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United States Postal History continued...

1861-68 3c Issue

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

(63,64) 1861 1c blue Franklin and 3c pink Washington tied by black grid cancels with matching "Philadelphia PA Sep 5, 1861" cds also tying 1c stamp paying the carrier rate on cover to West Chester, Pennsylvania. A fine, early use of the 1861 Issue stamps from Philadelphia.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
Will close during Public Auction

(64a) 1861 3c pigeon blood pink Washington tied by red "Ashland, Ms Sep 23" cds with additional black grid canceling the stamp on cover to Springfield, Massachusetts. A fine example of this scarce 1861 3c shade used on cover.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $5,000.

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Current Opening Price...$1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

(64b) 1861 3c rose pink Washington, tied by full strike of orange "Hydeville, VT Nov 20" cds on cover to the Episcopal Institute, Burlington, Vermont. The stamp exhibits the distinctive rose pink shade with strong color contrast against the red cancel, creating a particularly attractive visual effect, fine.

With 1977 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

(64b) 1861 3c pinkish rose Washington tied by red Massachusetts cds with "Nov. 1861" manuscript docketing below on cover to Westfield, Massachusetts with note on reverse by Stanley Ashbrook - "This is not a pink but a pinkish rose referred to as a near pink" - a very fine example of this 1861 3c shade on cover.

Ex Wyer & Herzog.

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Current Opening Price...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

(64,64b) Pair of 1861 3c Issue covers - the first 3c is a dark rose shade tied by "Philadelphia, Pa Dec 13 1861" cds and additional oval shaped bar cancel on cover to New Bedford, Massachusetts and the second 3c is a pink shade tied by "Philadelphia, Pa Jan 20 1862" cds and circular target cancel on cover to Auburn, New York, fine. (Image) (Image 2) (All Images)

Current Opening Price...$100.00
Will close during Public Auction

(63,64) 1861 1c blue Franklin and three 3c pink Washington singles, all tied by black grid cancels on cover to New Brunswick, Canada with matching black "Lawrence Me. Sep 2" (1861) cds at left and red "U STATES" in arc exchange marking at center and "PAID 10" top left, manuscript "Ship Chimborazo" at lower left. Minor cover edge wear and stamps slightly affected from placement at edge, still overall a fine and attractive treaty-rate cover. The stamps pay the 10c treaty rate for mail traveling over 300 miles and under 3,000 miles to New Brunswick via Portland, Maine - under the U.S.–British North America postal treaty in effect prior to Canadian Confederation in 1867.

Cat. value $1,675.

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Current Opening Price...$500.00
Will close during Public Auction

(36b,64) 1857-61 12c black and 1861 3c pink Washington, tied by bold strike of large black "Paid" in grid cancel on elaborate full-color "Illustrated History of the Stars and Stripes" patriotic cover to Dr. Henry C. Angell in Vienna, Austria. Red "N. York Hamb. Pkt. PAID 2 Nov 10 (1861)" cds repeated twice at right, reflecting the fully prepaid 15¢ transatlantic rate via the Teutonia (Hamburg Line) for letters up to ½ oz. Hamburg transit and Vienna receiving backstamps, 12c stamp with small part of bottom left corner missing, likely a result from the original sheet separation and nick at top right, repaired backflap tear, though still extremely fine appearing overall.

This beautiful patriotic cover was mailed after the process of demonetization of the 1857-61 stamps had begun - but the New York post office clearly accepted the demonetized 12c stamp, making this a highly desirable franking with both Toppan, Carpenter and National Bank Note issues used together in November 1861. Of the nearly 100 known Angell Correspondence patriotic covers, approximately seven are mixed 1857-61 and 1861 Issue usages.

The addressee, Dr. Henry Clay Angell (1829-1911), was a distinguished Boston ophthalmologist whose early medical training and ambitions led him repeatedly to Europe for advanced study. A graduate of the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1852, Angell initially practiced in Salem, Massachusetts, before traveling to Vienna for a year of postgraduate clinical work. He returned again in 1861 shortly before this cover was sent to pursue intensive specialization in ophthalmology under some of Europe’s most prominent eye surgeons. During his extended three-and-a-half-year stay abroad, he corresponded regularly with colleagues and family back in the United States, resulting in a now-famous group of patriotic transatlantic covers. After returning to Boston in 1864, Angell became a leading voice in American homeopathic medicine and ophthalmology, founding The New England Medical Gazette in 1866.

