Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

United States Postal History continued...

**West Meriden Conn. Devil & Pitchfork Cancellations**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
488		Devil & Pitchfork. Bold strike ties 2c Black (73) on unsealed buff cover to Windsor Conn., "West Meriden Conn. Aug. 29" (1866) circular datestamp EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE AND COVER. THE FINEST OF THE THREE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF A 2-CENT BLACK JACK TIED ON COVER BY THE WEST MERIDEN DEVIL AND PITCHFORK FANCY CANCEL. Census records contain the following three genuine examples (in chronological order, all 1866 dates): 1) Jun. 1 to Meriden Conn. with U.S. Internal Revenue printed corner card, weak strike, stamp defective, offered in lot 512, 2) Aug. 1 to Wallingford Conn. with U.S. Internal Revenue printed corner card, cover with two tiny faults, ex Lehman, Rorke (realized $6,500 hammer in 1988), and 3) Aug. 29 to Windsor Conn., unsealed circular-rate cover, the example offered here. With 1981 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	8,000.00
489		Devil & Pitchfork. Perfect strike ties 3c Rose (65) on immaculate cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. Aug. 10" (1866) circular datestamp, Extremely Fine strike and cover (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	2,500.00
490		Devil & Pitchfork. Bold strike ties 3c Rose (65) on fresh cover to Middletown Conn., "West Meriden Conn. Apr. 21" circular datestamp, with original 1866 letter, slightly reduced at right barely affecting stamp, still Extremely Fine, in this strike the Devil & Pitchfork is rotated slightly clockwise (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	525.00
491		Devil & Pitchfork. Perfect dark strike and "West Meriden Conn. Jul. 3" circular datestamp tie 3c Rose (65) on immaculate cover to New Haven Conn., with original 1866 letter and second printed enclosure, expertly repaired tear in backflap and top of cover well clear of stamp and cancel, Extremely Fine strike (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	900.00
492		Devil & Pitchfork. Clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. Apr. 17" (1866) circular datestamp, natural production crease in cover at lower left, Extremely Fine, this is the earliest recorded cover with the Devil & Pitchfork cancel (see lot 508 for Apr. 16 piece) (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	800.00
493		Devil & Pitchfork. Perfect bold strike ties 3c Rose (65) on small cover to Higganum Conn., partly clear "West Meriden Conn. Jun. 8" (1866) circular datestamp, cover with small faint stains, Extremely Fine strike, with 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,050.00
494		Devil & Pitchfork. Bold strike and "West Meriden Conn. Jul. 26" (1866) circular datestamp tie 3c Rose (65) on cover to Southington Conn., cover with top corners repaired not affecting stamp or cancel, Extremely Fine strike (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	900.00
495		Devil & Pitchfork. Clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on fresh cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. May 18" (1866) circular datestamp, Extremely Fine strike, illustrated in Skinner-Eno (p. 113), ex Knapp, Souren, Eno (Image)	E. 750-1,000	400.00
496		Devil & Pitchfork. Mostly bold strike ties 3c Rose (65) on cover to Deep River Conn., "West Meriden Conn. 20 Aug." (1866) circular datestamp, cover opened a bit roughly at right, Extremely Fine strike (Image)	E. 750-1,000	375.00
497		Devil & Pitchfork. Mostly clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on pink cover to Windsor Locks Conn., "West Meriden Conn. May 1" (1866) circular datestamp, minor opening tears at top, Very Fine strike in slightly rotated position (Image)	E. 500-750	325.00
498		Devil & Pitchfork. Mostly clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on immaculate cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. May 17" (1866) circular datestamp, Very Fine strike, ex Sampson (Image)	E. 500-750	210.00

West Meriden Conn. Devil & Pitchfork Cancellations

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

488

Devil & Pitchfork. Bold strike ties 2c Black (73) on unsealed buff cover to Windsor Conn., "West Meriden Conn. Aug. 29" (1866) circular datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKE AND COVER. THE FINEST OF THE THREE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF A 2-CENT BLACK JACK TIED ON COVER BY THE WEST MERIDEN DEVIL AND PITCHFORK FANCY CANCEL.

Census records contain the following three genuine examples (in chronological order, all 1866 dates): 1) Jun. 1 to Meriden Conn. with U.S. Internal Revenue printed corner card, weak strike, stamp defective, offered in lot 512, 2) Aug. 1 to Wallingford Conn. with U.S. Internal Revenue printed corner card, cover with two tiny faults, ex Lehman, Rorke (realized $6,500 hammer in 1988), and 3) Aug. 29 to Windsor Conn., unsealed circular-rate cover, the example offered here.

With 1981 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

8,000.00

489

Devil & Pitchfork. Perfect strike ties 3c Rose (65) on immaculate cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. Aug. 10" (1866) circular datestamp, Extremely Fine strike and cover (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

2,500.00

490

Devil & Pitchfork. Bold strike ties 3c Rose (65) on fresh cover to Middletown Conn., "West Meriden Conn. Apr. 21" circular datestamp, with original 1866 letter, slightly reduced at right barely affecting stamp, still Extremely Fine, in this strike the Devil & Pitchfork is rotated slightly clockwise (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

525.00

491

Devil & Pitchfork. Perfect dark strike and "West Meriden Conn. Jul. 3" circular datestamp tie 3c Rose (65) on immaculate cover to New Haven Conn., with original 1866 letter and second printed enclosure, expertly repaired tear in backflap and top of cover well clear of stamp and cancel, Extremely Fine strike (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

900.00

492

Devil & Pitchfork. Clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. Apr. 17" (1866) circular datestamp, natural production crease in cover at lower left, Extremely Fine, this is the earliest recorded cover with the Devil & Pitchfork cancel (see lot 508 for Apr. 16 piece) (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

800.00

493

Devil & Pitchfork. Perfect bold strike ties 3c Rose (65) on small cover to Higganum Conn., partly clear "West Meriden Conn. Jun. 8" (1866) circular datestamp, cover with small faint stains, Extremely Fine strike, with 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,050.00

494

Devil & Pitchfork. Bold strike and "West Meriden Conn. Jul. 26" (1866) circular datestamp tie 3c Rose (65) on cover to Southington Conn., cover with top corners repaired not affecting stamp or cancel, Extremely Fine strike (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

900.00

495

Devil & Pitchfork. Clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on fresh cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. May 18" (1866) circular datestamp, Extremely Fine strike, illustrated in Skinner-Eno (p. 113), ex Knapp, Souren, Eno (Image)

E. 750-1,000

400.00

496

Devil & Pitchfork. Mostly bold strike ties 3c Rose (65) on cover to Deep River Conn., "West Meriden Conn. 20 Aug." (1866) circular datestamp, cover opened a bit roughly at right, Extremely Fine strike (Image)

E. 750-1,000

375.00

497

Devil & Pitchfork. Mostly clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on pink cover to Windsor Locks Conn., "West Meriden Conn. May 1" (1866) circular datestamp, minor opening tears at top, Very Fine strike in slightly rotated position (Image)

E. 500-750

325.00

498

Devil & Pitchfork. Mostly clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) on immaculate cover to South Barton Vt., Blake correspondence, "West Meriden Conn. May 17" (1866) circular datestamp, Very Fine strike, ex Sampson (Image)

E. 500-750

210.00