United States Stamps continued...

(36B) 1857-61 12c black Washington Plate 3 used by black cancel, very fine. 

With 2006 PSE certificate graded "VF-80", cat. value $275.

Get Market Data for [United States 36B] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(36) 1857-61 12¢ black Washington Plate 1 tied by bold strike of “San Francisco, Cal. May 28” cds on yellow envelope addressed to Lanson W. Perkins in Beloit, Rock County, Wisconsin. The envelope is without additional markings or transit notations, consistent with mail privately carried from Hawaii to San Francisco and inserted directly into the U.S. mails. Stamp shows only a few faintly blunted perfs at bottom, backflap tear.

This usage represents the 10¢ transcontinental rate from the West Coast to the Midwest, plus the additional 2¢ ship captain’s fee required under the U.S.-Hawaiian postal arrangement—typically paid using a single 12¢ adhesive. Though lacking a Honolulu marking, the date and usage strongly suggest Hawaiian origin, likely carried aboard a non-contract vessel.

A attractive example of the 12¢ 1857 Issue used singly to prepay the full rate from Hawaii to an inland U.S. destination via San Francisco.

Get Market Data for [United States 36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(36) 1857-61 12¢ black Washington, positions 81–86L1 and 91–100L1, includes two horizontal strips of six, horizontal pair and two singles, all tied by bold black "May 11" ALBANY N.Y." cds cancels on large-format 1860 registered cover to Alexander Chivas Esq., National Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen, Scotland. The two pairs with margin faults, the right stamp in top strip with vertical tear and cover slightly reduced at left.

The sixteen 12¢ stamps collectively paid eight times the 24¢ treaty rate to the United Kingdom. Registry fee paid in cash, as was customary at the time. The cover traveled from Albany to New York City, where it received the red "NEW-YORK PAID" exchange office credit handstamp. A red "AMERICA / PAID / MY 23 / LIVERPOOL" transit marking and a matching red Crown registered handstamp mark its arrival in England. The manuscript "1.54½" at upper right corresponds to the dollar-denominated postage credit to Great Britain totaling eight times 19¢ plus 2½-cents, half the 5-cent registration fee. Final delivery occurred in Aberdeen on May 25, 1860, as shown by the green backstamp. The cover bears an embossed corner card for “Peter Smith and Sons, Coppersmiths & Plumbers, Albany, N.Y.”

The recipient, Alexander Chivas, was the last member of the Chivas family actively involved in the famed Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky enterprise, whose origins date to 1786. The company received its Royal Warrant in 1843 from Queen Victoria and remains a cornerstone of Highland whisky tradition.

One of the largest known frankings of the 12¢ 1857 Issue on cover and a visually striking example to an overseas destination. This cover is featured in Lester G. Brookman’s The United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Vol. I, p. 245 (fig. 385). 

Ex. Richey & Ishikawa, signed by Ashbrook, with 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Get Market Data for [United States 36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(11/36) 1851-57 3¢ dull red Washington Type I and 1857-61 12¢ black Washington Plate 1 vertical pair with perf flaws at right and top corner missing tied by Athens, Georgia cds on 1860 cover to Geneva, Switzerland, red "New York 12 Feb 25" 12¢ credit circular datestamp at right alongside black "P.D." in box for Payé à Destination indicating cover full paid to destination. The cover was carried aboard the Inman Line ship Kangaroo which departed New York on February 25, 1860 and arrived in Queenstown on March 8, 1860. A French British Packet datestamp ties both the 12¢ pair and the 3¢ single, four transit backstamps on reverse including two French and two Swiss with the final one showing a receiving date of March 12, 1860.

The cover has a small part of reinforcement on the inside to firm up the top of the cover to the right of the stamps not noted on certificate. This is a particularly unusual and very late use of a low value 1851-57 imperforate 3¢ stamp alongside the 1857-61 12¢ stamps on cover to an overseas destination.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation Certificate, no cat. value listed for a Sc. 36 pair on cover to Switzerland.

Get Market Data for [United States 11/36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(26/36) 3¢ dull red Washington Type III and 12¢ black Washington Plate 1 tied by black grid cancels on pristine 1860 cover from New York City to Paris, France. Red “New York Am. Pkt. Feb 18” exchange office cds at lower right and black French entry marking “Et Unis Serv. Br. A. C. 1 Mars 60” tying the stamps at upper right, Paris receiver dated March 3 on reverse. Carried aboard the City of Washington, an Inman Line steamer departing New York on February 18, 1860, and arriving in Queenstown on February 29, this cover prepaid the correct 15¢ single-rate postage under the 1857 U.S.–France postal convention. The cover was sent to Benjamin S. Lyman at No. 4 Rue Férou, Paris. Lyman, a young American studying at the École Impériale des Mines, who would go on to a distinguished career as a mining engineer, geologist, and early expert in petroleum geology. A fine cover linking U.S.–France postal history with an early chapter in the life of a notable 19th-century American scientific figure.

