1251 C Housatonic Rail Road 5. Extraordinarily clear strike of
red handstamp on immaculate white cover to Stapleton N.Y.,
Extremely Fine, a beautiful and very scarce marking, ex
Grunin..........................................................$ 525
1253 C Mobile Express Mail. Five covers, each with partly clear
blue Mobile cds and endorsed "Express Mail", three rated
at $3.00 (one re-rated from $2.00), one rated at 75c and
one at $1.50, few small faults, an interesting group............$ 100
1256 C New York May 24. Red cds with ornaments above and below
date, red ms. "1-1/2" War Rate (1c plus 50% surcharge) on
printed 1815 notice locally addressed, toned filed folds,
otherwise Fine, very rare 1-1/2c War Rate.......................$ 425
1257 C New York Stampless Covers, 1770-1799. 13 folded letters,
includes three Colonial "NEW/YORK" two-line hs (1770 to
England, two 1771 to Phila.), 1785 and 1786 dates with
straightlines, 1793-99 dates with straightlines, one
clamshell frame, and two with "HUDSON" straightline,
Fine-Very Fine group............................................$ 450
1258 C Parkersburg Va. Stencil. Bold brownish-black cds with ms.
"Sept. 13" date on 1833 folded letter to Copenhagen N.Y.,
sender's routing "Via Pittsburg", minor age toning, Very
Fine strike.....................................................$ 110
1259 C Parkersburg Va. (West Va.) Postal History. Massive balance
of the Devol collection, hundreds of covers incl.
stampless period (manuscript towns, handstamps etc.),
1861's, Civil War patriotics, corner cards and advertising
covers (incl. wonderful trained animal show design), many
items with $50-75 retail value - worth careful examination....$ 2,100
1261 C The Department of the Police and Fire Alarm Telegraph.
Superindendent's official imprint cover to Mr. Joseph L.
Parry (better known as a prisoner-of-war at Salisbury
N.C., who sent his wife a series of dazzling U.S./C.S.A.
combination covers), marked "Important", slight soiling,
slightly reduced at R., Fine, examples of municipal
telegraph imprints are much scarcer than commercial firms'
imprints........................................................$ 100
1262 C Providence R.I. Feb. 16. Red cds with "2" hs for local
rate, forwarded to Newport with additional red "5" rate
hs, on embossed Valentine cover, Very Fine.......................$ 60
1263 C Singapore to Vermont, 1839. Red "Boston Mass." cds and
"Ship" hs, ms. "20-3/4" rate on folded letter from
missionary in Singapore with good content re pirates,
difficulty with Dutch officials in Borneo, life in
Singapore etc., Fine............................................$ 210
1264 C Steam-Packet Franklin. Capt. R. W. Sherman. Lake
Champlain. Red double-line circle clearly struck on folded
cover to Burlington with "United States" indicating
Canadian origin, side flap missing, Very Fine...................$ 600
1265 C "U.S.M.S. Illinois Oct. 24/56 10 cts". Ms. pmk. on small
cover to Coldwater Mich., partly struck "Steamship 10" in
circle hs, small faint stain, Fine, U.S. Mail Steamer
Illinois ran intermittantly between N.Y. and Chagres,
Panama, from 1851 to 1859 - an unusual marking associated
with this service...............................................$ 105
1266 C Negative "Washington City" Horse & Rider Oval. Orange-red
handstamp clearly struck on flap, matching red "Washington
City D.C. Dec. 1" cds and "Free" hs on folded letter free
franked "Free R. French" as Representative from Kentucky,
datelined Washington D.C. Dec. 1, 1844, to his wife in
Mount Sterling Ky., content mentions Texas annexation
question. An enigmatic marking: the other known example of
this Horse & Rider oval is also on a free-franked cover
(Knapp Sale, Part 2, lot 1378), dated April 14, 1842, no
explanation for its purpose or meaning has been
determined, but it is a very distinctive and rare marking.....$ 2,000
1267 C STAMPLESS COVERS, 1763-1797. Eight folded letters incl.
1763 Phila. to London (Bishop's Mark), 1765 to N.Y. with
very faint red "PHILA/DELPHIA" two-line hs, "11d" & "2"
ms. rates, 1782-83 two hand-carried Va., four 1796-97
Baltimore straightlines, minor faults, generally Fine-Very
Fine............................................................$ 250
1268 C STAMPLESS COVERS, 1794-1851. Three, first bears
straightline "Balt. Jan. 19" with 1794 docketing on folded
letter to Philadelphia, second bears "Annapolis Md. Jan.
