U.S.

**Postal History**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
1		323-324, 327	[Zanzibar] 1904, 1¢-3¢10¢ Louisiana Purchase (Scott 323-324, 327), tied, along with a 3¢ Columbian (232) by Milwaukee, Wis. double ovals on a 1¢ Entire (355) sent Registered to Zanzibar, E. Africa, on Mar 10, 1907; backstamped New York, Mar 22, with a Mar 30 London transit c.d.s., but no Zanzibar receiver; also bears an attractive Cosmopolitan Correspondence Club of Milwaukee paper seal on the flap, Very Fine, Price: $750. (Image) (Image2) Get Market Data for [United States 323-324, 327]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
2			[R.M.S. Titanic] Titanic Facing Slip for 3 Letters to Brooklyn, N.Y., a remarkably clean example with an exceptionally clear strike of Titanic's "Transatlantic Post-Office 7/ AP 10/ 12" c.d.s., as well as the mail clerk, Oscar Scott Woody's "O.S. WOODY" handstamp and two strikes of the straightline "TITANIC", Extremely Fine, Price: $15,000. (Image)	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
3			[R.M.S. Titanic] "TITANIC", straightline handstamp on a cover from France to Washington D.C. franked with a 25c blue Sower (168) tied by one of two strikes of a "Gare des Saintes" c.d.s., March 3, 1912; addressed to patent medicine manufacturers, The M.A. Winter Co. with a manuscript "Dossier No. 5446" (in the hand of the sender), a handstamped blue control number and handstamped purple "Received/ Mar 19 1917", the last apparently applied by the addressee; backstamped Paris (Mar 4) and Washington D.C. (Mar 18); minor opening tear at the top, Very Fine, Price: $5,000. One of just 20 such covers, this one previously unrecorded (see Tom Fortunato's online census atwww.titaniccovers.com), The "TITANIC" handstamp is believed to have been applied in Paris in transit to the port of Cherbourg, where the mail was to have been put aboard Titanic. However, due to complications with completing Titanic's finishing touches, the date of her maiden voyage was rescheduled from March 20 to April 10. When the French Post Office became aware of this schedule change, the mail, having already received the "TITANIC" handstamp, was placed on the next available ship to America. This is one of just 20 recorded covers intended for the original March 10 sailing of Titanic and marked with a "TITANIC" handstamp. 18 of the covers originated in France, the other two originated in Denmark and in Spain. All but one were sent to M.A. Winter in Washington D.C.; the Danish cover went to Seattle. Also, the Danish and Spanish covers bear a slightly different TITANIC handstamp. (Image)	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
4		72	Rare single-franking use of the 90¢ 1861 Issue, paying the double rate to China (Scott 72), via Southampton; the stamp, beautifully centered with deep shade, tied by two strikes of Philadelphia 12-bar grid-in-circle cancel on buff cover addressed to John M. Nixon, Jr., care of Blain, Tate & Co. in Shanghai, China; red Philadelphia "Paid" Foreign Mail office c.d.s. very faintly struck (as often for this office in this period), with magenta "48/2" double 24¢ credit to Great Britain at top center; the cover was carried on the Inman Line's Glasgow from New York on May 9, 1863, arriving in Queenstown on May 22 and Liverpool the next day; red "London Paid BB MY 23 63" transit, red "1d" handstamp crossed out in red crayon and re-rated with manuscript "2" for double 1d British Colonial rate; then carried on Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. steamers from Southampton to Alexandria (Egypt), overland to Suez, thence to Hong Kong via Galle (Ceylon); "Hong-Kong C JY 19 63" receiver on back, with the final leg to Shanghai made on another P&O steamer; stamp with small sealed tear at top, Very Fine, Price: $25,000, ex-Knapp, Grunin, Gross. #13 in Herzog & Starnes' cover census, signed in pencil by Stanley Ashbrook (Oct. 25, 1951), with 2018 P.F. certificate. (Image) (Image2) Get Market Data for [United States 72]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM

**Stamps**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
5	o	139A var	1870, 10¢ brown, I. grill, split grill variety (Scott 139A var), transitional strip horizontal strip of 3, left stamp with split early state "I" grill, center stamp with a very faint split grill, right stamp with no discernable grill, "N. York" Steamship cancels; left stamp with a vertical crease, center stamp with a small stain at top, right stamp with a small diagonal crease at lower right, Fine and attractive, Price: $5,750, unlisted as a split grill on the rare early "I" grill, this item is unique—and a must for any serious United States collection or grill study, with 1994 P.F. certificate, 2018 P.F. certificate. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States 139A var.]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $25,500 + as singles
6		250P2//263P2	1894, 2¢-$5, Roosevelt plate proofs on card, partial set (Scott 250P2//263P2), 250P2, 253AP2, 254P2-260P2, 261AP2, 262P2 and 263P2, very scarce proofs; a few small faults, with tears on 10¢ and $2, Very Fine centering, Price: $2,000. (Image) (Image2) Get Market Data for [United States 250P2//263P2]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $3,285
7		324a	1904, 2¢ Louisiana Purchase, imperf horizontally (Scott 324a), right sheet margin pair, position 5/10, o.g.; top stamp with diagonal crease part way across from the right a small sealed tear at the upper left, otherwise Fine to Very Fine, Price: $9,500, According to an article in Sloane's Column of February 8, 1958, the single recorded pane of 50 of this error was reportedly discovered within about six weeks of issue. It was purchased from a postal clerk in Cleveland, Ohio by prominent Cleveland collector, A.W. Weigel, who was secretary-treasurer of the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club and owner of the Ohio Stamp Co. He was also, according to the article, a "postal carrier". Weigel kept the pane intact and eventually sold it to famed collector George H. Worthington, also of Cleveland, reportedly for $100. The pane remained in Worthington's collection until 1917, when the collection was sold by J. C. Morgenthau & Co. The pane was divided prior to the sale, in order to allow multiple collectors to obtain examples of the error. 13 pairs from the pane were offered in the Morganthau auction, while the remaining 12 pairs were sold privately . (Image) Get Market Data for [United States 324a]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $25,000