The famous Angell Correspondence is widely regarded as the most sensational group of American Civil War patriotic covers sent abroad with high-value frankings. Discovered in the 1920s and long preserved as a largely intact holding, the Angell correspondence passed through several important hands - first sold by a street seller to a collector named White, then acquired en bloc by Judge Emerson, and later by Miss Matthies from the Emerson estate. The dispersion of the Matthies collection in 1969 allowed these wonderful items to enter collections and exhibits around the world ever since.

Ex Chase & Matthies.

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Current Opening Price...$5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

(65,69,72) 1861 3c rose, two singles, 12c black, and 90c blue Washington, all used by red grid cancels on cover from New York addressed to John M. Nixon, care of Blair Tate & Co. in Shanghai, China with black "New York Am. Pkt. Mar. 22" (1862) exchange office backstamp. Additional magenta manuscript "66" credit, red "London Paid AP 4 '62" transit, bold red "2d" British Colonial credit handstamp, and "Hong Kong MY 2 '62" receiving backstamp. Endorsed "prepaid overland" and "via Marseilles" by sender. Both 3c stamps defective, bottom one skillfully repaired with part of the design portion added, and cover refolded along top and bottom for display, still with an overall fine appearance.

The $1.08 franking prepays the British Mail rate via Marseilles for a letter between ½ and ¾ oz.—composed of 51c for the French portion and 57c for the British portion. Carried aboard the Hammonia of the Hamburg-American Packet Line, which departed New York on March 22 and arrived at Southampton on April 3, 1862. A rare use of the 1861 Issue 90c on triple-color franked cover to China fully prepaying the $1.08 rate via British Mail through Marseilles.

The Herzog-Starnes census of 90c 1861-68 Issue usages published Chronicle 140, Nov. 1988 records 24 covers to China, three addressed to John M. Nixon in Shanghai. Recorded as #4 in the Herzog-Starnes census.

Ex DuPuy, with 1967 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$7,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

Remarkable trio of artifacts directly linked to one of the most extraordinary post-Civil War legal battles involving the rightful ownership of U.S. postage stamps captured during wartime. The origin of this dispute traces to July 10, 1864, when the Confederate States cruiser Florida intercepted and seized the U.S. merchant vessel Electric Spark en route from New York City to Union-held New Orleans. Among the captured cargo was an extraordinary consignment of 1861 3c Washington stamps - 350,000 stamps in seven packets of 50,000, valued at $10,500.

Following the Florida’s return to Europe, the stamps entered private hands. Richard Taylor, the ship’s purser, sold the entire stock through Liverpool broker Owen Tudor on September 21, 1865, to Alfred Woods, also of Liverpool, for two promissory notes payable on demand dated October 1, 1865. Woods subsequently consigned the stamps to Boyd & Arthurs, commission merchants in Toronto. This led to the United States government initiating legal action in the Court of Chancery, Toronto, in what became the case - United States v. Boyd. The central defense advanced by Boyd and Woods was that the stamps were acquired in good faith, without knowledge of U.S. government ownership.

Offered in this lot are three original artifacts utilized in that case:

#1. Block of nine 1861 3c stamps, each marked with a manuscript “3” and accompanied by a signed attestation: “These are the stamps marked with the figure 3 referred to in the evidence of Owen Tudor,” with Tudor’s signature below.

#2. Vertical pair of 3c stamps on piece, bearing manuscript initials, likely those of Tudor, and entered as a separate evidence item in the case.

#3. Block of six 3c stamps, each with manuscript “3”, affixed to a folded letter dated May 9, 1867, sent to Robert Leech, U.S. Commissioner. This formal attestation was signed on the front by representatives of both plaintiffs and defendants, and on the reverse by Leech, Francis Spinner (Treasurer of the United States), Joseph A. Ware, and A.N. Zevely (later Third Assistant Postmaster General).

The result - the Court ruled in favor of the United States. As summarized in the American Law Review (October 1868, Vol. III, No. 1, p. 584), the court held:

-No Prize Court had condemned the property, so U.S. title remained intact.

-Even if there had been such condemnation, the Confederate States never properly divested title.