19" ms. pmk. with "SHIP" on 1810 folded letter to
Providence, third bears red "Richmond Va., Paid 3ct." on
1851 printed circular to N.C., all are Fine......................$ 50
1269 C STAMPLESS TRANSATLANTIC COVERS, 1808-1874. Eight better
items incl. 1808 Phila. "Ship" hs on inbound cover from
France, two depreciated currency markings, "Fiume"
straightline on cover to Portand Me., Very Fine group...........$ 200
Unusual Markings & Labels
1270 C Accidentally Mutilated By Postmarking Machine. Purple
four-line handstamp on cover front bearing 5c Chocolate
(223) tied by star fancy cancel, matching indistinct Maine
cds, to London and forwarded to Paris, the cover front is
affixed to Post Office Department Official envelope which
has London and Paris backstamps, Very Fine and interesting
usage...........................................................$ 150
1271 C Forwarded from Queenstown, Ireland per Steamer 'Oregon'.
1886 New York Post Office label affixed to back of G.B.
-1/2p wrapper addressed to Milwaukee, Wis., and cancelled
by "3 3 86" datestamp, some wear as normal for a piece of
wreck mail, Very Fine and attractive, most wreck mail
exposed to water have the stamps missing, this is an
excellent example showing both postage applied and the
wreck label.....................................................$ 100
1272 C Montauk Station New York N.Y.. Oct. 8, 1898 duplex cds and
grid ties 10c Special Delivery (E5) on 2c Green entire to
Brooklyn N.Y., Brooklyn & Jamaica RPO transit backstamp,
Very Fine, scarce marking, Montauk Station operated
briefly from Aug. 8, 1898, to May 31, 1899, at Camp Wykoff
Hospital for returning Spanish-American War soldiers from
Cuban campaign..................................................$ 400
1273 C Russian Railway Service Corps. Three covers to Illinois
with typed endorsement "From F. W. Keeler, Lt. R.R.S.
Corps, c/o U.S. Consul, Harbin, Manchuria" on backs, 1918
dates, two have Russian frankings, one has China franking,
all with censor labels and markings, Fine and rare group
of covers from this fascinating chapter of World War I:
the RRSC was sent by the U.S. during WWI to maintain
railroads in Russia after the Czarist government was
overthrown (they arrived before the AEF), the 288
civilians were given military titles but, upon their
return, they were denied full military status as veterans
- their fight for recognition was finally won in 1973
(with only 33 still alive)......................................$ 525
1274 C San Francisco Apr. 21, 1906. Duplex cds on cover to Italy
mailed without stamps due to earthquake, Italian 50c due
tied on arrival, slightly reduced and a bit toned, still
Fine and scarce.................................................$ 150
1275 C NORTHWEST TERRITORY. "Detroit November the 9th 1801".
Dateline on folded letter signed by John Francis Hamtramck
(made Colonel in 1802), locally addressed, content
regarding business matter, Very Fine, extremely early
letter from Detroit in Northwest Territory......................$ 550
Ohio Postal History
1277 C Marietta. Ms. territorial pmk. with ms. "25" rate on
folded cover to Connecticut, receipt docketing dated Oct.
24, 1795, two file folds##VERY FINE AND FRESH. AN
EXTREMELY RARE NORTHWEST TERRITORIAL MARKING.##The
earliest recorded Marietta town marking is dated August
1794. 1997 ASCC $2,500.00.....................................$ 1,200
1278 C Marietta. Ms. pmk. and "12-1/2" rate on 1796 folded letter
to Washington Pa., a territorial judgment signed by R. J.
Meigs, in two parts: first is a copy of the order for
bricks, this is accompanied by a letter in French
datelined Gallipolis Apr. 9, 1796, the second part shows
Meigs's autograph judgment datelined "March Term 1798",
minor toning and small tears, Fine and rare usage, 1997
ASCC $2,500.00................................................$ 1,700
1279 C Marietta 23 July. Ms. pmk. and "25" rate on 1798 folded
cover to Plainfield Conn., minor age toning at edges and
along file fold (reinforced split), still Fine, rare
Northwest Territory marking, 1997 ASCC $2,500.00................$ 675
1280 C (Marietta) "Way - 10". Ms. pmk. on folded letter from
Hebron Conn., May 8, 1800, to "Colo. Israel Putnam,
Bellpree, N W Territory", care of "Mr. Wells", Jun. 27
receipt docketing, small faint toned spot##VERY FINE AND
EXTREMELY RARE NORTHWEST TERRITORIAL "WAY"
MARKING.##Unlisted in ASCC....................................$ 2,900
1281 C Marietta April 13, 1802, Free 12-1/2. Ms. pmk. with
curious rate and "Free" combination on folded letter to
Postmaster Silas Bent at Charlestown O., Very Fine,
extremely rare and unusual, 1997 ASCC $1,750.00 without
"Free"..........................................................$ 675
1282 C 1786, To Col. Josiah Harmar at Fort Harmar. Folded letter
from Michael Huffnagle to Col. Harmar datelined "Novr.