8		620-621	1925, Norse-American complete (Scott 620-621), each in a top plate number block of 20, each signed by Postmaster General, Harry S. New ("H.S.N., P.M.G.") and Third Assistant Postmaster General, "W. Irving Glover, 3rd Asst. P.M.G.", and dated by Glover, "5/18/25", the date of issue; the 5¢ block has been separated along the centerline and hinged back together, otherwise all stamps are never hinged, Very Fine, Price: $1,500. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States 620-621]	CLOSED Closing..May-07, 07:33 PM Scott $910 as stamps/plates
9		832d	1954, $1 Presidential, imperf horizontally (Scott 832d), o.g., never hinged (usual natural gum bends), fresh and well centered with penciled position numbers 61-62/71-72 and initials "NPL" on reverse, Very Fine, Price: $1,500, only 1-2 panes of 100 were discovered. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States 832d]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $1,800+
10	o	C13-C15	Airmail, 1930, Graf Zeppelin complete (Scott C13-C15), light face-free c.d.s.'s, full rich colors and impressions; $1.30 tiny inclusion only visible from reverse, Fine to Very Fine, the $2.60 a particularly nice jumbo example, Price: $950, a lovely set. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States C13-C15]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $1,050

**Zeppelin Flights and First Flights**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
11		C15	Airmail, 1930, $2.60 Graf Zeppelin (Scott C15), First Day and Flown, New York, Unofficial City, tied on an airmail envelope by an April 19 New York Grand Central Station duplex cancel; flown on Zeppelin's westbound voyage, Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst, with all appropriate markings, Very Fine, Price: $3,500, with 2017 A.P.S. certificate. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States C15]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $1,000 ++
12		C13-C15	Airmail, 1930, Graf Zeppelin complete (Scott C13-C15), First Day, tied on a single cover by one of two strikes April 19 Washington D.C. Station "5" duplex cancel; small opening tear at top and bit of very light soiling, otherwise Very Fine, Price: $7,500, with 1970 AFDCS certificate. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States C13-C15]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $10,000
13			1919 (Jul 3), U.S. Army Flight, Honolulu - Hilo, cover canceled Honolulu, JUL 3, with manuscript "By airplane", July 3, 1919" on front and back; minor perforation tones, cover reduced slightly at right, otherwise Very Fine, Price: $1,250, reportedly only 10 covers were carried. AAMC SH 532A. Muller 1. (Image)	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
14			1948 (Sept.), First International Air Parcel Post Service Collection, presented to Second Postmaster General Paul Aikens by Pan-American World Airways, a truly one-of-a-kind group of 27 covers, representing Pan-Am's first Parcel Post service flights to each country, presented in a lovely gold-on-blue binder to Mr. Aikens as a Christmas 1948 gift; Americas/Caribbean destinations comprise Argentina, Bahamas, Bolivia, British Guiana, Colombia, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Surinam, Trinidad, Uruguay and Venezuela; Asia-Pacific destinations comprise Australia (2, 1 with 3d Postage Due applied!), Fiji, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Philippine Islands and Siam; American covers with Sept. 4 meter strips paying postage; Asian covers Prexies-franked (a couple in combination with other issues); each accompanied by photo of the destination city; the final item included in the collection is an amazing linen package cover front, sent from the D.G. of Posts in Nanking, China, via Shanghai, to Mr. Aiken, franked with $23 Gold Yuan stamps, with "Small Packet/Collect 15 Cents" US handstamp at lower right; in lieu of an accompanying photo, this piece features the original China Post Parcel Post Customs Declaration!—making this a unique rarity - for Parcel Post or Airmail Postal Historians, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Very Fine overall, Price: $4,750. View a PDF of images for this lot (Image) Get Market Data for [United States Collection]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
15	S	PR14SD, PR57SD-79SD,	Newspaper, 1875-79, 2¢ to $60 complete, overprinted "Specimen" (Scott PR14SD, PR57SD-79SD, PR81SD), mostly with o.g., a lovely assemblage of these scarce, seldom-offered specimens which are priced at a fraction of their original counterparts; some small faults as one might expect, otherwise generally Fine to Very Fine, Price: $1,500. (Image) Get Market Data for [United States PR14SD, PR57SD-79SD]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $1,780

**Collections**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
16			Pony Express: Highly Important Ledger from Fort Bridger, Utah - The Only Documentation of this Kind in Private Hands. Ledger of Mail Sent and Received at Fort Bridger, Including by Pony Express, 1860-1861, Fort Bridger, Utah Territory [now Wyoming. 