance: Corinphila sale 137, May 2003, lot 1809. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

St. Louis Postmasters' Provisional 1845 (Nov): 5 c. black on greenish thin wove paper, Type III, position 5 on the sheet of six subjects, a used example of good frontal appearance despite vertical tear repaired, cancelled by manuscript pen stroke in black ink. An extremely rare stamp Scott = $ 8'000. (Image 1) (Image)

1847 (July 1): 5 c. brown on bluish thin paper, a fine used example with large even margins all round, neatly cancelled by near complete strike of seven bar grid handstamp in blue. A delightful example. Cert. Eichele (1999) Scott = $ 525. (Image 1) (Image)

1847 (July 1): 5 c. red-brown on bluish thin paper, a fine used example with large margins all round (huge at top), neatly cancelled by light strike of circular grid handstamp in black. A choice example. Cert. Philatelic Foundation (2009) Scott = $ 375. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1847: 5 c. red-brown on bluish thin paper, a horizontal pair with good to large margins all round, used on cover to Ann Arbor, Michigan tied by two strikes of the barred grid handstamp in red with 'New York' cds at right (Nov 6). A fine and attractive cover Scott = $ 3'000. (Image 1) (Image)

1847 (July 1): 10 c. black on on thin bluish paper, a very fine used example with large even margins all round, neatly cancelled by barred grid handstamp in red. Signed Bühler. Cert. Eichele (1999) Scott = $ 825. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1847: 10 c. black on on thin bluish paper, a four margined used example with clear margin at base and large margins on three sides, lightly cancelled by red grid. Cert. PSE (2008) Scott = $ 825. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1847: 10 c. black on on thin bluish paper, a very fine used example with large margins all round, neatly tied to cover to Louisville, Kentucky by barred grid handstamp in red with 'New York' despatch cds alongside (Feb 10). Two file folds well away from the adhesive, an attractive cover. Signed Jakubek, K. Meier, Pfenninger. Cert. Jakubek (1999) Scott = $ 1'050. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1847: The Washington 5 c. red brown on bluish paper, imperforate, the reproduction printed in 1875 from new plates made by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing by order of the Post Office Department. A fine unused example with good colour and margins all round, slight speck at base, scarce Scott = $ 825. (Image 1) (Image)

1850 (Oct 7): Entire letter with illustration inisde (published by Magnus & Co.) showing superb view of New York Harbour, the obverse endorsed 'via Liverpool, via Ostende, via Vienna' and addressed to Arad, Hungary. Presumably given to a Ship's captain as without despatch datestamp, and landed in UK as a Ship Letter with manuscript charge '8' (pence) for same. Flap with straight line SHIP LETTER in black, thence charged '1/6d.' to pay and mailed on with framed AMERICA per ENGLAND' in red (Van der Linden fig. 112) applied in Aachen, with 'Pesth' and 'Arad' datestamps alongside (Nov 12) where charged '49' kreuzers due. Some soiling but a remarkable entire to an unusual Transatlantic destination. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1866: Lincoln 15 c. black, a fine well centred used example on 1867 cover to Paris tied by black cork cancel with 'New Orleans' cds alongside (Jan 11). 'NEW YORK / PAID / 6' datestamp of transit (Jan 19) in red and carried on the "Saxonia" of the Hamburg-America Line via Southampton. Circular 'Et-Unis / Serv. Amb. Calais' on front in red (Feb 2). Small closed opening tear at top of envelope but attractive. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1866: Lincoln 15 c. black, a fine example centred to left, used on 1867 cover with original contents, mailed to Marbach, Württemberg tied by light cork cancel in black with 'N. YORK HAMB. PKT / PAID 12' datestamp in red alongside (Nov 30) and carried on the "Saxonia" of the Hamburg-America Line. Reverse with Hamburg transit cds in blue (Feb 14) and Stuttgart datestamp of the following day. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1850/1950: Small dealer's stock few hundred stamps used/unused, incl. some better values from the early years, few varieties, officials, postage dues, revenues, few Philippines, Cuba and Puerto Rico, partly in mixed condition and housed in two albums and on album pages.

1870/1970: Lot several hundred stamps used/unused or in mint condition (still valid for postage), incl. full sets, blocks of four, souvenir sheets, miniature sheets etc., arranged in one album and four stockbooks, in addition a small box with cards, covers and postal stationery items coming from business or daily mail.

Sanitary Fairs 1864 (April-June-Dec): New York Metropolitan Fair, 10 c. blue sheetlet of four imperforate unused, of fine appearance but creased (Scott = $ 1'750), Philadelphia perforated 20 c. green and 30 c. black, unused examples and 10 c. blue and 20 c. green on uncancelled cover addressed to a Mr. Landis, also an illustrated envelope for the 'Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission' franked by 1861 1 c. blue, used locally in Philadelphia; together with scarce Springfield, Mass. 10 c. lilac imperforate, a fine unused example with good margins but for light bend (cert. Philatelic Foundation, 1996). A scarce seldom seen group. (Image 1) (Image)

Sanitary Fair 1864: Cover addressed to the (Philadelphia) Central Fair franked by June 1864 30 c. black tied by "GREAT CENTRAL FAIR / June 13 / 1864" datestamp, with repeated strike alongside. The envelope with slight opening tears at right of no importance, as this is an extremely rare usage of this stamp on letter, with just 7 covers known bearing this adhesive Scott = $ 1'500. (Image 1) (Image)

Shanghai 1919/22: The complete set of 18 values unused, 8 c. with part of margin on reverse otherwise all of vibrant colour, very fresh and fine, large part og. Rare in such good quality Scott = $ 2'250. (Image 1) (Image)

Shanghai 1919: $ 2 on $ 1 purple-brown, a superb used example on small piece, neatly cancelled in black. A scarce stamp and very fine Scott = $ 750.rn (Image 1) (Image)

Ryukyu Islands 1952 (June 16): 100 y. on 2 y. rose-violet, a fine unused example of this rare stamp, fresh and very fine, minor gum bend not affecting appearance, unmounted og. Rare. Cert. Fine Stamp Co. (1970) Scott = $ 2'250. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Confederate States Postmasters' Provisional 1861: Mobile, Alabama 5 c. blue, a fine example in a bright shade with clear to good margins all round, tied to USA 1860/61 watermarked 3 c. red postal stationery envelope by MOBILE / ALA datestamps (July 22) in black, the envelope endorsed 'Adams Exp. Paid' in manuscript at upper left and reverse with oval ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY / GRANT BROTHERS / WESTERN & SOUTHERN / EXPRESS FORWARDERS / NEW YORK applied on original despatch in blue. The single rate cover would have travelled direct by boat and would have been forwarded by the Adam's Express agent in Mobile. A charming and extremely rare usage in choice condition Scott = $ 6'000.rnrnProvenance: Mason (1940).rnrnNote: The Adams Express Co. eventually became the modern American Express. The First Battle of Bull Run / First Manassass was foughtrnthe day before this cover was mailed in Mobile. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)