The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History continued...

5¢ Red Brown, 10¢ Black (1, 2), matching envelopes addressed in European style writing to Miss Johanne Dorothy Rosenhauer in Baltimore, Maryland, one with 5¢ horizontal pair, other with single 10¢, both envelopes with framed Arabic imprint on front and back, 5¢ pair with right sheet margin, other margins large to just in at upper left, couple inconsequential tiny margin nicks, tied by blue grid cancels with matching "Nashville Ten. Feb. 23" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp, 10¢ with large margins to just touching, diagonal pre-printing paper fold which if opened out would show a large unprinted gap in the top right corner, tied by blue grid cancel with matching "PAID" and "10" in scalloped circle handstamps, "Nashville Ten. Feb. 21" circular datestamp

Very Fine; both covers show some minor edgewear and creasing not affecting the stamps.

A remarkable matched pair of 5¢ and 10¢ 1847 Issue covers with Arabic imprints. These are the only recorded 1847 covers with foreign language corner cards.

This correspondence of two covers is certainly one of the most fascinating uses found with the 1847 Issue. The Arabic inscription when translated reads "Louise Ullman." Little is known for certain about her, though it has been speculated that she was a theologist who traveled through the Middle East. She evidently was of German descent. Both covers are posted from Nashville and addressed to a Miss Johanne Dorothy Rosenhauer in Baltimore. The use of Arabic writing on mail within the United States, especially at this early period, is highly unusual. It is believed that this pair of covers represents the only known use of the 1847 Issue on foreign language corner card covers.

Ex Jeanette C. Rudy. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 1, 2]

5¢ Orange Brown (1b), large margins to ample at top, brilliant color and First Printing impression, tied by blue "Philada. Pa. 5 cts Feb. 17" (1848) integral-rate circular datestamp on buff envelope with "Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 91 Walnut Street, Philadelphia" corner card, to Leesburg, Virginia, Very Fine, a scarce corner card use of the 5¢ 1847 Issue, this is the only example listed in the USPCS census with this style corner card from Penn Mutual (a 10¢ is known with a cameo design on the flap), ex Emerson, West, Starr, Hart and Boker, illustrated in Bakers' U.S. Classics (p. 175) (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 1b]

10¢ Black (2), huge margins including portion of adjoining stamp at top, clear at bottom, tied by light strike of red circular grid cancel, matching "New-York Apl. 19" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp on buff envelope with "United States Life Insurance Co., 27 Wall Street, New-York" corner card, to Crane & Wesson in Detroit, Michigan, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce corner card use of the 10¢ 1847 Issue and rare in this choice condition, ex Garrett and Boker (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 2]