126 pages., 48 with text. 8.5" x 13.75". All pages clean, though there is edge wear and some wear and damage to the spine of the binding. This ledger records mail sent and received in 1860 at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory. The first pages list letters sent from the post office at Fort Bridger from January to September 1860, to a variety of destinations, including St. Joseph, Fort Laramie, Salt Lake City, Carson City, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Camp Floyd (Utah). A small number of letters were sent free, especially to Saint Joseph and Fort Laramie, likely official military communications, reports, and orders. Mail left Fort Bridger every three or four days, and hundreds of letters went to Saint Joseph, where they would enter the U.S. postal system to be delivered to points further east. Many also went to headquarters at Camp Floyd, 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, where a detachment of more than 3,500 military and civilian employees lived. Until July 1861 when it was abandoned by the military heading east for the Civil War, Camp Floyd had the largest troop concentration in the United States, sent there by President James Buchanan in 1858 to stop an expected Mormon rebellion. A second group of entries provides an account of mails received at Fort Bridger from January to September 1860, from many of the same locations, with the costs of unpaid letters and whether the costs of receiving the letters were paid in money, stamps, or were free. A notation indicates that September 1860 receipts were "Transferred to New Book." The most fascinating section of the ledger are those pages that detail the letters sent and received by Pony Express from and to Fort Bridger between October 1860 and October 1861. The ledger records the date, the number of items sent (ranging from 1 to 3), the rate charged, who sent the letter, to whom, where, and "Arrival," which was likely the time of day that the Pony Express rider reached Fort Bridger. Times varied from 1:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with many times in late morning and afternoon as well. Several of the outgoing letters were sent by William A. Carter (1818-1881). Carter had many roles, including as the civilian sutler at Fort Bridger from 1859 to 1881, the Pony Express agent in 1860-1861, and justice of the peace and judge of the probate court. As agent of the Pony Express, he could send letters to officials of the company without cost, and the ledger indicates those letters sent for free. In addition to his general store, Carter was also involved in mining, logging, cattle ranching, and operated a sawmill. His wife Mary E. Carter (1831-1904) also sent letters—to Miss Hamilton in Columbia, Missouri, on June 17, 1861, and to Mrs. Gardner at Fort Kearney, on September 17, 1861. Frank B. Gilbert sent a letter on October 19, 1860, to his wife in Weston, Missouri, at a cost of $2.50; on the same day, Samuel Dean sent a letter to W. J. Reynolds in Salt Lake City, also at a cost of $2.50. On December 1, Dean became the clerk of the Probate Court in Green River County, over which Judge William A. Carter presided. Several military officers sent letters as well. Such messages include several by Captain Jesse A. Gove (1824-1862) to the Adjutant General at Fort Crittenden, Utah, on June 1, 1861; to Congressman Edward H. Rollins of New Hampshire, on June 13, 1861; to Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas in Washington, D.C., on July 8, 1861, and to the New York Times on July 11, 1861. Gove later died at the Seven Days' Battles in June 1862, as colonel of the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteers. Captain Alfred Cumming (1829-1910) of the 10th U.S. Infantry and an 1849 graduate of West Point was the commanding officer at Fort Bridger, when he sent a letter to Miss S. M. Davis in Augusta, Georgia. Cumming also sent letters to his father Henry H. Cumming in Augusta on October 30 and November 6, 1860. Alfred Cumming resigned his commission in January 1861, returned to the South, and moved through the officer ranks of the Confederate Army to become a brigadier general by late 1862. Two of Cumming's subordinate officers, Lieutenant Arthur S. Cunningham (1835-1885) and Lieutenant Franck S. Armistead (1831-1888) both sent letters via Pony Express to Cumming in Augusta, Georgia, on April 16 and May 20, respectively. Cunningham, an 1856 graduate of West Point, resigned his commission on June 25, 1861, and joined the Confederates. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the 10th Alabama Infantry as part of the Army of Northern Virginia. Armistead was the younger brother of General Lewis A. Armistead, who was mortally wounded in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. The younger Armistead, also an 1856 graduate of West Point, resigned his commission on June 14, 1861, and commanded a regiment of North Carolina junior reserves as a colonel. Captain Joseph C. Clark Jr. (1825-1906), an 1848 graduate of West Point, sent two letters to Major, then Colonel, James Henry Carleton (1814-1873), at Fort Churchill, on the Carson River in Nevada, which also served as a Pony Express station. Clark sent the letters on August 27 and September 13, 1861. They were both designated as "Govt Matter" as was Clark's letter to Adjutant General Lorenzo Thomas in Washington of September 12, 1861. Clark went on to command an artillery battery in the Army of the Potomac and was wounded four times at the Battle of Antietam. After recovering, he taught at West Point from 1863 to 1870. The register of letters received by Pony Express delivery records the time received, from what place, and by whom received, usually agent William A. Carter or the commanding officer. It also records the rate (decreasing from $2.50 to $1.00 over the period) and whether the fee was prepaid or collected from the recipient. Receiving letters was an all-day task, as the hours of arrival varied widely from 1:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Most of the letters received were from St. Joseph, but a few came from Camp Floyd (renamed Fort Crittenden on December 29, 1860), Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie, Salt Lake City, or San Francisco. Many of the "letters" from St. Joseph have the designation "news" in the final column and were likely newspapers, which kept the soldiers and civilians at this distant outpost somewhat informed of rapidly developing events in the East as the nation descended into war. Captain Clark received the last letter to Fort Bridger by Pony Express, from St. Joseph, on October 16, 1861. The eastern section of the telegraph line was completed at Fort Bridger on October 18, 1861, connecting St. Joseph to Salt Lake City. The Pony Express service terminated on October 26, two days after the completion of