Get Market Data for [United States 26/36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(20/36) 1857-61 1¢ blue Franklin Type II strip of three (scissor cut across the top) and 12¢ black Washington Plate 1 tied by black "New Orleans Jan 4" cds cancels on 1858 folded cover from New Orleans to Bordeaux, France. Red "New York Br. Pkt. Jan 5" exchange office datestamp just below stamps. Circular French entry datestamp at lower right reads "Et Unis Serv. Br. A. C. 17 Janv 59." Three circular black French transit and receiving backstamps for Jan 18 & 19. Endorsed “British Mail / New York” manuscript at top left, with sender’s oval blue “E. Brulatour / New Orleans” handstamp.

This 15¢ franking paid the standard treaty rate to France under the 1857 U.S.–France postal convention. The letter was carried by the Asia of the Cunard Line, departing New York on January 5, 1859, and arriving at Liverpool on January 16. From there it was routed to France via Calais. The combination of a 12¢ Washington and three 1¢ Franklin stamps was a valid, though uncommon, way to achieve the correct rate, a fine and unusually franked cover between New Orleans and Bordeaux via New York. 

Get Market Data for [United States 20/36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(36) 1857-61 12¢ black Washington Plate 1 horizontal pair tied by black cds, possibly “Mount Willing, La. Nov 26” on cover to Tiefenbach, Prussia. Red “N.York Hamb. Pkt. Paid 10 Dec 1” exchange marking and obliterated “3” credit handstamp—struck in error due to clerk thinking this was a 24¢ prepayment of a cover to England and then obliterated with red grid. Carried via HAPAG Line Teutonia, which departed New York December 1, 1860 and arrived Hamburg December 16. Reverse with Hamburg transit and bold “Franco” straightline. 

A scarce and interesting transatlantic advertising cover, illustrating the short-lived confusion created by a wrongly assumed 24¢ rate by Germany immigrants for European destinations.

Included in Robert Boyd's article on the 24¢ mistaken rate published in the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society journal, Chronicle #226 - view article here.

Get Market Data for [United States 36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(32/36) 1857-61 10¢ Washington Type II and 10¢ Washington Plate 1 vertical pair used by black circular grid cancels with matching black "Bloomsburg Pa. Feb 1 (1859)" cds at left on folded letter to the Honorable Charles R. Buckalew, U.S. Minister in Quito, Ecuador. Red "24" rate marking to left of 10¢ stamp. A file fold well away from the stamps mentioned for accuracy and does take away from the striking freshness and very fine presentation of this intriguing folded letter from the well-known Buckalew Correspondence. 

Ex. Sevenoaks Collection (where is realized $900 hammer) with 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Letter Contents: The letter's contents written by W. J. Woodward of Bloomsburg, PA are fascinating and cover local business affairs, discussion of regional canal and railroad issues alongside comments about local to national-level political matters including - 

"I don't see how we can elect the President in 1860. The best I hope for is that the House of Representatives may settle down on Crittenden. He can carry the electoral ticket etc in Maryland and Kentucky, and if he and the democratic candidate can, between them, secure northern states enough to prevent the choice of the Republican nominee by the people, there is hope that the House will, in the end, save us from the disaster and disgrace of an Abolition President."  

Biographical Details of Addressee: Charles Rollin Buckalew (1821–1899) was an American lawyer, diplomat, and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as the United States Minister to Ecuador from 1858 to 1861, appointed by President James Buchanan.

After his diplomatic service, Buckalew served a single term in the U.S. Senate as a Democratic from Pennsylvania (1863–1869) and was known for advocating electoral reforms, including cumulative voting. He also served in the Pennsylvania State Senate and was an opponent of Reconstruction policies following the Civil War.

As Minister to Ecuador, Buckalew represented U.S. interests during a time of political turbulence in South America, navigating diplomatic challenges while promoting trade and maintaining bilateral relations. After his tenure in Ecuador, he continued his political career, later serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1887–1891).