27th, 1786, Hanna's Town" (Pa.), re land boundaries and
poor state of market, this letter pre-dates 1787
territorial period when no mail service existed, Fort
Harmer was near Marietta, toned and split along folds.........$ 1,250
1285 C (Marietta) 12c War Rate. Ms. "12 Cents due" applied at
Marietta as forwarding postage (to Pt. Harmar) on folded
cover, originating ms. "Pompet April 12th paid 37-1/2"
pmk. (25c plus 50% war surcharge), the Marietta office
first added 12c due (8c plus 50% war surcharge) for a
total of 49-1/2, then realized postage had been prepaid
and marked letter 12c due, Very Fine and unusual War of
1812 rate.......................................................$ 350
1286 C (Marietta) 12c War Rate. Ms. "12 Cents due" applied at
Marietta as forwarding postage (to Pt. Harmar) on folded
letter, originating red "New-York Apr. 18" (1815) cds,
matching "Paid" and red ms. "37-1/2" (25c plus 50% war
surcharge), additional ms. "12 more" under rate, slightly
toned along file fold, otherwise Very Fine, unusual War of
1812 rate usage.................................................$ 375
1288 C Marietta War Rates. Three folded letters, each has clear
strike of "Maria. O." cds, different 50% surcharge rates -
15c (Oct. 31, 1815), 25-1/2c (Nov. 10, 1815) and 30c (Feb.
24, 1816) - minor toning or wear, still Fine-Very Fine
group...........................................................$ 200
1289 C Marietta O. Jun. 11. Cds with "Paid" and "37" rate on
folded printed notice to Cincinnati, redirected to St.
Francisville La., rimless "Cincinnati O. Jun. 30" cds and
ms. "50" rate, undeliverable and handstamped "Dead Letter
Office" in red circle, ms. notation, re-rated "50", at
upper left is a "Paid 21" which must be a box number, Very
Fine.............................................................$ 75
1290 C Forwarded by Harnden Express Marietta, Ohio. Four-line
black on white label on legal-size cover to Boston, ms.
"Paid thru 12/-" (12 bits), small tear at lower right,
otherwise Very Fine, scarce Harnden label.......................$ 400
1291 C Morse's N.O. & O. Telegraph Co. Marietta, Ohio. Three-line
black on yellow label on brown cover with original Feb. 6,
1851 telegraph form enclosed, Very Fine, extremely rare,
1993 ASCC Rarity 9..............................................$ 450
1292 C Ohio Steamboat Postal History. The Devol collection of
several dozen covers incl. early stampless markings -
"SB", "per Steamboat", "per Doctor Franklin", etc. - and
1861's with handstamps (Steamer Potomas, Rebecca, etc.),
stampless corner card cover "U.S. Local Inspectors of
Steam Vessels", a very desirable group of Ohio waterway
covers........................................................$ 3,000
1293 C Marietta O. and Parkersburg W. Va., Railroad and R.P.O.
Collection. The Devol collection of more than 100 covers
incl. scarce markings, corner cards, postcards, late 19th
and early 20th century R.P.O.'s, a large assembly of
scarce material...............................................$ 1,800
1294 C Athens Co. Ohio Postal History. Balance of the Devol
collection mounted on exhibit pages, stampless incl.
scarce Athens two-line hs between bars, some 1851 and 1861
issues incl. legal-size cover with two strikes of "OK"
cancel on No. 65, corner cards and advertising, excellent
study collection................................................$ 300
1295 C Blenerhasset Is. O. Postal History. Small but interesting
study collection formed by Jerry Devol, mostly postcards
and ephemera but also includes 1798 folded letter from
London to Henry Blenerhasset at Marietta, scarce group
relating to this island town....................................$ 260
1296 C Marietta and Washington Co. Ohio Postal History. The huge
balance of the Devol collection, hundreds of covers,
arranged on plastic cover holders with some mounted for
exhibit, early 19th century post office receipts,
stampless period incl. manuscript and handstamped
markings, some 1851's, good showing of Civil War
patriotics, large number of advertising covers and corner
cards in the 1861 and Bank Note period, 20th century incl.
unusual markings and postcards, also a small collection of
Marietta post offices outside Ohio, items of note incl.
1831 folded letter endorsed "by Moses Tracy, P.R." (Post
Rider), postmasters' free franks and scarce manuscript
town postmarks, a massive and extremely valuable study
collection....................................................$ 1,300
1298 C Balance of the Devol Ohio Postal History Collection. Many
hundreds of covers and cards arranged on plastic cover
holders, an A to Z representation of post offices incl.