the western section of the transcontinental telegraph line. Another fascinating feature of the ledger are two lists of subscribers to newspapers and periodicals at Fort Bridger. In this brief period, at least 34 officers and soldiers at Fort Bridger subscribed to more than 60 periodicals from weekly newspapers to monthly journals. Common titles like the New York Herald, New York Times, and Harper's Weekly appear alongside the St. Louis Republican, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and the Louisville Journal. Private Meany of Company K subscribed to the weekly Irish American, while Privates Ressler and Warmenau, also of Company K, subscribed to German newspapers. Private Simmonds of Company K subscribed to the Illustrated London News and the London Mail. Sergeant Kelley of Company D had a subscription to the Irish American, Sergeant Dimon of the same company subscribed to the Irish News, while Private Regan subscribed to the Dublin Telegraph, and Private Mitchell held a subscription to the Canadian Freeman. Privates Jerrolman, Heauchild and Alcone of Company D all had subscriptions to the New York Ledger, and Private Anderson had subscriptions to four newspapers—the Baltimore Sun, the Terre Haute Journal, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and the New York Herald. Major Henry H. Sibley (1816-1886) was the most well-read, with subscriptions to as many as 11 periodicals, including the New York Herald; the New York Times; Harper's Weekly; Harper's Monthly; Punch (London); the London Illustrated News; the Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art; Ballou's Monthly Magazine; Ballou's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion; Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine; The Knickerbocker, or New York-Monthly Magazine; and the New York Ledger. An 1838 graduate of the United States Military Academy, Sibley fought in the Seminole Wars in Florida, the Mexican War, the Utah War, and invented several military items, including the Sibley tent and the Sibley stove, both used by Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Sibley resigned his commission in May 1861, joined the Confederacy, and rose quickly to the rank of brigadier general. His attempt to invade New Mexico enjoyed initial success, but Union forces under E. R. S. Canby, who had served with him at Fort Bridger, defeated his forces at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, and Sibley never again led men in combat. Historical Background In 1860, telegraph lines extended from the East Coast as far west as St. Joseph, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska. From the West Coast, they extended from San Francisco to Carson City, Nevada. In June 1860, Congress passed the Pacific Telegraph Act, which included a government subsidy of $40,000 per year, over ten years, for the construction and operation of a telegraph line across the middle of the continent. The Pony Express bridged that gap from early 1860 to late 1861 with a series of fast horses and young riders. The initial rate for a letter carried by the Pony Express between San Francisco and St. Joseph was $5 per half ounce or less. At the end of July 1860, the rate was reduced to $2.50 per quarter ounce or less, with additional charges for more weight. On July 1, 1861, the rate dropped again to $1 per half ounce or less. Riders traveled at an average speed of ten miles per hour, and a complete one-way trip required approximately 20 riders and 75 horses. Without interruptions caused by weather, attacks, or the Pyramid Lake War in the summer of 1860 in Nevada, the one-way trip between Sacramento and St. Joseph could be completed in ten days. As the Pony Express moved through Utah Territory, it hired many Mormon men and boys. At least three Mormon pioneers manned isolated Pony Express relay stations and more than two dozen Mormons were among the 220-230 Pony Express riders. The Pony Express moved mail between Utah and the eastern states a week faster than stagecoach mail. When the Civil War erupted in the East, Colonel Philip St. George Cooke (1809-1895) of the 2nd U.S. Dragoons, who was in command at Camp Floyd/Fort Crittenden in central Utah, abandoned that installation and took his men and supplies to Fort Bridger, where the supplies were sold at auction, largely to the Mormons. According to some accounts, $4 million worth of goods were sold for $100,000. Cooke then marched both garrisons to Fort Leavenworth and went on to command the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, receive a promotion to brigadier general, and leave active field service after the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. During that campaign his son-in-law, Confederate Cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart, humiliated the Union cavalry by completely circling the Army of the Potomac in a raid. Cooke left only a few men, whose terms of service were nearly expired, at Fort Bridger under Captain Joseph C. Clark Jr. of the 4th U.S. Artillery in command. In December 1861, Clark received orders to go east, and Orderly Sergeant Bogee and a handful of privates were left at Fort Bridger for nearly a year before a portion of the 3rd California Volunteers arrived. The Pony Express (1860-1861) was a mail service operated by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company, founded by William H. Russell, Alexander Majors, and William B. Waddell. Between April 1860 and October 1861, messages could travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts of the United States in about ten days, utilizing telegraph lines and this service. It was largely replaced by the establishment of the transcontinental telegraph in October 1861. The service worked by having 184-186 stations located approximately ten miles apart along the 1,900-mile route from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. The route followed the Oregon and California Trails to Fort Bridger, then the Mormon Trail to Salt Lake City, then the Central Nevada Route to Carson City, where it passed over the Sierra to Sacramento, California. A rider, who could not weigh over 125 pounds, rode day and