Get Market Data for [United States Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(21/36) 1857-61 1¢ blue Franklin Type III and three 12¢ black Washington Plate 1 singles used by manuscript cancels on 1858 U.S.–Russia Prussian Closed Mail cover from Portland, Connecticut to St. Petersburg. All stamps tied by used by manuscript pen strokes and black “Portland Ct. Sep 13” cds (additional strike at lower left), red “New-York Br. Pkt Sep 15” exchange backstamp and magenta “14” cent credit at center. Carried aboard the Cunard Line Africa, departing New York on September 15 and arriving Liverpool September 26. Red framed “AACHEN 28/9 FRANCO” transit marking with blue manuscript “f 3” credit to Prussia and a St. Petersburg arrival backstamp.

The 37¢ franking correctly paid the Prussian Closed Mail rate to Russia. A magenta manuscript “13” at top left is not an accounting figure but instead a serial designation corresponding to the Letter Bill enclosed with the mailbag, used to track letter volumes by weight and rate. Clerical calculations are visible on the reverse. While the 12¢ stamp at cover's bottom right with faults, but overall this is a fine and rare example of direct U.S.–Russia mail under PCM treaty terms, illustrating both the postal complexities and transatlantic routing practices of the late 1850s.

Get Market Data for [United States 21/36] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(37) 1857-61 24¢ gray lilac Washington group of two used pairs, one used strip of four and a magenta pen crossed specimen. The strip of four is a rare multiple in-line with the scarcity of a block of four (cat value $6,500), two ink marks visible likely falling from the sender's pen while addressing the envelope. No major faults noted, some tiny perf issues but overall a wonderful 24¢ assemblage, perfect for anyone interested to begin diving into this beautiful issue.

Cat. value $4,000+ (with strip of four counted as two pairs).

Get Market Data for [United States 37] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(26/37) 1857-61 3¢ brownish carmine Washington Type III and 24c gray lilac Washington singles tied by double octagonal "Philadelphia Jan 29 1860" datestamps on cover to Tobias Kirby, President of the Irish College in Rome, Italy, red Philadelphia (accidental "1860" date keyed in by clerk) credit circular datestamp at right alongside black "P.D." in box for Payé à Destination indicating cover full paid to destination, February 12, 1861 datestamp at center. The cover was carried aboard the Cunard Line ship Asia which departed New York on January 30, 1861 and arrived in Queenstown on February 10, 1861. Nice "Roma 18 Feb 61 Viandimare" receiving datestamp on reverse.

Combining the very fine centering of the 24¢ stamp with the combination of nice datestamp and transit markings and an interesting addressee, this is a particularly desirable example of 1857-61 Issue stamps paying the French Mails rate to Italy.

With 1974 Diena, 1985 & 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificates.

Background on addressee: Tobias Kirby (1 January 1804 – 20 January 1895) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest who served as the rector of the Pontifical Irish College in Rome for over four decades. Kirby was ordained in 1833 at St. John Lateran and began his long association with the Irish College in 1836 when he was appointed vice-rector under Paul Cullen. In 1850, upon Cullen's departure, Kirby succeeded him as rector, a position he held until his retirement in 1891. During his tenure, he also acted as the Irish bishops' agent in Rome, handling extensive correspondence that provides valuable insights into 19th-century ecclesiastical and political affairs. Kirby's multi-decade correspondence archive is maintained by the College.

Get Market Data for [United States 26/37] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(37) 1857-61 24¢ gray lilac Washington tied by beautifully contrasting large grid cancel on folded cover from New York to Dundee, Scotland, matching red "New York 19 Sep 4" credit cds also ties stamp to the cover. Additional manuscript "Paid" in bottom left corner and "Per Arabia" indicating intended ship for Atlantic transit at top left, black September 17, 1860 Dundee arrival datestamp on reverse.

The large red "19" in the datestamp indicates 19¢ due from the U.S. to the U.K. with accounting of 3¢ for domestic postage within the U.K. and 16¢ for the packet carrying the cover across the ocean. The remaining 5¢ of the 24¢ paid by the sender was kept by the U.S. for the domestic postage delivering the cover to the ship in New York. 

The cover's folded sideflaps are missing but does not detract from the overall very fine appearance of this wonderful example of a 1857-61 24c stamp paying the single weight rate to Scotland. 

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat value $1,000 for use on cover to England.

Get Market Data for [United States 37] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(38) 1857-61 30¢ orange Franklin horizontal pair tied by blue grid cancels with matching blue "Chicago Ills. Nov. 7 (1860)" double-circle datestamp on legal-size envelope to Dobbertin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany. Red "N. York Hamb. Pkt. Paid Nov. 15" cds at lower left. Blue "6" and magenta "30" markings at center.

This quadruple-rate cover (4 x 15¢ = 60¢) was carried on the HAPAG Line's Hammonia, which departed New York on November 15, 1860, and arrived in Hamburg on November 30. Cover is slightly reduced at left. Despite some wear including light stain at center and stamps with small faults, the overall appearance remains fine. 