19th and 20th century markings, manuscripts, handstamps,
patriotics, advertising and corner cards, numerous scarce
towns, a lifetime study worth careful examination by the
Ohio specialist or cover dealer - many items with retail
value of $50-75 each..........................................$ 3,250
Territorials & Westerns
1299 C ARIZONA. "Apache Pass At.-9-14-79". Ms. postmark on
registered cover with 2c, 3c and 6c Bank Notes (183 pair,
184, 186), each with matching pen squiggle, some stains at
edges and small tears, very scarce, earliest reported use
of this townmarking in manuscript...............................$ 400
1300 C Tucson A.T. July. Partly clear cds in ultramarine with
inverted month on yellow cover to Lima N.Y., portion of
contents from soldier complaining about the high cost of
living in Arizona, Fine and rare.................................$ 80
1302 C INDIAN TERRITORY. "Kidron Cher. Nat. Jan. 12 - 44." Ms.
pmk. with postmaster's free frank on folded letter to
Altoona Ill, interesting content "The Cherokees are in a
deplorable condition. I think they have been growing worse
and worse ever since the massacre of 39. I think there is
innocent blood resting on the nation which has not been
washed away and is now calling down the judgment of God."
Very Fine.......................................................$ 250
1303 C OKLAHOMA. "Fort Towson, June 24, 1837". Ms. pmk. and "Paid
25" rate on folded letter to Salem Mass., Very Fine..............$ 40
1304 C Peckham's Hotel, Centerville, Grass Valley, Cal.
Double-line oval hotel forwarder's hs on buff cover to
Griswold Conn., ms. "Centerville Cal. Oct. 27th Paid 6"
pmk., slight wear and wrinkling at edges, small part of
backflap removed, still Very Fine, choice example of this
rare California hotel forwarder handstamp, indicating "to
the mails" service, ex Knapp....................................$ 750
1305 C Iowa City Cal. Jany. 15. Ms. pmk., matching "10" on
illustrated Miner's Coat of Arms cover to Watervliet
Mich., Barber & Baker of Sacramento imprint, some wear,
still a Fine and rare cover.....................................$ 700
1306 C Sacramento Cal. Apl. 11. Remarkably bold oval ds with red
crayon "40" rate on brown cover to Springfield Ill., flap
tear and slightly worn, still Very Fine strike, Apr. 1850
folded letter enclosed, 1997 ASCC $350.00.......................$ 240
1307 C "St. Francisco Oct. 19th 1845". Dateline on folded letter
from a whaler to Hanover Mass., red "New Bedford Ms. May
25" cds, matching "Ship" and "7" rate hs, endorsed
"Politeness of Mate of whaleship Sarah"##VERY FINE. THE
EARLIEST RECORDED COVER FROM THE SETTLEMENT AT SAN
FRANCISCO.##Prior to 1849, the town of Saint Francisco
contained a citadel, a church and a nearby mission.
Letters from this early period are extremely rare, and
this is still believed to be the earliest dated example
that entered the U.S. mails. Illustrated in Letters of
Gold, p. 10...................................................$ 3,500
1309 C Staples Ranch Cal. March 13th. Ms. pmk. with matching "29"
on buff cover to Norfolk England, bold "1/2-1/2" rate,
opened to show markings on both sides, small faults but a
rare usage......................................................$ 115
1311 C Quartzbury Feby 28/53 10c. Ms. pmk. on buff cover to
Gaston Vt. with miner's letter enclosed, usual content to
wife and children except for some belligerent lines in
response to a letter received ("be good enough to sign
their own name to their own damned trash...I will look for
civil letters I call the letter that your hand wrote that
you employed a mean sort of blagard dirty stinking stuff
sir" minor wear, Fine............................................$ 65
1313 C NEW MEXICO [Santa Fe Expedition] "Santa Fe N. Mexico,
April 29th, 1847". Dateline on autograph letter signed by
Major Robert Walker (signed "B. Walker" and initialled
after post-script) to his daughter at Jefferson Barracks
Mo., carried by military courier on the Sante Fe Trail to
Fort Leavenworth Mo. where May 29 cds applied, letter
mentions news that Major Stewart will relieve Walker,
content is otherwise typical of father-daughter
relationship, splits along folds reinforced with archival
tape, address panel toned, still Fine and extremely rare,
Major Walker and his battalion arrived in Sante Fe in
October 1846 and commenced their campaign against hostile
Navajos who had violated a treaty by attacking settlements
and livestock in New Mexico, examples of mail from this
expedition are extremely rare and this letter from its
leader is outstanding.........................................$ 1,000
1314 C OREGON. "Yam Hill, Oregon Territory, 7th Feb. 1846".
Dateline on folded letter to East Chester N.Y., carried on
the Oregon Trail and put into the mails in Missouri, ms.