night for approximately 70 to 100 miles, changing to a fresh horse at each station. Over his saddle was a mochila (Spanish for pouch) with four padlocked corner pockets that together held up to 20 pounds of mail. Russell, Majors, and Waddell lost $500,000 on their Pony Express venture. As a business venture, it was a failure, but it played a critical role in securing California and its gold resources for the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War. Fort Bridger (1842-1890) was established by Jim Bridger (1804-1881) and Louis Vasquez (1798-1868) in 1843. It served as a vital supply point and stop on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails. At Fort Bridger, the Oregon and California trails turn northwest into modern Idaho, while the Mormon Trail continued west to Salt Lake City. In 1853, Mormons tried to arrest Bridger, who fled, and in 1855, they claimed ownership of the fort. During the Utah War, the fort was burned in October 1857 on the approach of the U.S. Army. At the end of the hostilities, the U.S. government rejected the claims of both the Mormons and Bridger and rebuilt Fort Bridger with William A. Carter as post sutler. From April 1860 to October 1861, it was one of 186 Pony Express stations between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. Small U.S. Army units were stationed at the fort during the Civil War and regular units occupied it from 1866 to 1878, when it was temporarily abandoned. The Army again occupied in from 1880 to 1890, when it was closed and many of its buildings sold and dismantled., Price: $65,000. View a PDF of images for this lot (Image) Get Market Data for [United States Collection]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
17			1839-68, William H. Seward. A wonderful array of material spanning nearly the entirety of Seward's political career The collection offered here consists of a broad range of engravings, covers and letters. Three engraved portraits, one noted "320 American Bank Note Co." and sunk on card, portray Seward while Secretary of State, two formal profiles, one at his desk with papers strewn about him. There is also an early cabinet photo of the Secretary. From his governorship, we find a letter certifying that Giles F. Yates was a Surrogate of Schenectady County (on the reverse of a probate confirmation). There is an 8-page transcript of Senator Seward's July 29, 1852, speech entitled "The Whale Fishery, and American Commerce in the Pacific Ocean"—with references to King Alfred, the Phoenicians and Nimrod! And we have a Department of State affidavit (with paper seal and ribbons) confirming that WJ Stillman was US Consul at Rome, attached to a land transfer deed executed before him. Covers and letters consists of numerous signature free franks, as Governor (2), Senator (7) and Secretary of State (4)…plus two that cannot be dated. Highlights include a January 14, 1864, letter to Major General [Henry W.] Halleck, stating the bearer would "introduce you to Mr. Sutton [?] who has confidential revelations to make about the strength and disposition of the rebels in Texas"; a December 30, 1867, letter to J. Glancy Jones of Reading, PA, regarding the Alaska Purchase and (reading between the lines) Seward's attempt to gain British Columbia for the US as well; an 1868 letter to President Johnson regarding Department of State officials whose commissions needed confirmed; and most amazingly, a September 7, 1865, Department of State cover and enclosure, both black-edged as a national mourning cover. Collateral material counts a US Senate free frank of Daniel Webster, plus an 1818 lettersheet from James Ross, a Royal Navy captain who attempted to discover the Northwest Passage. Also featured is a Department of State free frank from Frank W. Seward, Assistant Secretary—and William's son, appointed at the same time as his father. This is no folly—just a remarkable collection that would be impossible to duplicate today. * * * Seward (1801-72) was educated as a lawyer and was elected New York State Senator in 1830. He served as Governor of New York from 1839-42 and was elected to the US Senate in 1848, serving from 1849-61. He was considered the leading contender for the Republican Presidential nomination in the 1860 race, but his outspoken views against slavery, support for immigration and Catholics, and ties to political boss Thurlow Weed worked against him. While he lost the nomination to Abraham Lincoln, he supported Lincoln in the general election and was appointed Secretary of State, in which capacity he served from 1861 to 1869, under both Lincoln and Johnson. Most famous for the Alaska Purchase in 1867, he was also instrumental in preventing Britain and France from involving themselves in the US Civil War in support of the Confederacy, thus doing as much as Grant or any other Union general in keeping the country intact., Price: $17,500. View a PDF of images for this lot (Image) Get Market Data for [United States Collection]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM
18			Monumental Collection of Bisects Used on Cover, 1857-1947, With nearly 400 covers in total, this is a tremendous collection—no matter how you slice it. Including many scarce, valuable, and exhibition-worthy items spanning both 19th and 20th Century issues, this is surely one of the most extensive holdings of these uncommon items as you will ever see. 19th Century covers—all listed here accompanied by certificates—include (bisect type given in parentheses): • #24 diagonally torn (appears bisect) with two normal tied on Valentine cover • #65 diagonal on 1898 cover with "Due 2c" in pencil and #279B (damaged) used as Postage Due on back (unaccepted bisect, probably philatelically inspired) • #222 diagonal tied on 1894 cover with two different "HELD FOR POSTAGE" handstamps, #220 used as Postage Due • Matched set of #222 diagonal (two 1898 covers, each with half of the same stamp), sent from the same person to the same addressee (one with certificate) • #226 diagonal on cover to Sierra Leone from New York with appropriate backstamps—a scarce use of this high denomination • #233 diagonal on 1897 cover • #267 diagonal on wrapper