2013 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE UNUSED BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of five or ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors.

With 1975 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $76,000.00 as block of four and pair with original gum. Scott Retail as six no gum singles (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE AND DESIRABLE RED ORANGE SHADE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY DOT IN "S" VARIETY OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE RED ORANGE COLOR WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE.

According to a series of articles by the late Calvet M. Hahn in the Collector's Club Philatelist, the Red Orange shade was printed some time during the fourth and last printing, which took place in December 1850. The Dot in "S" variety only occurs in the ninth vertical column of the left pane.

Ex Natalee Grace. With 2007 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (both graded XF-Superb 95, SMQ $25,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE CARTER'S LOCAL POST STAMP USED WITH THE 1847 ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH BOTH STAMPS TIED BY THE PHILADELPHIA DATESTAMP.

In total we record fewer than six combinations of the 5c 1847 Issue and the G. Carter's local. This is the first such combination we have offered since keeping computerized records. The Philatelic Foundation has certified two others, but the locals were not tied.

Listed but unpriced in Scott. With 2010 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A SCARCE PRINTER'S CORNER CARD COVER USED FROM PHILADELPHIA TO FLORIDA.

Ex Pope and Kapiloff. With 2002 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE UNUSED SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE.

The 1847 Issue is much scarcer in unused condition than other issues, because the stamps were demonetized in 1851. They could be exchanged for the new issue, but once the exchange period ended, the stamps would have no postage value. Considering the purchasing power of ten cents in 1851, it is not surprising that the stamps were either used or exchanged, rather than left for future generations of collectors

With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR SELDOM-OFFERED 1847 PLATE VARIETY IN CHOICE CONDITION.

Ex Senchuk. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $1,750.00 as ordinary used stamp). On a ratio basis, this stamp would most likely be valued around $5,500.00 in SMQ if it were listed (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM STAMP ON A BEAUTIFUL FRESH FOLDED COVER. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION.

Ex Knapp (lot label affixed) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM 10-CENT 1847 STAMP ON A BEAUTIFUL COVER FROM THE TURNER CORRESPONDENCE.

The Turner correspondence is noteworthy for the artful arrangement of 5c and 10c 1847's on envelopes. This is an exceptionally fresh and choice stamp and cover (Image)

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A VERY FINE AND REMARKABLE COVER, DEMONSTRATING THE USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE ENTIRELY OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES ON MAIL BETWEEN PERU AND MEXICO, CARRIED VIA THE PACIFIC MAIL STEAM SHIP COMPANY LINE. ONLY TWO 1847 ISSUE COVERS HAVE THE "PAN. & SAN FRAN. S.S." ROUTE AGENT'S CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.

The "Pan. & San Fran. S.S." circular datestamp was used between November 1850 and June 1852 on mail handled by route agents aboard ships of the Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company. Contract mail carried by PMSS Co. was received in locked bags, but letters picked up en route were postmarked by official route agents, as evidenced by 25 recorded examples of these rare markings on covers. Only two of the covers have 1847 stamps (Wierenga census).

The two recorded 1847 Issue covers with the "Pan. & San Fran. S.S." circular datestamp both originated in Peru (one in Lima, the other in Paita) and are addressed to Barron, Forbes & Co. in Tepic, Mexico. They were both datestamped on December 4, 1851. Since the two covers followed the same journey, the following description applies to both.

This cover -- with its letter, which is no longer present -- was sent from Paita, Peru, in early November 1851, and carried out of the mails or inside another cover to the care of Smith & Lewis, the Panama forwarding agents. It was stamped in Panama with the strip of three 10c 1847's obtained from Amos B. Corwine, the United States mail agent in Panama. The fact that the stamps had been demonetized in the continental United States more than four months earlier apparently did not matter to Corwine. The mail was given to Gouverneur A. Ferris, the route agent on board the PMSS Co. California, which departed Panama on November 13. On its northbound run, the California evidently did not off-load the mail to Mexico at the ports of Acapulco, San Blas or Mazatlan, but carried it all the way to San Francisco, where the California arrived on December 2, carrying 179 bags of mail (Wierenga, p. 106). The 1847 covers to Mexico were postmarked by Ferris on December 4, one day before he departed on the PMSS Co. Golden Gate. On the southbound trip, the two 1847 covers were off-loaded at San Blas and then carried to Tepic.

This cover from Peru to Mexico via Panama was prepaid at the U.S. 30c Panama (Pacific Coast) rate. The stamps came from a supply of 5,000 10c 1847 Issue stamps sent to A. B. Corwine, to facilitate prepayment of U.S. postage on mail sent via Panama. They became available in Panama on July 16, 1850. Corwine's responsibilities included arranging for mail to be carried across the Isthmus of Panama, between Chagres on the Atlantic side and Panama City on the Pacific side, and to receive mail for transport on the PMSS Co. line. It is this unique circumstance of postal history that made it possible for letters to have United States stamps, but never enter a U.S. post office.

The record of 10c 1847's showing use of the stamp from Panama contains ten full covers, one piece and a strip of three off cover. Of these, eight covers bear three stamps each for the 30c Panama rate. Four covers were carried from Peru to Mexico via Panama. As noted above, only two have the "Pan. & San Fran. S.S." circular datestamp.

Corwine served as the American commissioner in Panama until Lincoln removed him from office. He was involved in the so-called 1856 Watermelon War, in which inebriated Americans in transit antagonized a local seller of watermelon by refusing to pay, leading to riots -- the vendor pulled a knife, the antagonist pulled a gun, a struggle ensued, and a bystander was shot. Corwine's report of the incident was instrumental in the following short American occupation of the Isthmus, as well as payment of compensation and justification for future military actions to maintain neutrality of Panama.

Ex Kapiloff. (Image)

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