2013 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST POSTAL CARD EVER SENT THROUGH THE NEW YORK POST OFFICE. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

According to the United States Postal Card Catalogue, for at least the first 50 years of postal card use, little attention was paid to observance of "first-day use" as we now know it. Even if an official first day of issue was announced, few cards, if any, were actually made available to the public on that day. In the case of the UX1, this was issued in Springfield Mass. on May 12, 1873 (one is known used on that day). Supplies reached Boston, Hartford, New York and Washington on the following day, which is the earliest known use from those cities. The card offered here with the manuscript notation is truly remarkable.

With 1978 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $14,500.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE POSTAL CARD. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED FIRST DAY USE OF THIS POSTAL CARD. BASED ON THE NOTATION, THIS IS ALSO THE VERY FIRST EXAMPLE OF THIS POSTAL CARD MAILED ON THE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. FIRST DAY POSTAL CARDS FOR ANY ISSUE ARE EXTREMELY RARE. THIS ITEM IS UNIQUE.

According to the United States Postal Card Catalogue, for at least the first 50 years of postal card use, little attention was paid to observance of "first-day use" as we now know it. Even if an official first day of issue was announced, few cards, if any, were actually made available to the public on that day. In many instances, since no rate change was involved, postmasters were ordered to exhaust their stock of old cards before ordering a supply of the new.

Accompanied by article from July-Oct. 1965 Postal Stationery (p. 23) discussing this card. Prior to the discovery of this card, the earliest known use was October 5.

With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com