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The New Amsterdam Collection of City Despatch Post continued...

1842-46 United States City Despatch Post continued...
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
247 c U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b).> Cancelled by red U.S. in frame, matching U.S. City Despatch Post Oct. 21, 4 OClock Type II circular datestamp, used to forward inbound letter from Ohio, faint blue town daU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b). Cancelled by red "U.S." in frame, matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Oct. 21, 4 O'Clock" Type II circular datestamp, used to forward inbound letter from Ohio, faint blue town datestamp, stamp affixed over crossed-out rate, file fold away from stamp, stamp with light corner crease at top right, otherwise Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail $750.00 (Image)

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 E. 300-400

SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction
248 c U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b).> Large margins to just touched, light shade, faults, red U.S. in frame cancel (probably lifted and moved down), used on 1846 folded letter with local address, senders endorseU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b). Large margins to just touched, light shade, faults, red "U.S." in frame cancel (probably lifted and moved down), used on 1846 folded letter with local address, sender's endorsement "Paid at the Western Hotel", pencil "3", red "Paid" in arc, red "U.S. City Despatch Post May 7, 4 O'Clock" Type II circular datestamp, slightly toned, still Fine and rare usage, the red "Paid" arc and ms. "3" rate are indicative of cash prepayment, in this case the endorsement supports the theory that the writer was a guest at the hotel, ex Gordon N. John (Image)

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 E. 200-300

SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
249 c U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5).> Large margins, cancelled by U.S. in frame on folded cover to Charleston S.C., red New-York Feb. 17 (1845) circular datestamp, blue manuscript 25 rate, part of back panelsU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5). Large margins, cancelled by "U.S." in frame on folded cover to Charleston S.C., red "New-York Feb. 17" (1845) circular datestamp, blue manuscript "25" rate, part of back panels removed, otherwise Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 E. 300-400

SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
250 c U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b).> Full to large margins, tied by U.S. in frame on folded cover to Charleston S.C., red New-York Apl. 12 (1845) circular datestamp, blue manuscript 25 rate, stamp has coupleU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b). Full to large margins, tied by "U.S." in frame on folded cover to Charleston S.C., red "New-York Apl. 12" (1845) circular datestamp, blue manuscript "25" rate, stamp has couple tiny breaks in surface coating (endemic to the issue), otherwise Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate as Blue Green (Image)

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 E. 300-400

SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction
251 c U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b).> Large margins, deep shade, red U.S. in frame cancel struck twice, red Paid in arc and manuscript 6 rate on folded cover <to Paramus N.J.,> endorsed <<Mail,>> no U.S. CiU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b). Large margins, deep shade, red "U.S." in frame cancel struck twice, red "Paid" in arc and manuscript "6" rate on folded cover to Paramus N.J., endorsed "Mail", no U.S. City Despatch Post or New York post office markings other than "U.S." and "Paid", Paramus is less than 25 miles west of New York City, flaps partly cut away, sealed opening tear into address is barely visible, otherwise Fine, unusual to-the-mails use of the U.S. City Despatch Post stamp, ex Kapiloff (Image)

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 E. 400-500

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction
252 c U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b).> Large margins, cancelled by red U.S. in frame on cover <to Tallahassee Fla.,> red New-York 10cts Oct. 16 (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp struck on top of U.S. CityU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Blue Glazed (6LB5b). Large margins, cancelled by red "U.S." in frame on cover to Tallahassee Fla., red "New-York 10cts Oct. 16" (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp struck on top of U.S. City Despatch Post circular datestamp, small cover edge tear at top right well away from stamp, stamp with small corner crease at bottom right, otherwise Very Fine and scarce to-the-mails use, the U.S. City Despatch Post stamps are rarely found on covers to other post offices at the July 1845 rates (the carrier operation closed in November 1846), with 1998 P.F. certificate as Blue Green (Image)

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 E. 400-500

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction
253   U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 2c on 3c Black on Blue Green Glazed, Red Surcharge (6LB7).> Large to huge margins, clear overprint and deep paper shade, vertical crease<><>^EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE WORU.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 2c on 3c Black on Blue Green Glazed, Red Surcharge (6LB7). Large to huge margins, clear overprint and deep paper shade, vertical crease

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE WORLD'S FIRST GOVERNMENT-ISSUED OVERPRINTED STAMP. A MAJOR RARITY OF TREMENDOUS PHILATELIC SIGNIFICANCE AND APPEAL.

The world's first government-issued, overprinted stamp is the 2c on 3c U.S. City Despatch Post carrier issue, Scott 6LB7. It was overprinted in late 1845 or early 1846 to meet the need for a 2c stamp to prepay the carrier fee after the drop-letter rate was modified on July 1, 1845. Only four stamps are recorded, including three genuinely used on covers.

To understand why it was necessary to revalue U.S. City Despatch Post stamps from 3c to 2c, it is helpful to look at the effects of the July 1, 1845, postal reform (as per the Act of March 3, 1845). As is well-known to most U.S. stamp collectors, the July 1st reforms created the simplified 5c and 10c postage rates and laid the foundation for adhesive stamps to be used in this country. The postmasters' provisionals appeared first, followed in 1847 by the first General Issue (Scott 1 and 2). However, at the same time inter-city rates were lowered, Congress raised the drop-letter rate from 1c to 2c. A drop letter is one brought to a post office that is not transmitted to another post office. Congress raised the drop-letter rate out of fear that the new postage structure would cause a severe decline in postal revenues. By raising the intra-city rate, Congress hoped to offset some of the anticipated losses.

The consequences of this legislation for the U.S. City Despatch Post were immediate and dire. Prior to July 1, 1845, a drop letter could be taken by the carrier to or from the post office for 3c, which included 2c for the carrier department and 1c for the post office (drop postage). Beginning July 1, an extra cent was required for the drop postage, making the total amount equal to 4c. Although other classes of mail were unaffected by the drop-rate increase (including carrier letters that by-passed the main post office), the U.S. City Despatch found itself at a severe disadvantage competing with local posts, who generally charged 2c for a city letter. In the post-July 1 period, not only did Boyd flourish, but many smaller local posts entered the scene, hoping to capture a share of the market for intra-city letter delivery. By November 1846, the U.S. City Despatch Post was closed. Government carrier service would not appear again in New York City until 1849 under Robert Roberts' supervision.

The three recorded 6LB7 covers were mailed during the first eight months of the 2c drop-rate period. The covers are listed chronologically as follows: 1) Jan. 9, 1846 (red "New York 2 cts"), stamp cut in and tied by filing crease, addressee's name crossed out, no carrier markings, ex Ferrary, Hind, Waterhouse and Middendorf, 2) Feb. 14, 1846 (red "New-York 2 cts" and red carrier datestamp), stamp tied by filing crease, to Rev. R. S. Cook, Tract House, ex Hunter, Caspary, Boker, Golden and "D.K." (realized $62,500 hammer), and 3) Mar. 2, 1846 (red carrier datestamp), stamp originally affixed on back over folds and torn in half upon opening, to W. A. Sesley, 213 Fulton St., no other markings, ex Caspary. This off-cover stamp was previously affixed to a cover dated Oct. 29 (1845 or 1846), but did not originate.

The rarity of the 2c on 3c stamp suggests that it was used on a very limited basis, during a period of decline for the U.S. City Despatch Post. By overlaying the "2" overprint on the "2" in the drop-rate datestamp, we have determined that they are identical in size and shape. The overprint was probably made from a modified integral-rate marker and struck by hand on each stamp.

Ex Grunin and Gordon N. John (Sale 868, lot 2045, realized $15,500 hammer). With 1985 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 E. 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

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