H.R. Harmer GPN, Inc. Sale

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Carriers and Locals continued...

Local Stamps continued...

Lot

Symbol

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

62L4, 1855 New York, NY, East River Post Office, (1c) Black on green glazed, single just tied along with 1856 3c Rose (26) by New York Aug 27 duplex on envelope with full color flag and all-over ad for "Munn & Co./ Scientific American/ Patent Agency/ 37 Park Row NY" printed address, addressed to Mifflin, Ohio, stamp clear to full margins and a small repair upper right corner, envelope opened and slightly reduced at left (incl slightly clipped lower left corner) plus bit of edge wrinkling, still Fine and attractive; examples of these issues canceled by the government postmark are extremely rare (Scott $800)rnThis local post was established by Jacob D. Clark and Henry Wilson in 1850 then sold to Jacob Adler in 1852 and run by him until 1865. The stamp, depicting a sidewheel sailing vessel, is one of the more distinctive designs seen in the local issues. rnProvenance: Edward S Knapp (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 62L4]

300

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:23 PM

69L6, Cincinnati, OH, Frazer & Co., 1848 2c Black on rose, uncancelled single on folded letter datelined "Cincinnati Oct 18th (18)48" and addressed to Batavia, Ohio, light strike of red Cincinnati cds (inverted Oct 20) with integral "5cts", stamp margins to just cutting and with corner clipped lower right and some tone spots at left side, a Fine and rare use being one of just five covers known using Frazer's stamps during the period when Hiram Frazer was employed as a government letter carrier; also one of just two known on rose paper; 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $6,500 for stamp not tied, with certificate)rnRobert Meyersburg, in his articles in "The Chronicle" (August, 1987) and "Penny Post' (August 1992) makes the argument, originally put forward by Elliot Perry, that since Hiram Frazer was a duly appointed US letter carrier, that any Frazer cover postmarked betweenFeb. 3, 1848, to Jun. 5, 1849 is a semi-official carrier item, not a local-post use.rnProvenance: Alfred H Caspary rnJosiah K Lilly (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 69L6]

2,500

SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:24 PM

71L3, Glen Haven, NY, Glen Haven Daily Mail, 1854 1c Black on green, well margined single tied on 3c Red Nesbitt entire by nice strike of Scott NY Jul 3 cds, addressed to "Whitestone L.I." (Long Island, NY), envelope slightly reduced at left, some mounting remains and a small label affixed on back side, Very Fine and attractive, quite scarce with the local tied to the coverrnThis local post was begun in 1850 by the Glen Haven Sanitarium proprietors to carry mail from the local sanitariums and health facilities to the post offices in Scott, Homer and Tully New York.rnProvenance: Stephen Brown (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 71L3]

500

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:25 PM

96L1, Letter Express (Wells), 1844 5c Black on pink, with Pomeroy's Letter Express 5c Black (117L4) on 1844 folded letter sheet addressed to NY City, Wells corner margin single with ms "X" cancel (not tied), Pomeroy's precancelled and with an ms "X" in black, penciled "2" (local delivery charge), back side with "Recd Nov 19/ 44" docketing, cover with some vertical file folds "tying" each stamp indicating they were applied prior to folding (Wells through margin, Pomeroy's through center of stamp), a Fine and rare combination use probably originating west of Buffalo NY; 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificaternWells & Company's Letter Express was formed in July 1844 to provide letter-carrying service between Buffalo N.Y. and points west including the Great Lakes region using steamboats (particularly those without a Post office contract) and the Michigan Central Rail line. Advertisements for westbound service from Buffalo, where it connected with Pomeroy's Letter Express, appeared in July 1844. This cover shows a typical Wells/ Pomeroy's collaborative effort to deliver mail from west to east. (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 96L1]

1,000

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:26 PM

103L1, Baltimore, MD, Mearis' City Despatch Post, 1850 1c Black on gray, single (pos 10), ms "MWM" control, tied by pen cancel on folded letter (concerning delivery of a rifle) Quaker-dated "Baltimore 2nd Month 17th 1846" and addressed to Sandy Spring, Md., also tied by light blue Baltimore cds with accompanying oval-framed "5" (due) handstamp at right, stamp with an inconsequential faint crease at top right, cover trivial edge toning, Very Fine showpiece; only two covers are recorded with this franking, this being the unique example with the stamp tied to the cover; 1999 PF certificate rnThe Baltimore City Despatch, run by Malcolm W Mearis, began advertising its operation in January of 1846, Noted collector of Baltimore locals Denwood Kelly illustrated this cover and discussed the operation in his series of articles in the Collector's Club Philatelist, this cover being illustrated in Vol 50, No 3, page 151. rnProvenance; CE ChapmanrnAlfred CasparyrnJ William MiddendorfrnDavid Golden (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 103L1]