"Hills Point Mo. 11 July" pmk. and "10" rate, sender's
routing "Via Platte City Mo.", letter comments on life in
Oregon "Country", prospects for farming, soil conditions,
etc., minor splits along folds and wear at corners, still
Very Fine, an extremely early and rare letter carried on
the famous Oregon Trail, over which thousands of settlers
reached Oregon Country........................................$ 1,050
1317 C VERA CRUZ/MEXICO MAY 8. Two-line framed ds and "10" rate
hs on brown cover originally sent to a lieutenant aboard
U.S. Frigate Cumberland at Vera Cruz, red "Newark N.J.
Dec. 21" cds with "Paid" and "10" in circle hs applied at
origin, returned to Newark from Vera Cruz with "Paid"
crossed out, Very Fine..........................................$ 190
1318 C Noisy Carrier's San Francisco. Mail. Oval handstamp,
mostly clear strike on 10c Green Nesbitt entire to
Fitchburg Mass., "San Francisco Cal. 20 Apr." cds, minor
edge wear, Fine, ex Jessup......................................$ 350
1319 C Noisy Carriers Publishing Hall, Long Wharf San Francisco,
Charles P. Kimball, Proprietor. Three-line handstamp in
tiny letters, clearly struck, 10c Green, Ty. III (15),
clear to large margins, in at B., tied by "San Francisco
Cal. 20 Mar." cds on small cover to Southfield Conn., with
1856 enclosure, Very Fine, choice example of this
mail-forwarder's handstamp, remarkable for its diminutive
style and rarity, with 1992 P.F. certificate..................$ 1,000
1320 C Alta Express Co., Angels. Oval hs cancels 3c Red on Buff
entire (U10) with company imprint, to San Francisco, Very
Fine............................................................$ 270
1322 C Freeman & Co.'s Express San Francisco. Red oval hs with
matching "Reply By Freeman & Co's Express" two-line
backstamp on blue Nov. 1855 folded letter to New York,
black "Paid" in frame, file folds, Very Fine....................$ 260
1323 C Freeman & Co. Express Panama Cova & Co. Agents. Red oval
fully struck on Apr. 1857 folded letter (part printed)
from Panama to San Francisco, fresh and Fine, very scarce.......$ 210
1324 C Pacific Express Paid. Illustrated imprint on 3c Red on
Buff entire (U10), cancelled by "San Francisco Cal. Apr.
12, 1858" cds and used to Nicolaus Cal., provisioner's
blind embossing on backflap, with original enclosure dated
1858, fresh and Very Fine.......................................$ 240
1326 C Wells, Fargo & Co., Sacramento, Jul. 2. Blue oval cancels
3c Red entire (U58) with overall hat dealer's imprint to
San Francisco, Wells, Fargo imprint at L., 1871 docketing
at L., barely reduced at R., Very Fine..........................$ 160
1327 C Wells, Fargo & Co. Black frank on 10c Green Nesbitt entire
to Portland Ore., Vancouver Is. 1865 5c Rose (5) tied by
blue "Paid" in oval, no other markings, slightly reduced
at R., Fine.....................................................$ 350
1328 C Pony Express San Francisco. Lartly clear strike of blue
oval on 3c Pink entire with Wells Fargo frank, a
posthumous strike from the original device, lightly
soiled, otherwise Fine..........................................$ 100
1329 C Wells, Fargo & Co. Paid. Printed frank in black on unused
legal-size 9c Lemon on Buff entire (U66), light creasing,
appears Very Fine................................................$ 50
Eastern Forwarders
1330 C American and Foreign Agency...Mar. 6 1832. Transmitted By
Your Most Obt. Servt., Aaron H. Palmer. Five-line hs in
large serrated frame, on back of folded letter from Palmer
himself to Chester N.H., red "New-York Mar. 6" cds, ms.
"18-3/4" rate, Extremely Fine, very rare forwarder's
handstamp.......................................................$ 150
1331 C Forwarded by J. M. Gordon, Treasurer, A.B.C.F.M. Boston.
Red oval handstamp on backs of 26 covers to two
addressees, Boston cds and cancels tie No. 11 (six), No.
