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United States and Confederate States Postal History continued...

Fancy Cancellations Featuring the Dr. Robertson Collection, cont.
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
1479 c Image24c Gray (78b). Natural s.e. at left, stamp has piece torn from margin at top right (evidently from separation and not affecting design), tied by full bold strike of New York Union Soldier's Head fancy cancel on small cover to Norwich, England, addressed to Raveningham Hall in Norfolk, red "New-York Am. Pkt. 3 May 5" (1866) credit datestamp, red London Paid transit datestamp (May 16) also ties stamp, Norwich receiving backstamp (May 16), couple sealed tears at bottom, slightly reduced at right

VERY FINE APPEARING COVER AND A SUPERB STRIKE OF THE NEW YORK CITY UNION SOLDIER'S HEAD FANCY CANCELLATION ON A HIGH-DENOMINATION 1861 ISSUE PAYING THE TREATY RATE TO ENGLAND.

The creation and use of this fancy cancel in the Spring of 1866 coincided with the return of soldiers from the Civil War. It is known on at least one domestic cover, but apparently the cancelling device migrated to the foreign-mail exchange office, where it was used to cancel stamps on mail to foreign countries. This explains why it is found on high values of the 1861-66 Issue, including the 10c, 12c, 15c, 24c, 30c and 90c denomination stamps off cover. Covers with this cancel are very rare, probably because European stamp collectors removed the high-value stamps from covers. We recently offered one to Italy in the Raymond Vogel collection (Sale 995, lot 2206, realized $32,500 hammer) and a 15c cover to Germany in the Artemis collection (Sale 1012, lot 32, realized $15,000 hammer).

With 1990 P.F. certificate. Ex Herzog, Wunderlich and Dr. Skinner. (Image)

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 E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $9,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
1480 c Image30c Orange (71). Cancelled by bold nearly complete strike of New York Union Soldier's Head fancy cancel, entire profile of mustachioed soldier with sideburns is visible, stamp off center, but Extremely Fine strike of this scarce Civil War era fancy cancellation, desirable on the 30c 1861 stamp which provides a bright background, ex Dr. Skinner (Image)

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 E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
1481 c Image1c Blue (63). Three singles, left stamp s.e. at right, bright color, tied by Dot in Hollow 6-Point Star fancy cancel, "New-York Mar. 11, 1863" double-circle datestamp on folded letter to Portland Me., light vertical file folds incl. one affecting right stamp, Very Fine strikes of this desirable cancel, with 2013 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction
1482 c Image30c Orange (71). Bright color, tied by unusual Sunburst fancy cancel on 1861 folded cover to Bordeaux, France, New Orleans company origination datestamp, red "New York Paid 24 Dec. 18" credit datestamp, French transits, light file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine, a pretty cover (Image)

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 E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
1483   Image3c Ultramarine (114). Two singles, tied on piece by two clear strikes of "KKK" Skull & Crossbones fancy cancel of Union Mills Pa., trace of circular datestamp at bottom, right stamp short perf at top, left stamp single toned perf tip at upper left

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKES OF THE UNION MILLS "KKK" SKULL AND CROSSBONES FANCY CANCEL. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

Union Mills, Pennsylvania, was the source of several remarkable fancy cancel designs in the 1869-71 period, including the "KKK" Skull & Crossbones, Kleagle Mask (two versions) and the Horse in Hat designs. All indicate Ku Klux Klan activity in this Western Pennsylvania town during the immediate post-war Reconstruction period. John H. Beardsley was the postmaster for a brief period of time -- February 9, 1870, to March 16, 1871 -- which coincides with the creation and use of the Ku Klux Klan cancellations.

This is one of a small number of pieces salvaged from a correspondence. We know of three full covers with this cancel, one of which is in the Hirzel collection at the Swiss PTT Museum.

Ex Artemis (Image)

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 E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $16,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
1484 c Image3c Ultramarine (114). Affixed sideways and tied by perfect strike of Horse in Hat fancy cancel and "Union Mills Pa. Feb. 15" (1870) circular datestamp on orange cover to Ellington N.Y., barely reduced at left, stamp with small piece out at left

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE OF THE UNION MILLS HORSE IN HAT FANCY CANCEL. ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE SUBJECTS AND DESIGNS WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

Union Mills, Pennsylvania, was the source of several remarkable fancy cancel designs in the 1869-71 period, including the "KKK" Skull & Crossbones, Kleagle Mask (two versions) and the Horse in Hat designs. All indicate Ku Klux Klan activity in this Western Pennsylvania town during the immediate post-war Reconstruction period. John H. Beardsley was the postmaster for a brief period of time -- February 9, 1870, to March 16, 1871 -- which coincides with the creation and use of the Ku Klux Klan cancellations.

