Third Avenue Post Office, New
York N.Y., 2c Black on Pink (139L7). Cut to oval shape as always, clear
impression, uncancelled, affixed with characteristic mucilage to lower left
corner of lady's small embossed cover to Nevada City Cal., no postal
markings, but pencil "Paid 10" at top and receipt docketing on back
("Rec March 16/56, Answered March 17") indicate that
transcontinental postage was paid -- the P.F. opinion is that the stamp did
not originate, but we disagree for the reasons stated belowVERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED THIRD AVENUE POST STAMPS ON PINK PAPER.
Since our November 2000 Hall sale, this example of the Third Avenue Post Office stamp has come to light. It becomes the third recorded example on Pink paper (139L7).
The Third Avenue Post Office was operated by S. Rothenheim in 1855 and 1856. Rothenheim was at one time a carrier for Boyd's post. In our opinion, the fact that this stamp is used on a cover with March 1856 receipt docketing is powerful evidence in its favor. We also believe that the excess mucilage on the stamp and on the cover surrounding the stamp are positive features. We can find no record of this stamp off cover.
The absence of postal markings is also significant. Our analysis is that the lack of postal markings, the "Box 471" notation at lower right and the pencil "Paid 10", combine to indicate that the cover was given to Rothenheim, then placed by him inside a government stamped envelope and sent either by regular mail or express, to be delivered to Box 471 in Nevada City. Boyd's was connected to Western expresses operating during the 1855-56 period, and it is very likely that Rothenheim, a Boyd's carrier, was familiar with the express firms and how to coordinate local delivery with their service to win business.
With 2002 P.F. certificate stating that the stamp did not originate, but the buyer of this cover has compelling reasons to disregard the P.F. opinion. (Image)