26 (fifteen), No. 65 (five), also incl. one stampless and
a defective cover, these covers originated from
missionaries in India - one No. 11 cover has pencil
docketing "God Siva described. He is enclosed in this
envelope" and contains a small metal plate with embossing
of the God Siva - some minor faults typical of original
correspondence, but many Very Fine covers are contained in
this fascinating archive........................................$ 325
1332 C Protestant Mission Rooms. Bold red oval with 3c Dull Red
(26) tied by N.Y. cds on cover to Phila., Extremely Fine.........$ 45
1333 C Protestant Mission Rooms. Bold red oval on small cover to
Salem Mass., 3c Rose, Ty. I (25) tied by "New-York Oct. 7"
cds, Extremely Fine.............................................$ 100
1334 C United States * Despatch Agent * B. F. Stevens. Red May
27, 1871 London double oval ds on U.S. Consulate at
Sheffield imprint cover to Norwich Conn., signed C. B.
Webster and free franked by Representative Chew, blue
Dept. of State imprint, minor wear and small piece of
backflap missing, still Very Fine, rare use of free frank
on transatlantic cover handled by B. F. Stevens.................$ 375
U.S. Postmasters' Provisionals - 1847 Issue
1337 C New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials (9X1a). Three
ample margins, just in at T., tied by red "Paid" in arc,
matching "New-York 5cts 12 Dec." cds on folded cover to
Philadelphia, 1845 docketing on back, Fine......................$ 300
1338 C 5c Red Brown (1). Two, one has ample to large margins,
other has large margins to just in, tied by blue
handstamp, matching "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad May 12"
cds on folded letter to Amsterdam, Holland, letter is
datelined "Charleston S.C. 11th May 1849", British transit
cds and ""England Ober Roterdam" two-line handstamp, ms.
rate markings, some overall wear##VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY
SCARCE RAILROAD ROUTE AGENT MARKING WITH 1847 ISSUE USED
TO HOLLAND.##With 1989 P.F. certificate.......................$ 6,750
1339 C 5c Red Brown (1). Ample to large margins, tied by bold red
grid and part of ms. from receipt docketing, matching "New
Orleans La. May 11" cds on 1850 foldd letter to Paris,
France, ms. "per Liverpool Steamer", boxed "Colonies &c.
Art. 13" handstamp, French transit and due markings,
British transit backstamp, fresh and Very Fine usage..........$ 1,800
1340 C 5c Dark Brown (1a). Ample to large margins, tied by square
grid on 1849 blue folded letter to Peekskill N.Y.,
matching "New-York May 5" cds, cover also bears Swarts'
"Letters for N. York City Direct to Chatham's Park" oval
handstamp and "Post Office Swarts Chatham Square" oval
handstamp, underneath the stamp is a "Paid" in oval
applied by Swarts and a pencil "5" at right, the stamp is
hinged into place##VERY FINE AND UNUSUAL USAGE.##Most
likely the cover was handed off to Swarts paying the 5c
U.S. postage in cash. The cover was marked paid by Swarts,
and the stamp was placed over their handstamp. The pencil
"5" indicated payment to Swarts of the U.S. postage.##With
1981 P.F. certificate.........................................$ 2,000
1342 C 5c Red Brown (1). Top left corner margin single, huge
margin at right showing part of adjacent stamp, in at
bottom, tied by cross-hatched pen strokes on clean cover
to Richmond Va., boldly struck "Thomas's Irving Hotel,
Washington D.C." hotel handstamp, red "Potomac Steamboat
Mar. 15" cds, light horizontal file fold at top affects
sheet margin of stamp, otherwise Fine and interesting
usage - the hotel handed this letter to a route agent.........$ 2,500
1343 C 5c Red Brown (1). Large margins except touched at T.L.,
tied by blue "Philada. Pa. Apr. 4 5cts" cds on folded
letter to Del. with D. O. Blood & Co. 1c Bronze on Black
Glazed (15L13), acid tied, creased from file fold, cover
toned in places, otherwise Fine, presentable example of
this 1847/local combination.....................................$ 300
1344 C 5c Red Brown (1). Large margins all around, cancelled by
blue "5" hs, matching "Elmira N.Y. Apr. 30" cds on turned
cover made from attorney's stationery to Rochester, inside
bears red "Rochester N.Y. May 2 5" cds and is addressed to
Elmira, 1849 docketing, file folds clear of stamp, the
stamp has been lifted and replaced, Very Fine and
extremely unusual usage, addressed to the Clerk of Monroe
County, the cover originally contained additional court
papers and was re-folded and sent back to the original
sender, with 1980 P.F. certificate............................$ 1,100
1345 C 5c Red Brown (1). Clear to large margins, tied by red
grids, matching "Bath N.Y. Dec. 1" cds on cover to Ithaca
N.Y., fresh and Fine, scarce town usage.........................$ 425
1346 C 5c Red Brown (1). Ample to large margins all around, tied
by blue grid, matching Philada. Pa. Mar. 10 5cts" cds on
1850 folded letter to New Jersey, the letter is
Quaker-dated, the stamp has small tear at T.L. corner,
otherwise Very Fine.............................................$ 210
1347 C 5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear
at B.L., fresh color, tied by red grid, matching
"Rochester N.Y. Jun. 30" cds on light blue 1851 folded
letter to New York City, tiny trivial toned spots in B.
