| A |
1568 |
Walton & Co.'s City Express,
Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (142L1). Rectangular margins
with outer frameline showing all around, ms. line thru "City Express" --
not tied, but toning provides a clear tie thru paper -- used on Mar. 27,
1846 folded letter to Philadelphia street address, red "Brooklyn N-Y. Mar.
27" circular datestamp and matching "Paid/5" handstamp, ms. "Paid"
at lower leftEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED COVERS WITH WALTON &
CO.'S STAMP, OF WHICH THREE HAVE RECTANGULAR MARGINS. AN OUTSTANDING
EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE BROOKYLN LOCAL. John T. Boyd discontinued his
Brooklyn post on June 30, 1845, when the new postal laws made it illegal
for private companies to carry mail along postal routes -- in Boyd's case,
between Brooklyn and New York City. Elliott Perry suggested that Boyd's
Brooklyn agent was Wellington Walton, who is listed in the 1846 city
directory as an "express proprietor" at 195 Gold Street in Brooklyn. Walton
& Co. City Express covers are dated as early as February 14, 1846 (see lot
1572), leaving a seven-month gap between Boyd's discontinuance and Walton's
successor post -- possibly Walton did not start up until the next Valentine
season. In early 1847, Walton sold out to Henry Kidder, whose "Kidder's
Brooklyn City Express Post" oval handstamp is recorded as early as Mar. 11,
1847 (reference: Calvet M. Hahn, "Brooklyn City Post 1850's"). Our
records contain seven Walton & Co. 142L1 covers, including one postmarked
at New Haven Conn., Sep. 28, 1846, which almost certainly is not a genuine
usage. The covers are listed here in chronological order: 1) cut to shape,
tied by "Paid/W.W." on cover to local addressee, name erased, Feb. 16
(1846) oval, with Valentine enclosure to "Emma", offered as lot 1570 in
this sale, 2) cut to shape, "Paid/W.W." cancel, matching strike with Feb.
18 (1846) oval on cover to Lefroy Ravenhill, Brooklyn, ex Middendorf,
offered as lot 1569 in this sale, 3) rectangular margins, "Paid/W.W."
cancel, used on 1846 folded letter to Mr. Ward, Newark N.J., Brooklyn Mar.
21 datestamp and "Paid/5", Costales files, 4) rectangular margins, ms.
cancel, used on 1846 folded letter to Constant Guillou, Philadelphia,
Brooklyn Mar. 27 datestamp and "Paid/5", the cover offered here, 5)
octagonal margins, tied by ms. cross strokes on 1846 folded letter to Peter
G. Sharp, Kingston N.Y., Brooklyn Mar. 21 datestamp and small "5", ex
Worthington, and 6) rectangular margins, oblong handstamped cancel, used on
1846 folded letter to Constant Guillou, Philadelphia, Brooklyn Apr. 27
datestamp and "Paid/5", ex Boker. Signed Perry.
(Image) |
E. 7,500-10,000 |
| A |
1570 |
Walton & Co.'s City Express,
Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (142L1). Cut to oval shape,
tied by "Paid/W.W." two-line handstamp struck twice (both tying
stamp), "Walton's Brooklyn City Express Post, Feby. 16 9 O'C" oval
datestamp lightly struck on cover to local addressee, the name and street
have been erased, with a Valentine poem and second envelope enclosed
(address panel removed), to "Emma" and datelined "Valentines Day
Feb. 14 '46"VERY FINE. THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF WALTON & CO.'S STAMP
TIED BY A HANDSTAMPED MARKING -- ONLY ONE OTHER TIED USAGE IS KNOWN, AND IT
IS PEN-CANCELLED. Details of the six recorded 142L1 covers are
provided in the description of lot 1568. This cover is one of two Valentine
usages. It is also one of two tied examples on cover, this being the only
stamp tied by a handstamp. With 1963 P.F. certificate. (Image) |
E. 4,000-5,000 |