paying the 1¢ circular rate• Two 1901 covers from same source & post office: #279B diagonal and #280 bottom plate number single diagonal • #301 vertical tied on 1904 advertising cover by St. Louis World's Fair straightline cancel • #304 diagonal tied on small cover with Bryn Mawr, PA c.d.s., an unusual and scarce usage • #324 vertical tied on early 1904 cover, very fine andscarce • #329 diagonal paying the 1¢ postcard rate • #367 diagonal with normal #331 tied on Feb. 13, 1909 cover (2nd day of issue), very fine and choice usage 20th Century covers, nearly all with certificates, are no less impressive, with regular issues and commemoratives, Airs, Special Deliveries and Parcel Posts all represented. Highlights include: • #416 diagonal tied on 1913 cover, a scarce usage of this 10¢ high denomination (certificate) • #472 diagonal tied on 1917 cover with "Postage due 2 cents" handstamp, probably philatelic but scarce usage of this 10¢ high denomination (certificate) • #499 vertical tied on small mourning cover, stamp with private "ONE I ONE" hand-typed "overprint" applied, interesting usage • #503 diagonal tied on 1920 cover with sender's handwritten note "No two's or one's on hand" (certificate) • #506 bottom plate number single diagonal with normal #482 tied on 1919 cover, a wonderful and scarce bisect usage of this relatively high denomination (certificate) • #548 Pilgrim Tercentenary pair with one stamp vertically bisected, tied on June 2, 1935 cover, paying the new (as of April 15, 1925) 3rd class rate • #552 vertical on uprated albino envelope, with "FIRST DAY COVER" handstamp, interesting and scarce usage on the first day of the new 3rd class rate (Apr. 15, 1925) • #558 block of 4 with gorgeous color diagonally bisected and tied on 1923 cover, philatelic usage but scarce and attractive • #563 diagonal "tied" by penciled "OK PM" with 1930 New York City c.d.s., a scarce authorized usage for this high denomination (certificate) • #576 line block of 4 diagonally bisected and tied on 1928 cover, interesting usage • #599 pair with one stamp diagonally torn ("bisected"), tied on 1926 cover with a late usage of the "Held for Postage" handstamp (certificate) • #599A pair with one stamp diagonally bisected tied on 1929 cover, a very scarce usage (certificate) • #604 two bisected line pairs (joined vertical halves) tied on 1932 philatelic cover • #611 Harding pair with one stamp diagonally bisected tied on 1925 cover • #611 Harding diagonally bisected vertical pair tied on 1926 cover, philatelic but scarce and striking usage • #615 Huguenot-Walloon vertical tied on 1924 postcard to Canada (certificate) • #616 Huguenot-Walloon diagonal tied on 1926 cover, very scarce usage (certificate) • #642 pair with full horizontal gutter with each stamp diagonally bisected (the second half of one of the stamps has been affixed to appear complete) with normal #636 and #637, no #642 pairs with horizontal gutter have been reported, certainly a unique usage and probably a unique gutter example, exhibition piece (certificate) • #650 Aeronautics diagonal tied on 1929 cover (certificate) • #660 Kansas vertical tied on 1930 cover with normal #634 • #730 Century of Progress souvenir sheet block of 6 diagonally bisected and tied on 1933 philatelic cover (very scarce usage) • #740 National Parks tied on reverse of Special Delivery cover by indistinct 1935 R.P.O. c.d.s., probably used as a label to seal the envelope, but nonetheless a very scarce bisect usage • #751 National Parks full souvenir sheet diagonally bisected and tied on 1936 cover, scarce and choice • #778 Philatelic Exhibition full souvenir sheet diagonally bisected and tied on commercial 1936 First Day Cover, philatelic but scarce usage • #797 National Parks full souvenir sheet diagonally bisected and tied on 1935 cover to Valdres, Norway, with proper receiving c.d.s. on reverse, very scarce usage (certificate) • #815 10c Prexie diagonal tied on 1940 cover to Paris, France, paying the 5¢ surface rate, scarce usage of this high denomination • #820 15¢ Prexie diagonal tied on 1945 cover with A.P.O. 1160 (Chungking, China) c.d.s. and straightline cancel, with penned note next to stamp "No other postage available", wonderful and scarce usage of this high denomination (certificate) • #825 20¢ Prexie vertical with penned "10 cts" on stamp, used with 1¢ and 2¢ Postage Dues with penned "13 cents" across them, endorsed by Postmaster, used to pay the Special Delivery fee, with Spring Hill, TN Nov. 11, 1942 c.d.s. and killer, with "Postage Due [3] cents" handstamp despite authorization, a wonderful usage of this high denomination (certificate) • Set of five covers with bisects of 1940s stamps, each cover signed by Postmaster, including additional penned comments in some cases such as "Out of 1c stamps P.M.", plus a 1945 enclosure from the Spring Hill, TN Postmaster (J.W. Howard) explaining the reason for, and his authorization of, bisect usages during the period; fascinating material providing rare documented insight into Postmaster exception allowances for bisects • #948a 5¢ bisect from 1947 Centenary souvenir sheet used with normal #947 and #C31, tied on First Flight Cover to Tokyo • Matched set of #C7 vertical (two covers, each with half of the same stamp) sent from different post offices on the same day Aug. 1, 1928 (first day of the new 5¢ Airmail rate), one with "Postage Due [10¢]" handstamp which was apparently ignored, a great pair of covers • #C8 diagonal tied on 1929 cover, scarce usage of this high denomination • #C9 diagonal tied on 1926 cover with "Lindbergh Again Flies The Air Mail" handstamps in blue and purple, very scarce usage of this high denomination • #C10 diagonal bisect paying the 5¢ Airmail rate tied on 1932 cover with "Returned for Postage", "Unknown Sender" and "This Is The Mail For Which You Sent Postage" auxiliary handstamps • #C17 vertical applied on 1935 business reply envelope as provisional Postage Due, with reference article and APEX note included, interesting and scarce usage (certificate) • #C21 diagonal used with normal example and tied on 1937 cover sent from Guam to New Jersey via Macau and signed by Guam Postmaster, a wonderful and