New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC
M" Initials (9X1a). Large even margins all around, detailed impression,
neat blue penstroke cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F.
certificate (as Scott 9X1) (Image)
Providence R.I., 5c & 10c
Gray Black, Se-Tenant (10X1, 10X2). Positions 2-3, horizontal pair,
large to huge margins incl. top right corner sheet margin, original
gum, lightly hinged, intense impressionEXTEMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM SE-TENANT PAIR OF THE 5-CENT AND 10-CENT PROVIDENCE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE.
Ex Chapin. With 1957 and 1999 P.F. certificates (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on
Greenish (11X1). Type I (Position 1), large even margins, proof-like
impression on deep green paper, single penstroke cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OFN THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GREENISH PAPER.
With 1996 and 2004 P.F. certificates. (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on
Greenish (11X2). Type III (Position 6), large even margins all around,
cancelled only by red St. Louis datestampEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER. RARE CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED ST. LOUIS DATESTAMP.
Most used "Bears" are either cancelled by penstroke or a combination of penstrokes and the red datestamp. This sound 10c cancelled exclusively by a red datestamp is extremely rare.
With 1983 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on
Gray Lilac (11X4). Type III (Position 5), large to huge margins,
unusually deep impression, cancelled by two unobtrusive
penstrokesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER.
The St. Louis Bear stamps were printed from a single plate of six subjects (two horizontal by three vertical) that was modified twice to change the denominations of two positions. The original plate (First State) contained three 5c stamps at left and three 10c stamps at right. All stamps from the First State plate were printed on Greenish paper. The plate was then altered by burnishing out the "5" on Positions 1 and 3 and engraving a new "20" denomination (Second State). A small printing on Greenish paper was made from this Second State altered plate. 5c stamps (Position 5) and 10c stamps (Positions 2/4/6) on Greenish Paper cannot usually be identified as First State or Second State impressions (the 20c on Greenish paper is a great rarity). The larger portion of stamps from the Second State plate are on Gray Lilac paper. However, because only one of six subjects was a 5c value, the 5c on Gray Lilac is an extremely rare stamp -- perhaps even rarer than the 20c on Gray Lilac. The plate was modified again by burnishing out the "20" and engraving the old "5" denomination (Third State). At the time of this second alteration, a large ball was engraved inside the end curl of the numeral "5" on Position 5. As far as we know, all stamps from the Third Plate were printed on a very thin pelure paper. These were the last stamps used before the 1847 Issue was placed on sale in St. Louis.
With 1976 and 1996 P.F. certificates (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on
Gray Lilac (11X5). Type III (Position 6), large even margns all around,
cancelled by single penstroke and trace of handstamp at bottom left, crisp
impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
With 1993 and 2004 P.F. certificates (Image)