10,000

SOLD for $11,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:27 PM

112L1, Washington, DC, One Cent Despatch, 1856 1c Violet, with 1851 3c Dull red (11) on ladies envelope addressed to New London, Conn, cancelled and tied by a Washington DC Aug 2 1856 cds and "City Despatch Aug 2 10?? A.M. 1856" date stamp with another clear strike applied at left, each stamp margins to just cutting, Very Fine use from the King correspondence; backside signed "Genuine and used on this envelope/ Robson Lowe" (Scott $1,500) (Image 1)

Get Market Data for [United States 112L1]

500

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:28 PM

121L6, Philadelphia, PA, Priest's Despatch, 1851 (2c) Black on yellow, uncancelled single (as usual or always) on folded letter datelined "Philada Oct 1/ 55" and addressed to NY City where docketing indicates arrival on Oct 2, accompanied by 3c Dull red (11A) tied by Philadelphia Pa Oct 1 cds, stamps margins to just cutting, Very Fine use; signed Robson Lowe; 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $4,500 for use with 11A)rnThe cover is listed in the Roth census (Penny Post, January 1994) as franked with 121L3, its proper identification as a 121L6 increases number of known covers to seven, five of which are dual frankings with the 1851 3c.rnProvenance; Henry C GibsonrnRobson Lowe Sale, March 1973rnJohn H Boker (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 121L6]

1,500

SOLD for $2,750.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:29 PM

137L1, Philadelphia, PA, Teese & Co. Penny Post, 1852 (1c) Blue on bluish, single tied on locally addressed folded letter datelined "180 S 6th Phil Apr 26" by parallel bars cancel, stamp margins to cutting, letter light file fold not affecting stamp, Fine and rare use on city mail; back side with written notation by Elliot Perry "137L1stamp genuine...cancel (?) may be ok" also (in another hand) "stamp original E. Perry/ ..Pat Par. #32 July 1937 pp 916-17" (Scott $3,000)rnIn his October 1993 "Penny Post" article, Steve Roth gives some background into this obscure post and gives a census of the 12 known covers, this one not being among them. Perry and Roth both acknowledge that the post was probably run by Mitchell Teese who was an officially appointed letter carrier for the Philadelphia Post Office. If so, his operation would be designated as a semi-official or carrier rather than local post though Mr Roth believed he resigned his postal position prior to operating the "Penny Post" operation. (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 137L1]

250

SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:41 PM

139L1, New York, NY, Third Avenue Post Office, 1855 2c Black on glazed green, single cut to oval shape (as always) tied on locally addressed ladies envelope by "Paid" handstamp with another strike on the left side, envelope some light edge soiling and minor aging along the bottom edge, enclosure a woman's calling card with the notation "Home again", Fine and rare intra-city use; these issues were normally uncancelled on cover and Scott does not price a tied examplernProvenance: John H Boker (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 139L1]

750

SOLD for $10,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:45 PM

141L2, New York, NY, Union Square Post Office, 1852 1c Black on light apple green, single tied by a pencil squiggle on an envelope addressed to Charleston SC, accompanied by a 3c Dull red (11A) tied by New York Jan 2 cds, stamps margins to just cutting, Very Fine use; 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate rnThis local post was founded by Charles K. Messenkope in late 1847 or early 1848 and went through changes of ownership until closing in 1856. (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 141L2]