scarce usage of this high denomination (certificate) • #CE2 vertical torn bisect tied on 1943 cover with purple Special Delivery handstamp and typed "AIRMAIL - SPECIAL DELIVERY" • Matched set of #E14 torn vertical bisects (two 1932 covers, each with half of the same stamp along with normal #707) where apparently the recipient of the first letter sent a response letter using the second half of the same stamp, one cover sent from an R.P.O., interesting pair of covers and rare usage of this Special Delivery stamp • #Q1 vertical used along with a normal #581 to pay the new 3rd class rate of 1½¢ (which had gone into effect three weeks earlier on April 15, 1925), interesting and rare use of the 1¢ Parcel Post stamp (certificate) • Matched set of #Q4 perfin diagonal bisects (two 1920 local drop rate covers, each with half of the same stamp), fascinating use (each with certificate) • #QE1b diagonal used on 1942 cover along with normal 1¢ Postage Due, very scarce unauthorized usage (certificate) • DWI #18c tied on partial cover with St. Thomas, DWI Jan. 23, 1903 c.d.s. The collection also includes a study of some 30 covers showing #552 and other period stamps bisected on cover and used from various post offices shortly after the new 1½¢ rate went into effect on April 15, 1925, along with many additional covers. A remarkable holding not likely to be duplicated., Price: $17,500. View video #1 of images for this lot View video #2 of images for this lot View video #3 of images for this lot (Image) Get Market Data for [United States Collection]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $51,000
19			Fabulous Exhibition-Quality Collection of U.S. Coils, 1908-85, An amazingly diverse holding, w many scarce and desirable items, with particular strength in paste-up pairs (many with plate numbers), leader and trailer strips (including rare pieces), regular pairs and line pairs, color varieties, perforation errors including imperforation and transitional strips, miscuts showing partial plate numbers, splices, and never hinged precancels. The collection also includes on-cover examples, test coils, a separate Prexie coil plate number study, several literature volumes, and a few doctored stamps with certificates for use as reference (not counted in catalogue value or estimate). Given the breadth and depth of this collection, it's impossible to list every single "wow!" item, but among the highlights we note the following (never hinged, unless noted). Singles, pairs and line pairs/strips of #349 single with Plate #5315 & Star (waiting on corrected cert), #368 VF vertical pair with USAV private perforations, #371 VF hinged horizontal pair (one stamp never hinged) with Brinkerhoff Type II perforations (certificate), #454 line pair (certificate), #497 VF line pair, #579 bottom margin example imperforate at bottom (certificate), #599b very lightly hinged line pair with partial plate number (certificate), #599A magnificent combination line pair (Type I + Type II) showing traces of Plate #19748 (certificate), #600 line strip of 4 showing large portion of Plate #18808 & Star (hinge remnant), #656 line pair with partial Plate #19781, #723 pair with splice, #723 lightly hinged gorgeous line pair with partial Plate #20968, #1058b precanceled line strip of 4, #1058b precanceled line strip of 5 with partial Plate #25098, #1059 small holes line pair, #1304a Bureau precanceled line pair, #1304Cd VF imperforate pair, #1305Ej XF imperforate line pair, #1518b VF imperforate pair, #1520b VF transitional strip of 4 including imperforate line pair, #1618Cd transitional strip of 5, #2112a VF imperforate plate number coil strip of 3 with Plate #1 with splice, and #2112a VF imperforate plate number coil strip of 4 with Plate #2. Paste-ups (pairs, unless noted) of #348 with Plate #5489 (hinge remnant; certificate), #346V with Plate #5199 (hinged, certificate; pictured by Wallace Cleland in the Bureau Specialist 76:7), #354 (certificate), #355 (certificate), #390 (strip of 4, including an XF Jumbo not part of the paste-up), #392 with Plate #5659 (certificate), #394 (certificate), #395 (2, one XF, both with certificate), #396 (2, one with Plate #5902; both with certificate), #409V strip of 4 with unreported plate #6454 on tab and unreported plate #6456 in setoff on back of tab (certificate), #409 VF strip of 4 with unreported plate #6457 on tab and Schermack perforations with partial doubled perforations (certificate), #410 with Plate #5884, #412 with Plate #6545 (certificate), #412 with Plate #6477 (hinge remnant), #413 VF with Plate #5996 (hinge remnant; certificate), #442 VF strip of 4, #443 VF paste-up pair with Plate #7001 (certificate), #444 with Plate #6897 (certificate), #447 hinged (one stamp never hinged) with Plate #6733 (certificate), #606a strip of 4 (certificate). Splice strips of four of #597 precanceled with partial plate number and #1305a imperforate BEP splice (certificate). Leaders and trailers (rarely seen, no matter the issue): #390 VF leader single with Plate #5556, #392 end selvage single with Plate #5573 (hinge remnant), #393 end selvage pair with Plate #5560 (hinge remnant; featured in the Durland 2012 catalog), #393 full leader single (leader separated in middle), #408V full leader single and #409V full leader pair, #411 trailer pair, #412 end selvage pair with Plate #6301 (hinge remnant), #493 VF leader pair with full scarce "1,000 stamps" leader (leader separated in middle and one stamp damaged), #493 trailer pair, #495 trailer pair, #496 full leader single, #605 full leader strip of 4 with two splices, #606 full leader strip of 4 (certificate), #686 leader strip of 4 with line pair and partial plate number, #686 hinged precanceled leader strip of 4 with full scarce "1,000 stamps" leader, #686 VF full leader single, #840 full leader strip of 5 with line pair, #840 precanceled full leader strip of 3 with line pair, #841 precanceled full leader strip of 5, #842 hinge remnant full leader strip of 5 with line pair and partial plate number, #843 full leader single, #845 lightly hinged full leader strip of 4, #851 full leader strip of 7 with line pair, #1054 full leader strip of 11 with line pair and 40% of Plate #25869 and showing counting numbers (very scarce), #1054c precanceled full leader strip of 4 with line pair and partial plate number, #1055 precanceled full leader strip of 4, wonderful #1058 full very scarce "3,000 stamps" leader strip of 5 with matching trailer strip of 5 and original 3,000-stamp roll label, #1058 full leader strip of 7 with line pair and partial plate number, extremely scarce #1058b precanceled full leader strip of 4 with middle line pair (certificate), #C52 VF full leader strip of 5 with line pair, and #TD119 VF full leader strip of 6. As if all this weren't enough, the collection includes a binder containing another wonderful group of additional leader and trailer examples and other scarce coils-as well as a nearly complete collection of 1981-95 Transportation Coils, consisting of never hinged PNC strips of 3 (1897//2466) with virtually all better items and plate numbers represented. Includes #1900 (plate 3 & 5), #1901a (plate 5 & 6), 1903 (plate 5 & 6), #1903a (plate 8), #1904a (plate 3 & 4), etc. And that's just the mint! Used items include a #1520b strip of 4, #1895d XF pair tied on piece with full contemporaneous 1984 c.d.s., #2523b VF pair with contemporaneous cancel, and #2609b VF pair imperforate-between (scarce used), plus a set of used plate number coils, mostly singles on cover. And covers—they're here as well: #383V paste-up pair on late-usage cover, #392 line pair tied on commercial cover with 1912 c.d.s. (certificate), two covers each with #409 single with Farwell Type 4B4 perforations tied on John V. Farwell Company letterhead cover with Chicago, IL 1913 c.d.s., #410 paste-up pair tied on late-usage cover, and #1895d pair properly tied on cover with contemporaneous 1983 c.d.s. Be sure to wrap your head around this one! Price: $17,500. View a PDF of images for this lot View video #1 of images for this lot View video #2 of images for this lot View video #3 of images for this lot View video #4 of images for this lot (Image) Get Market Data for [United States Collection]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM Scott $53,000
20	/o/		Powerful Specialist Collection, 1851-1985, A hand-selected collection consisting mainly of valuable and specialized items. Stamps include high-quality and graded examples, gutter pairs and other interesting formats, and unused precancels, with particular strength in Fourth Bureau issues, Prexies, plate singles and modern errors. The postal historian will also find a wealth of covers, including those with fancy cancels, pre-First Day usages, scarce and unusual usages, autographed stamps and covers, mixed frankings, and Possessions. Never hinged highlights include the following (graded stamps accompanied by certificate; additional certed items noted): #325 top margin plate single, #326 VF jumbo top margin plate single (certificate), #368/371/373 XF center line blocks, #371 XF top margin plate block with gorgeous white paper, #397 graded 85J top margin plate single, #532 XF plate single, #560 graded 90, #561 graded 95, #566 graded 95, #568 graded 95, #569 (2, one graded 90, one 95), #634 "Long Ear" variety in center of block of 25, #634A horizontal gutter pair, #638 vertical gutter pair (only 2-3 known, with certificate), #658//679 missing only #668, singles and large blocks of Kansas overprints (#658, 664, and 667) with Concordia KS precancels and Nebraska overprints (#673, 675-679) with Hastings NB precancels, #756-765 center line blocks, #778 miscut error showing plate numbers at both top and bottom, #834 XF center line block graded 90, 1974 UPU presentation book signed by Postmaster General containing 1941//1947 issues including complete Transports and Prexies, #859-893 full set of individually selected XF plate blocks; seven different reversed-printing Overrun Countries inscription blocks (each with certificate) and an additional 41 examples of #911b (each with copy of certificate for originating sheet), #1052 precancelled plate block, #1355c imperforate pair (certificate), #1362c imperforate-between pair, #1383B transitional strip albino to full print, #1488a orange omitted (certificate), #1591a precanceled plate block with city name; a study of #1596 plate blocks including perforated, precanceled, line perforated, and imperforate (the last with small selvage tear); #1789Ad bottom margin vertical pair imperforate horizontally, #2038 top margin block of 6 misperforated so that the top three stamps lack denominations, #2146a imperforate pair, #C10 top margin block of 4 with plate number autographed by Postmaster General and Second Assistant Postmaster General, #CE2 top margin plate block Type 2; CSA #7 no gum gutter pair; DWI #40-42 corner margin singles; Hawaii #O5 top corner margin single, and #O6 top margin single (certificate). Used stamps include an XF corner margin #7, a #256 graded 80J, and a #1384m (inverted precancel). Usages on cover include #634b with fancy cancel, plus another strip of 3 (the latter with certificate), #703 top margin plate single on unaddressed cover with possible EKU c.d.s. of Oct. 6, 1931; Prexies: #806 tied with French "PAQUEBOT" marking and c.d.s., #807 tied by Kobe, Japan c.d.s., #807 tied by Guantanamo Bay, Cuba c.d.s., a scarce solo usage 16-cent (#821), #830a solo tied on cover from A.P.O Japan to France, #831 solo usage from Germany A.P.O., a scarce usage of #847; Overrun Countries reverse printing First Day Covers including #909c (2 covers) and #915a block; Waterbury fancy leaf cancels on #U74 (fewer than 15 known), and on #UX5 (fewer than eight known). The collection is rounded out by 11 volumes of literature, plus a blank Lindner album with slipcase-the perfect home for your personal additions. Total Scott does not take into account additional premiums for centering (unless graded), plate numbers and other plate markings, certificates, etc., Price: $9,500. View video #1 of images for this lot View video #2 of images for this lot View video #3 of images for this lot View video #4 of images for this lot View video #5 of images for this lot View video #6 of images for this lot (Image) Get Market Data for [United States Collection]	CLOSED Closing..May-16, 09:00 PM 2018 Scott $29,900