Johnson & Co.'s City Despatch
Post, Baltimore Md., 2c Black on Lavender (90L1). Large margins except
tips of corner diamonds just touched at top, uncancelled, used on folded
letter datelined "Tuesday 25th Jany." (1848) to James Dull, 159
Broadway in Baltimore, the letter was seared by fire, affecting address
panel but only touching corners of stamp at right, well away from the
typeset designVERY FINE STAMP. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE JOHNSON & CO. CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST ELUSIVE STAMPS IN THE WORLD.
The two recorded examples of the Johnson & Co. City Despatch Post stamp -- the only evidence of this Baltimore post's existence -- are dated January 25 and February 19, 1848. According to Elliott Perry, Ezekiel C. Johnson operated the post for a few months in 1848. He was appointed a government letter carrier on November 3, 1841, and reappointed on July 14, 1849. There may be a connection between Johnson & Co. and Mearis' City Despatch Post. A March 22, 1847, announcement in The Sun states that the City Despatch Post (possibly the one started by Mearis) has been acquired by Wm. H. Hahn from R. Wilton. It is possible that Johnson & Co. was the successor.
The stamps printed for Johnson & Co. are similar to the Mearis stamps. Although the paper is catalogued as lavendar, it looks more like bluish-gray. The other recorded example is on a cover to a local addressee, the stamp is also uncancelled.
Illustrated in Steven M. Roth's article on Baltimore local posts (Chronicle, Feb. 1997). Ex Chapman and Caspary (where acquired by the Halls). (Image)