The image of the horse in a human hat is rooted in the secret Society of the Horseman's Word in Scotland. The Ku Klux Klan, established in the defeated South after the Civil War, took its name from the clans of Scotland and used a highly selective view of Scottish history to support its philosophy. Some of the rituals of the Scottish fraternal organization were adopted by Klansmen.

Ex Haas, Dr. Robertson and Boker. Reacquired by Dr. Robertson in our 2008 Rarities of the World sale. (Image)

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 E. $ 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $18,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
1485 c Image3c Ultramarine (114). S.e. at right, tied by bold strike of Kleagle Mask fancy cancel, "Union Mills Pa. Feb. 21" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Lowell Mich., trivial edgewear and slight soiling, pencil "1870" docketing

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL STRIKE OF THE UNION MILLS, PENNSYLVANIA, KLEAGLE MASK FANCY CANCEL. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS PARTICULAR CARVING.

Union Mills, Pennsylvania, was the source of several remarkable fancy cancel designs in the 1869-71 period, including the "KKK" Skull & Crossbones, Kleagle Mask (two versions) and the Horse in Hat designs. All indicate Ku Klux Klan activity in this Western Pennsylvania town during the immediate post-war Reconstruction period. John H. Beardsley was the postmaster for a brief period of time -- February 9, 1870, to March 16, 1871 -- which coincides with the creation and use of the Ku Klux Klan cancellations.

Kleagle is the title held by the Ku Klux Klan officer whose role is to recruit new members. Union Mills is most famous for its "KKK" Skull and Crossbones fancy cancel. Two versions of the Kleagle Mask design were used at Union Mills. This unique example surfaced in the late 1980's in a small postal history mail auction in the midwest.

Ex Dr. Robertson and Boker. Reacquired by Dr. Robertson in our 2008 Rarities of the World sale. (Image)

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 E. $ 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
1486 c Image3c Rose (65). Tied by bold sharp strike of negative Face in Pyramid and Fraternal Letters in Circle fancy cancel with "Corry Pa. Aug. 14" (1866) circular datestamp on cover to Ann Arbor Mich. with colorless embossed corner card of W. A. Rose, dealer in various home products, neatly docketed with 1866 year date, slightly reduced at left

EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS CORRY, PENNSYLVANIA, FRATERNAL CANCELLATION.

The letters in this cancel have previously been identified as "DGA" or Delta Gamma Alpha, but we are unable to verify if they are indeed those Greek letters, nor can we determine exactly what they represent. Nonetheless, this pyramid and three-letter inscription are undoubtedly meant to symbolize a fraternal organization, probably of Masonic origin.

Only one example of this fraternal cancellation is recorded. Dr. Robertson attributes this and other Corry fancy cancellations to James Guy Foreman, who became postmaster on September 20, 1867. James' father was postmaster from 1862 to 1867, and James worked with him in the post office during the last year or so. This cancel was used in August 1866 during that time.

Ex Grunin (Image)

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 E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction
1487 c Image3c Rose (65). Well-centered, creased at upper left, cancelled by Woman in Headdress in Circle fancy cancel, "Corry Pa. Dec. 17" (ca. 1866) circular datestamp on yellow cover to Ann Arbor Mich., Fine, an earlier version of the Woman in Headdress and possibly the only example of it known on cover, ex Grunin (Image)

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 E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction
1488 c Image3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by Woman in Headdress fancy cancel with "Corry Pa. Apr. 22" (1870) circular datestamp on cover to Youngsville Pa., slightly irregular reduction at right but not affecting stamp or cancel, receipt docketing on back

VERY FINE. A CHOICE STRIKE OF THE CORRY WOMAN IN HEADDRESS FANCY CANCELLATION. AMONG THE FINEST OF THE HALF-DOZEN EXAMPLES KNOWN ON COVER.

This beautifully carved cancel depicts a woman's bust in profile, with her hair pulled back in classic Victorian-era style. It was carved by James Guy Foreman, the young postmaster, and one wonders if he modeled it after a local lady of interest.

Ex Grunin (Image)

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 E. $ 1,500-2,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
1489 c Image3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by Woman in Headdress fancy cancel with "Corry Pa. Jun. 25" (ca. 1870) circular datestamp on buff cover to Youngsville Pa. with M. O. Olds wood pump manufacturer's illustrated corner card, also illustrated on back, slightly reduced and minor opening nick at right, Very Fine, a beautifully carved depiction of a woman's bust in profile, with her hair pulled back in classic Victorian-era style, which rivals the cancels produced by the master carver of Waterbury Conn. (Image)

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 E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction

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