United States, green express label on cover to Cincinnati, A rare label bearing the text "Forwarded by the United States Express Co. from Maumee City, Ohio", the label is in very fine condition, but the cover shows significant wear and cropping of the right side, still fine and scarce. (Image)

1846-60, US local post stamps and carriers lot of seventeen letters and one letter piece, mainly Blood’s Despatch of Philadelphia, including several in combination with US 3c stamps, also a selection of Boyd’s City Express, New York, and US City Despatch Post of New York; a very exciting lot with interesting auxiliary markings and some items in very fine quality. (Image)

1861-64, group of six fine covers and three stamps, including four covers of the general issues in extremely fine condition, some showing departure markings (Wylliesburg, Brabson’s Ferry) or routing (“via Salisbury”), and ms. due. Also a postmaster provisional cover from New Orleans with a fresh pair of the 5c brown (touched at right otherwise very fine), and a Mobile June 8 1861 Paid 5 cover; an exciting and very unusual lot in this selected quality. (Image)

1862 5c blue, local printing, horizontal strip of ten (five stamps are very fine with fine margins) and a pair, all cancelled in pencil, on envelope opened up for display, showing departure datestamp MIlledgeville 6 FEB, sent to Buena Vista; an amazing 12x single rate franking featuring the largest known multiple of this stamp on cover, a real showpiece. (Image)

1861 5c olive green, stones A or B, a cover with an amazing horizontal strip of four, with wide margins all around (right stamp wrinkled when applied on cover), tied to attractive and fresh yellow-brown cover by pencil cancellation, with ms 5c postage due, sent to a member of the 6th Reg’t Virginia Cavalry. This spectacular strip is one of the largest used multiples of the stamp on cover. Our review of the Siegel auction archive has not revealed anything of a comparable nature; certainly a very important item of the Confederate States. (Image)

Postmasters' Provisionals. 1861 Knoxville, TN, 5c brick red with slightly touched margin bottom left and tiny wrinkle at top, otherwise fine, cancelled in ms on clean envelope with endorsement 14 Nov 1861, sent to Kingston, TN. According to Crown only 18 letters of Scott 47X1 and 47X2, ex Dr Carl Agre. (Image)

1861 Knoxville, TN, 5c carmine on grayish laid paper with only slightly touched margin at top right, otherwise with wide margins and tied by pen obliteration on cover to Athens, TN, the carmine shade is a scarce stamp on cover, signed Calves. (Image)

New Orleans 5c brown a very fine pair with full to wide margins (a little close at bottom but not touching), cancelled and tied by New Orleans circular datestamp (date indecipherable), on attractive little buff envelope sent to Richmond, VA; some minor damage to back flap, but very scarce in this fine quality. (Image)

Blood’s Penny Post 1c bronze on lilac very fine with full to wide margins acid tied on very appealing small envelope with razor-sharp datestamp Blood’s Despatch DEC 13 4 ½pm 1854, sent to Lancaster in combination with very fine 3c with full to wide margins tied by a beautiful Philadelphia DEC 13 (1854); a beautiful cover in premium condition. (Image)

Philippines » Filipino Revolutionary Mail. La Unión Provisionals. An extraordinary group of 59 stamps featuring the "blank paper" issue, with 24 singles o.g., all except one being marginal, including 2c to 25c three sets of eight each printed in black, violet and red, partial sheet reconstruction of 2c comprising 35 stamps and containing one marginal block of ten at top featuring the two horizontal rows at top, few examples with imperfections; a very rare assembly; ex Lange. (Image)

Puerto Príncipe. 1898 1c on 1m orange-brown, third printing, position 2, mint, lovely fresh and very fine appearance, small hinge remains to reverse mentioned only for accuracy, does not affect importance, scarce issue; only 180 printed; ex Prats. (Image)

1898 5c on 1c black-violet, fourth printing, position 2, inverted surcharge, used and tied to a piece by Puerto Principe cds, some climate toning, strong colour, good example of this rare overprint error; signed Bloch; ex Prats. (Image)

1847-72 United States, 7 better covers, incl. very attractive 1862 cover from Franklin, NH to Charlestown w 3c stamp cancelled with “PAID 3” to indicate prepayment, also 1872 Claremont, MN franked with 1870-88 Bank Notes issue 1c, 3c, 7c (pair); a very attractive set of early covers in very fine condition. (Image)

1853-86 four postal stationary envelopes, three from Wells Fargo with oval markings in black, blue, and pink, including departure markings of Bernardino, Cal, and Bodega, also a Pacific Express cover, paid 3c cancelled Sutter Creek; fine to very fine. (Image)

US Civil War 1860-65 a beautiful lot of twelve patriotic covers (+ 3 forgeries), all except one franked with 3c stamps of the 1857-61 or the 1861 issue, the condition is better than usual with attractive and fresh covers, two northern regions used in the south like Mobile (AL) 1860 and Old Point Comfort (VA) 1860; very interesting illustrations showing uniforms and range of patriotic designs. (Image)

1857-61 issue 5c brown type I and 10c green probably type V, struck by red bar on cover from San Francisco to Bordeaux, by British packet; very fine lettersheet, upper flap slightly reduced, otherwise fine; ex Scott Gallagher. (Image)

1865 24c gray tied to cover by mute barred cds, sent to London by British packet, orange "Boston Br Packet 30 May 19 paid", London receiver on front; very fine and attractive cover with clear postmarks. (Image)

1869 15c with E grill, obliterated by mute cork cancel, on folded letter datelined New York 6 Jan 1869 sent to Paris, on front is Paid New York 6 Jan and boxed PD, a very fine and fresh entire letter. (Image)

1901, Fast Lake Navigation 1c green & black showing INVERTED CENTRE variety, machine barred cancel, rebacked over creases and sealed tears, fine appearance and rare; cert. PSE (2006) (Scott $25'000). (Image)