-Upon the war’s conclusion, the United States succeeded to the property rights of the former Confederate government.

-Postage stamps are not legal tender and can be tracked and recovered by their rightful owner.

-Chancery had jurisdiction.

-The defendants took the stamps with sufficient notice to be held accountable.

A rare and likely unique combination of 1861 Issue artifacts relating to the capture of a Union vessel by the hands of the Confederate States navy during the Civil War. They are remarkable not only for their rarity but for the compelling legal and historical narrative they embody—a true intersection of philately, naval warfare, and international law.

For further details about this fascinating case and greater context to Confederate and Union ships capturing maritime cargo during the Civil War - see Patricia Kaufmann's April 2018 and January 2020 articles in the American Philatelist.

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Current Opening Price...$2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1861-68 10c Issue

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

(62B) 1861 10c green Washington Type I tied by black grid cancel and matching "Cleveland O. Mar 25 1862" cds on red, white, and blue uniformed soldier beside a large U.S. flag patriotic cover to Bremen, Germany. Wonderful clear strike of red “N. York 7 Brem Pk Mar. 29 PAID” cds at right.

The 10c franking paid the single-weight rate to Bremen by direct Bremen packet, in effect from August 1853 to January 1868. The Bremen service represented one of the earliest direct transatlantic packet arrangements, offering a competitive alternative to British and American contract steamship lines.

A fine and visually striking patriotic usage to Germany, combining the scarce 10c type I with a colorful patriotic design carried by Bremen packet.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$3,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

(78/96/U41) 1861-68 10c green Washington F Grill & 24c dark lilac Washington used on 1861 10c entire all with black "X" chop cancels of the U.S. Postal Agency in Yokohama, Japan on cover to Pilkington Bros. in Blackburn, England, with manuscript directive "via San Francisco & overland" at top left. Carried aboard the "China" of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., departing Yokohama on December 3, 1869 and arriving in San Francisco on December 25. A magenta "San Francisco, Cal. Dec 29 PAID" cds appears on the reverse, along with a Blackburn receiving backstamp dated January 17, 1870.

The franking pays the 44c double-weight rate, comprised of 20c for U.S.-Japan Treaty rate (2×10c rate effective 1/67–7/75) and 24c for British packet service to England (2×12c rate effective 1/68–1/70). The red manuscript "4" denotes a double-weight credit to England on transit mail originating outside the United States.

The 10c stamp has a crease at top due to its placement at time of use, still a rare and visually striking cover tied by iconic Yokohama “X” chop cancels, with complete transpacific and transatlantic routing, representing a choice artifact of 19th century Japan-U.S.-U.K. postal history.

2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

(89) 1868 10c green Washington E Grill tied by black geometric fancy cancel with matching “San Francisco, Cal. Mar. 20” (1870) cds on blue cover originating in Japan, endorsed “U.S. Flagship Delaware” at top left, addressed to Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York.

The 10c franking pays the single-weight Transpacific rate by American packet via San Francisco, effective January 1868 to July 1870. This cover was carried aboard the U.S. Flagship Delaware, which had been renamed from the USS Piscataqua on May 15, 1869, while in service in East Asia. The Delaware was decommissioned in December 1870, making 1870 the sending year for this cover. Stamp with some stains at edges, but overall a fine piece of Japan-origin U.S. postal history, combining the 10c E Grill with "U.S. Flagship Delaware" endorsement and subsequent carriage to San Francisco.

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Current Opening Price...$500.00
Will close during Public Auction

(68) 1861 10c green Washington tied by quartered cork cancel and additionally struck with Yokohama “X” chop cancel on pre-printed address cover from Shanghai via Yokohama & San Francisco to Philadelphia. Fair strike of desirable ornamented oval “CHINA AND JAPAN STEAM SERVICE” (SFC-PMS3) handstamp at top center, endorsed with “Via San Francisco” handstamp at top left and “Olyphant & Co. / Shanghai, May 25th 1868” double-line company datestamp at lower left. Black “San Francisco, Cal. Jun. 26” (1868) cds at left of 10c stamp with postal markings completed by Philadelphia July 11, 11 A.M. receiving backstamp.