margin of stamps mentioned only for accuracy##VERY FINE
AND RARE USAGE. POSTMARKED ON JUNE 30, 1851, ONE DAY
BEFORE THE 1847 ISSUE WAS DEMONETIZED. A VERY RARE
LAST-DAY USAGE.##Ex Sampson...................................$ 3,250
1348 C 5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, approaching the Brown
shade, large margins all around, tied by blue grids and
part of receipt docketing, matching "Geneva N.Y. Sep. 5"
cds and "X" in circle on 1847 folded letter to New York,
light file folds clear of stamps, fresh and Very Fine,
with 1991 P.F. certificate......................................$ 700
1349 C 5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, mostly large margins,
just barely into frameline at upper left, red grid
cancels, tied by ms., matching red "Marietta O. Dec. 2"
(1850) cds on buff cover to Philadelphia, receipt
docketing on back, Very Fine, rare origin for 1847 Issue........$ 500
1350 C 10c Black (2). Large margins to clear, cancelled by boldly
struck orange-red grid, matching "Dansville N.Y. Oct. 24"
cds on blue 1849 folded letter to Toledo Ohio, horizontal
file fold well clear of stamp, a Very Fine and attractive
cover.........................................................$ 1,000
1351 C 10c Black (2). Large margins all around, sharp and
detailed impression, cancelled by boldly struck orange
grid, matching "Mobile Ala. Jun. 5" cds on 1848 folded
letter to Haverhill N.H., fresh and Extremely Fine Fine,
rare strike of a true orange cancel...........................$ 3,700
1352 C 10c Black (2). Right sheet margin and large margins all
around, deep shade and fine early impression, affixed
upside down and tied by three strikes of red "Paid" hs and
matching "Charleston S.C. Feb. 14/10" Valentine's Day cds
on blue folded cover to Ludlow Beebee & Co. in
Philadelphia, Extremely Fine Gem stamp and cover. Although
stamps were relatively new to the American public and this
letter is addressed to a commercial firm, the date of this
mailing, Valentine's Day, and the extremely unusual
upside-down placement of the 10c Washington stamp lead us
to the romantic speculation that the sender was familiar
with the custom of affixing a postage stamp upside down to
convey a message of love and affection. The 10c 1847 stamp
is very rarely found affixed upside down, which at the
time would have been perceived as an offensive treatment
of the beloved Washington. A cover as noteworthy for its
character as its condition....................................$ 2,000
1353 C 10c Black (2). Large margins all around, tied by red
square grid, matching "New-York Aug. 8" cds on cover from
Philadelphia to New York, red "PHILADa. RAIL ROAD"
straightline handstamp, forwarded from one hotel to
another within N.Y.C. and rated "2cts" in ms., redirected
to Manchester N.H., Very Fine and scarce usage, signed
Ashbrook......................................................$ 1,900
1354 C 10c Black (2). Clear at T.L. to large margins, tied by
twice-struck blue "Philadelphia 10cts Nov 13" cds on 1848
folded letter to Hagerstown Md., fresh and Very Fine............$ 700
1355 C 10c Black (2). Three large margins, just clear at B.,
cancelled by pen strokes, blue "Sandusky O. May 23" cds on
cover to New York, cover with spot of ink erosion and
light stain from wax seal on back, otherwise Fine, scarce
1847 Issue origin.............................................$ 1,150
1356 C 10c Black (2). Three large margins showing part of
adjacent stamp at T., just in at B., cancelled by red "10"
and tied by pen cancel on legal-size folded cover to Upper
Marlboro'h Md., blue "Baltimore Md. Jun. 3" cds, light
edge wear, Fine double-rate usage...............................$ 350
1357 C 10c Black (2). Clear to large margins, tied by blue grid
and light strike of "Phila. Pa. 10" cds on buff cover to
Fryburg Me., small stain at T.L. of stamp, otherwise Fine.......$ 425
1358 C 10c Black (2). Large even margins, deep shade, tied by
perfectly struck red square grid, matching "New-York Dec.