An uncommon use of a 60-cent franking paid by two 30¢ stamps to Mecklenburg-Schwerin under the Bremen-Hamburg Convention.

Cat. value $1,850 for single used on cover to Germany plus a used off-cover single.

Get Market Data for [United States 38] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(39) 1857-61 90c blue Washington, unused, part disturbed original gum, fresh color and fine centering.

With 2008 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $3,000.

Get Market Data for [United States 39] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(LO1) 1851 1¢ dull blue on rose Franklin Carrier's single used with red Philadelphia carriers star cancel on large part of folded cover missing side and bottom flaps. The stamp has vertical and diagonal creases but exhibits a beautiful impression within three large margins to just in a top, "CARRIERS" intact. The cover has surface scrapes from erasures of numerical doodles - the recipient clearly wanted to make good use of the folded cover's paper after in arrived. A fine example of this scarce stamp postally used within Philadelphia. 

With 2015 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $17,500.

Get Market Data for [United States LO1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(LO2) 1¢ Eagle Carrier full pane of 100, unused with original gum, never hinged featuring the full sheet layout with bottom imprint block of eight, bright impression and strong color typical of the issue. A few creases noted, including vertical creasing at right with edge tear and corner split at upper right. Additional minor selvage flaws including nick out of left margin and small tear in the imprint selvage, but overall with fresh and presentable visual impact.

An increasingly elusive full pane of this iconic Carrier Issue—among the few complete sheets surviving intact. A striking display piece despite noted faults, offering significant historical and visual appeal.

Cat. value $7,670+

Get Market Data for [United States LO2] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(11/LO2) 1851-57 3¢ dull red Washington Type I and 1¢ blue U.S.P.O. Despatch Carrier tied on cover from Philadelphia to Hamilton Patterson, on board steamship Mississippi, Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York. 3¢ Washington tied by "Mar 3 Philadelphia Pa." CDS and 1¢ Carrier adhesive tied by red cancel at lower left. The Mississippi was Commodore Perry’s flagship on the 1852–55 expedition to Japan; Patterson served as an artist and clerk aboard. A fine example of a U.S. Carrier use from Philadelphia to an interesting addressee in Brooklyn.

Cat. value $500.

Get Market Data for [United States 11/LO2] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(LO2) 1851 1¢ blue Eagle Carrier, clear margins all around, used by red star cancel on locally addressed cover to Richard Vaux, Esq. at an address on Sansom Street in Philadelphia. The envelope includes a corner card at top left for the Philadelphia Demokrat, a German-language daily and weekly newspaper published by Hoffman & Morwitz at 277 North 3rd Street. The printed ad at upper left boasts the paper’s dominant reach in the German-speaking community: “Its circulation exceeds that of all the other daily German papers of Pennsylvania combined.” The cover has a horizontal crease which affects the stamp but still fine-v.f appearance. 

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $500.

Get Market Data for [United States LO2] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(11A/26/3LB2) Pair of 3c dull red Washington covers illustrating illegal stamp reuse, mounted on an explanatory exhibit page. The first cover bears a 3¢ Washington Type I stamp previously pen-cancelled and chemically cleaned still showing faint traces of the removed cancel, then reapplied with glue to an envelope addressed to Master George H.H. Price in Hollis, New Hampshire. The cover has a (3LB2) 1c blue Boston carrier stamp tied by a red cancel, 2008 W.R. Weiss Jr. certificate accompanies, stating the 3¢ stamp represents probable reuse. The second cover features a 3c Washington Type III cut from another envelope and glued to a cover addressed to Capt. Charles S. Henry in New Orleans, tied by a “New Bedford Ms. Feb 16 1858” cds. Glue stains are visible around the stamp edges, further supporting its reused origin. A fascinating and instructive pair covers, highlighting deceptive attempts to avoid postage costs.

Get Market Data for [United States 11A/26/3LB2] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(3LB2/11A) 1851 1¢ blue on slate Boston Penny Post Carrier tied by diamond grid cancel and 1851-57 3¢ dull red Washington Type II tied by large Boston "PAID" cancel on cover from Boston to Spartanburg C.H., South Carolina. Red “Boston 30 Dec 3 cts” cds at center and manuscript docketing at lower left reads “Dec. 29th.” A very fine example of a 1¢ Boston carrier stamp tied with a nice black diamond grid cancel paying the fee for local collection to the Boston post office—paired with the 3¢ stamp to prepay domestic postage to South Carolina.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $425.

Get Market Data for [United States Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census