The 10c franking pays the single-rate postage from Shanghai by American packet via San Francisco under the China–Japan Steam Service in place from January 1867 to July 1875. Small cover stain affects stamp at right but still a nice usage overall from Shanghai via Yokohama with distinctive "X" chop cancel applied then via San Francisco before arriving at final destination, combining a variety of distinctive handstamps and postal markings.

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Current Opening Price...$750.00
Will close during Public Auction

(68) 1861 10c green Washington used by manuscript pen stroke cancel on buff cover originating in the Red River Settlement (present day Manitoba, Canada) on June 5, 1865 according to docketing at left and sent via Pembina in the northern most tip of the Dakota Territory to Freelton, Canada West.

The carriage fee from Red River to Pembina was 2c and paid in cash with the 10c stamp paying the postage for U.S.-Canada transit, original multi-page letter accompanies. A particularly fine and early example of a U.S. stamp used in pre-federation Canada for carriage via U.S. mails to a destination elsewhere in Canada.

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Current Opening Price...$750.00
Will close during Public Auction

(68) 1861 10c green Washington tied by black "New York Jun 21" (1866) cds and geometric cancel on folded letter sent by ship to Dorchester, New Brunswick with "Saint Johns, N.B. June 26 1866" receiving backstamp. The stamp affected by file fold but overall still a very fine appearing example of New York to New Brunswick pre-confederation U.S.-Canada postal history.

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Current Opening Price...$200.00
Will close during Public Auction

(68) 1861 10c green Washington tied by black "New York Aug 18 1862" cds and matching grid cancel on folded letter originating in Jamaica and addressed to Ragged Islands, Nova Scotia. The letter is datelined Kingston, Jamaica on August 7, 1862, and was privately carried or "bootlegged" from Jamaica to New York, where it entered the U.S. mails without any foreign transit markings as usual. Struck with red "U.S. 10cts, Paid" oval handstamp indicating prepayment of the U.S.-Canada treaty rate, additional Halifax "AU 23 1862" transit and "Ragged Islands AU 26 1862" receiving backstamps.

A scarce and visually striking example of a bootlegged letter from the Caribbean, carried outside official postal channels into the U.S. then sent via U.S. mail to a fairly remote destination in Nova Scotia, over 100 miles southwest of Halifax.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
Will close during Public Auction

(63,68) 1861 10c green Washington and 1c blue Franklin tied by black "New York Nov 13 1862" cds and matching geometric cancel paying the 1c carrier fee for pickup from the sender and double-weight letter rate from New York to Nassau, Bahamas. A desirable and fine cover from New York to the Bahamas with carrier fee paid by an 1861 1c stamp.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
Will close during Public Auction

(96) 1868 10c yellow green Washington F Grill tied by bold strike of "Boston Mass. Jul. 19" duplex datestamp on 1869-dated folded letter to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with merchant's embossed cornercard at left for N. P. Mann & Co. Commission Merchants. The stamp has small perf flaws, though still a fine and uncommon destination with postage paid by an 1868 10c F Grill.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
Will close during Public Auction

(68) 1861 10c green Washington horizontal pair tied by blue cancels and matching clear strike of blue Philadelphia, Pa. cds on cover to Augustus Wilson in Santiago, Cuba, care of Messrs. Brooks & Co. Strike of “NA” in circle due marking applied over Philadelphia cds upon arrival in Cuba.

The 20c franking paid the double-weight rate for American packet mail service to Cuba, in effect from July 1864 through July 1875. Cover with light soiling at edges and backflap tear, still a fine and scarce double-rate usage to a Caribbean destination.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
Will close during Public Auction

(96) 1868 10c yellow green Washington F Grill tied by black cork cancel on folded letter datelined St. Lucia, December 10, 1868, addressed to New York City. The letter was carried privately to St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, where it was forwarded into the U.S. mails by James T. Abbott & Co., indicated by large blue oval “Forwarded By / James T. Abbott & Co. / St. Thomas W.I.” handstamp at left and “N. York Steamship Dec 23 (1868)” cds at center applied upon arrival into New York City. The 10c U.S. franking paid the standard incoming rate from the D.W.I. to the United States. The letter was carried by American steamship service from St. Thomas to New York under the mail contract of the time.

The 10c stamp is affected by file fold but still fine and scarce forwarded Trans-Caribbean usage, representing a classic inbound steamship rate from the West Indies during the 1861-68 issue era.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
Will close during Public Auction