The Beginning of Adhesive Postage in the United States continued...

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER AND VERY EARLY USE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "RHM" SIGNATURE.

Shortly after the first day of issue, Postmaster Robert H. Morris decided to begin initialing the provisional stamps. July 17, 1845, is the earliest recorded date of use for a New York Postmaster Provisional with validating initials (see Piller book, p. 61, and lot 602). This cover is dated one day later. The "RHM" initialed stamp is extremely rare on cover. Because of the New Hamburgh find, it is as rare or even rarer used from New York City than used to New York City. Wall recorded only six "RHM" covers used from New York in his Chronicle series.

Illustrated in Chronicle No. 97 (p. 11). With 1977 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "RHM" SIGNATURE ON A LETTER FROM JAMES LENOX IN NEW HAMBURGH AND MAILED FROM NEW YORK CITY.

In his article in Chronicle 99, Phillip Wall traced the history of the James Lenox "RHM" covers. Lenox was a prominent New York philanthropist and book collector in the mid-1800's. His collection of books and paintings formed the core of the Lenox Library on 5th Avenue, which became part of the New York Public Library in the late 1800's. He was also a founder of Presbyterian Hospital. Lenox spent the summer of 1845 in a manor house in New Hamburgh while his Fifth Avenue townhouse was being built. From there he corresponded with associates in New York and Boston. Wall records seven covers sent by Lenox from New Hamburgh with "RMH" initialed stamps. This cover is the earliest of the seven and the only one that was mailed from New York.

Illustrated in Chronicle 99 (p. 166) and Piller (p. 66). From our 1966 Rarities of the World sale. With 1974 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "RHM" SIGNATURE.

In his Chronicle No. 97 article, Phil Wall records only six covers with "RHM" signature used from New York. Ex Col. Green and Weill (Image)

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