300

SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:46 PM

Wells Fargo & Co. Express

Lot

Symbol

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

??·Via Pony Express Paid $2.50,??? manuscript notation in hand of Placerville agent at top of 10c star die envelope (U33), ??St. Joseph Mo. Apr 26?? cds in green applied when the cover entered the mails, addressed to "J.W. Smith Esqr., Tuscola, Douglas Co., Ill," slightly reduced at left (backflaps refolded to enhance appearance), trivial tear at top center mentioned for strict accuracy only, otherwise remarkably fresh and Very Fine example of a ??way letter?? from Placerville (Frajola-Kramer-Walske census E-66)rnThis cover was carried on the last eastbound trip of the second rate period of the Pony Express (ET-91), one of four known covers from this trip and the only one to have been collected at Placerville. Any such ??way mail,?? collected along the route between San Francisco and St. Joseph, is exceedingly rare. This cover would have joined the eastbound trip that left San Francisco on April 13, 1861. Way mail was placed in a separate pouch in the rider??s mochilla, and each letter was added to a waybill which was updated as more mail was collected. The Second Rate Period (August 15, 1860 to April 13, 1861) reduced the rates for letters weighing up to one-quarter ounce to $2.50. (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

5,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 05:56 PM

July 27, 1861 Pony Express Cover to Metz, France, $1 Red Pony Express stamp (143L3) tied by July 27 blue Running Pony to 3c star die envelope (U27) with black Wells Fargo frank, cover passed through St. Joseph on August 8 but was not postmarked until New York on August 14 when it left on the Cunard steamship Africa, treated as unpaid so 3c debit to France for U.S. inland postage, rated for eight decimes postage due (black crayon) upon its August 27 arrival in France (red arrival cds on front), black Paris transit and Metz arrival markings on reverse, addressed to "Monsieur Toussaint, 7 Rue de la Glaci??re, Metz," left edge slightly repaired, stamp with margins large to grazing, Very Fine, an exceptionally attractive and important cover: one of only six Pony Express covers to a foreign destination, one of five to Europe, one of four with Pony Express adhesives, and the unique cover to France, a showpiece of the highest order, Frajola-Kramer-Walske census E126rnThe Frajola-Kramer-Walske book states, "Only 6 of the 251 letters in the census are addressed to foreign destinations, and their rarity is matched by their visual appeal." That certainly applies to this cover: the balance of the Pony Express stamp and the indicia, the three different colored handstamps, and an overall vibrance that is remarkable when one considers the inter-continental journey this cover made over a century and a half ago. Interestingly, the five Pony Express covers to Europe were each sent to a different destination: France, Scotland, England, Germany, and Switzerland. Without a doubt the cover offered here is one of the cleanest and most attractive; it was also missing from the collections formed by Dale-Lichtenstein, Twigg-Smith, and Kramer, making its reappearance at auction for the first time in several decades even more significant.rnProvenance: Marc Haas (Private Transaction)rnEdwards Collection (Christie's Robson Lowe, 1991) (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

100,000

SOLD for $100,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:02 PM

143L3, 1861 $1 Red Pony Express, stamp with large margins all around and portion of adjacent stamp at top, tied by August 31 blue Running Pony to printed red Wells Fargo frank on 10c star die envelope (U33), well-struck black ??St. Joseph Mo. Sep 14?? cds applied upon arrival in Missouri, addressed to ??Heuston, Hastings + Co., 503 Broadway, New York, NY,?? manuscript notation at lower left ??Rec??d Sept 18/61,?? neatly resealed at left, as fresh and vibrant as the day it entered the mails, Very Fine, a beautiful cover which is only enhanced by an exceptional stamp (Frajola-Kramer-Walske census E-149)rnAccording to contemporaneous newspaper accounts Heuston, Hastings & Co. were ??fashionable clothiers?? with outlets in San Francisco and New York City; the company was even mentioned in the works of Brett Harte. Seven covers are known to survive from the August 31, 1861 eastbound trip of the Pony Express (ET-131). The Fourth Rate Period (July 1 to October 26, 1861) saw the United States government further reduce the Pony Express rate to $1 per half-ounce. To meet the new rates, stamps were printed in red ($1.00), green ($2.00), and black ($4.00). (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