4" cds on 1847 folded cover to Hamilton, Canada West, red
"Queenston U.C. Dec. 7 1847" cds, ms. "4-1/2" Canadian due
rate, Extremely Fine and choice, ex Kapiloff..................$ 2,000
1360 C 10c Black (2). Three large margins showing part of
adjacent stamp at top, just cler at bottom, cancelled by
pen strokes and lightly struck "Hudson Riv. Mail N.Y. Nov.
17" cds on blue 1849 folded cover to St. Catharines Canada
West, Ms. "4-1/2" rating, "Queenston U.C. Nov. 29, 1849"
transit, some wear, still a Very Fine usage...................$ 1,600
1361 10c Black (2). Large margins at right and at bottom
showing part of adjacent stamp at right, clear at top,
just in at left, tied by well-struck square grid, matching
"New-York May 8" cds and "U. States 6d" in ribbon
handstamp on part of outer folded address sheet to
Montreal, Quebec, Fine and rare marking, with 1980 P.F.
certificate.....................................................$ 800
1851-56 Issue
1363 C 1c Blue, Ty. Ic/IIIa/IIIa (6b, 8A, 8A). Vertical strip of
three, Pos. 27/37/47L4, the bottom stamp Ty. Ic, mostly
large margins showing part of adjacent stamp at bottom,
just in at bottom left and top right, cancelled by neat
pen strokes and blue "Delavan Wis. 3 cts. Jan. 15" cds on
cover to Clinton Wis., a Fine and rare cover, signed
Ashbrook and accompanied by a note from him to a former
owner, with 1990 P.F. certificate.............................$ 2,200
1365 C 1c Blue, Ty. II (7). Huge even margins all around showing
part of adjacent stamps at T. and B., rich color, tied by
bold "Lynchburg Va. Jul. 29" cds on folded cover to
Baltimore, docketed "Circular" and "1857" on back, file
folds clear of stamp, the stamp is Extremely Fine...............$ 100
1368 C 1c Blue, Ty. II, 3c Dull Red (7, 11). 1c pair from Plate
1E, ample margins to in at B., used with L-shaped strip of
3c (one stamp with line thru value variety), mostly ample
margins, tied by "San Francisco Cal. 16 Jul." cds on 6c
Green Nesbitt entire (U14) to New York City, slight wear
and wrinkling around edges, Fine, a handsome and very
scarce double-rate franking...................................$ 1,600
1369 C 1c Blue, Ty. II, 3c Orange Brown (7, 10). Each with
margins to just in, each tied by "Charleston S.C. Paid
Jul. 6" cds on large part of folded cover Tillers Ferry
S.C., 1c slight toning, otherwise Fine carrier usage............$ 350
1370 C 1c Blue Ty. II, IV (7, 9). Used with 3c Dull Red (11),
each stamp with choice color with the Ty. II from Plate
1E, large margins to just touched at T. of No. 7, tied by
blue "Philadelphia Pa. Aug. 22" cds on 1853 folded letter
addressed to Charles Toppan in Paris France and written by
S. H. Carpenter, appropriate New York and French transits,
Very Fine and attractive usage of stamps from both Plate
One Early and Late, ex Grunin...................................$ 700
1371 C 1c Blye, Ty. II, IV (7, 9). Two covers, first bears
horizontal pair of No. 7 tied on 1856 printed circular to
Liverpool, second bears T. margin pair of No. 9 and is
used with No. 11 on folded cover to France, both have
margins to in and few faults, both almost Fine..................$ 280
1372 C 1c Blue, Ty. III (8). Pos. 70L4, two large margins showing
sheet margin at R., just touched or in at L. and T., tied
by neat grid on folded cover to Boston Mass., file fold
clear of stamp and slight edge wear, Fine and rare..............$ 600
1373 C 1c Blue, Ty. II/IIIa/II (7/8A/7). Vertical strip of three,
Plate 1E in dark shade, ample to full margins, small
sealed tear at left between two upper stamps, tied by
"Cayuga & Susqh. R.R. 17 Jun." cds and smudges on small
cover to Albany N.Y., Fine, very scarce - the strip has an
off-cover Scott Retail value of $1,200.00 - signed
Ashbrook......................................................$ 1,150
1374 C 1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Large to huge margins incl. bottom
sheet margin, beautiful rich color and impression, tied by
grid cancel on embossed Valentine cover to local Bangor
Me. address, attractive Valentine enclosure original to
cover, Extremely Fine...........................................$ 400
1375 C 1c Blue, Ty. IV (9). Recut once and T. and twice at B.,
just barely touched at B.R. to large margins, tied by
partly struck New York cds on New York & California Steam
Ship Line illustrated corner card cover with printed
"Circular" at T., to Medina Mich., trivial edge wear, Very
Fine, ex Haas...................................................$ 600
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