5,000

SOLD for $7,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:03 PM

143L4, 1861 $2 Green Pony Express, stamp with margins large to touching at bottom, used alongside 1861 10c Green (Scott 68), both tied by partial strike of November 7 Atchison, Kansas cds, Pony Express stamp tied by bold and complete strike of October 23 blue Running Pony, on 1861 10c Green stamped envelope (U41) with red Wells Fargo printed frank, addressed to ??Robert Brookhouse, Esq, Salem, Mass??tts,?? with manuscript ??Pr Pony Express Paid?? at bottom left, some light edge wear at left and bottom, backflaps repaired and couple sealed tears, still Very Fine and exceptionally rare, Barkhausen collection backstamp, this double-weight cover is one of only two covers bearing a $2 Green Pony Express stamp and the only ??solo franking?? (the other cover, ex-Kramer, is a mixed franking with a $1 Red); additionally, this is the only surviving cover from the final eastbound trip of the Pony Express which left San Francisco on October 23, 1861; without a doubt one of the most significant Pony Express covers in existence (Frajola-Kramer-Walske census E-180)rnThe first transcontinental telegraph was completed October 24, 1861, the day after this cover was dispatched from San Francisco. Pony Express service came to an immediate end, as any need for the service was all but eliminated. This cover bears the distinction of being the only known surviving piece of mail from that fateful final eastbound journey. Adding to it's significance, it is also a double-rate cover (between one-half and one ounce), properly franked with 20c United States postage and a $2 Pony Express stamp. The second Pony Express adhesive issue (put into use for the Fourth Rate Period) provided $1, $2, and $4 stamps. Of these, the $1 Red is by far the most common of all Pony Express adhesives on cover (with 67 examples known). The $2 Green and $4 Black are dramatically rarer, with only two covers known of each. The other $2 Green cover, formerly part of George Kramer??s collection, is a triple-weight mixed franking ($1 Red and $2 Green). Therefore, this cover is the only one in which the $2 Green stamp is properly used to pay the double-weight rate for which it was intended.rnProvenance: Louise H. Barkhausen (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States Pony Express]

30,000

SOLD for $210,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:07 PM

143L8, 1862-64 25c Blue, tied on 3c Pink on buff envelope (U35) with printed frank by blue "Wells Fargo & Co/ Virginia City N..T."Apr 12 oval date stamp, addressed to San Francisco, neatly opened and slightly reduced at left, stamp ample to large margins, Very Fine in every respect (Scott $4,500) (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 143L8]

1,000

SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:09 PM

143L9, 1862-64 25c Red, tied on 3c Pink envelope (U34) with printed frank by lightly struck blue "Wells Fargo & Co/ Virginia City N.T." postmark, addressed to Clara Crittenden (by her husband Alexander) in San Francisco, penciled "37" and "65" route numbers, stamp full even margins, trivial tiny edge break top center, Very Fine cover from the well-known Crittenden correspondence, 1981 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $8,000) (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States 143L9]

2,500

SOLD for $6,000.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:10 PM

Western Express Covers

Lot

Symbol

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

Wells Fargo & Co./ Idaho City, I.T. lightly struck blue oval date stamp on 1864,3c Pink entire to addressed to Yreka, Cala "in haste", printed company frank at top; light central vertical rubber band mark, opened and slightly reduced at right and partially at top and bottom right corners, affixed on piece of black paper, Fine (Image 1)

75

SOLD for $160.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:10 PM

J.F. Forman's Gallatin Express printed frank in black, red and blue (FOM-001) on 3c Pink envelope (U59), "Leaves Virginia/ Weekly For/ Sterling, Gallatin City/ and/ Bozeman" at left with the "If not delivered..." instruction crossed out in ink, cancelled by black target with an accompanying Doniphan Kas Sep 28 double circle date stamp, addressed to "J.M. Knight, Esq./ Virginia City Montana", Very Fine in every respect and quite rare with just three recorded examples (only two used; this cover not being listed) of this Montana Territory express frank. (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States U59]

1,000

SOLD for $2,750.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:12 PM

Kennedy & Co.'s Half Moon Bay & Pescadero Express blue printed frank (KEN-001) on 3c Pink envelope (U58), "If not delivered..." imprint vertically at left, uncancelled but with ms "No. 221" partially over frank, addressed to "Mrs HG Livermore/ Cosmopolitan Hotel/ San Francisco", Very Fine and choice; just five used examples recorded in Thomas with this cover not being included in the census (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States U58]

500

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:12 PM

Langton's Pioneer Express/ Paid printed frank in black (LAN-002) on 10c Nesbitt cancelled by black target with a Carson City U.T. Aug 15 cds, ms. "Via Steamer", addressed to Galway NY, envelope with some light wrinkling (slightly affecting indicia) and some paper adherence on backside, Fine west-to-east use (Image 1) (Image 2)

Get Market Data for [United States LAN-002]

100

SOLD for $1,400.00
Will close during Public Auction before Aug-07, 06:14 PM

Carriers and Locals continued...

United States Postal History