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| Lot | Sym. | Lot Description | Est/Cat | Realized |
| 1293° |  |
 Philadelphia Despatch Post,
Philadelphia Pa., 3c Red (15L1). Octagonal margins just slightly into
circle, partly clear impression with usual ms. "R & Co" initials,
red "Paid" and "3" numeral handstamps struck twice, used on folded letter
with July 28, 1843 dateline, addressed to Commerce Street between 4th and
5th Streets, letter discusses bankruptcy proceedings, minor splitting along
fold at topVERY FINE. ONE OF FIFTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST RED STAMP. A WONDERFUL "PRIMITIVE" AMONG PHILATELIC RARITIES. A census of Philadelphia Despatch 15L1 and 15L2 stamps may be found at our website: siegelauctions.com/1999/817/yf81786.htm#98. The cover offered here is No. 6 in the listing. (Image) |
8,500.00 | 0.00 |
| 1294° | |
 Philadelphia Despatch Post,
Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Large margins all
around incl. part of adjoining stamp at right which clearly demonstrates
uneven layout of the plate, tied by ms. "X" and also tied by red
"Philadelphia Pa. Jul. 9" circular datestamp on undated folded letter
Yardville P.O. N.J., blue ms. "10", trivial edgewearEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE USE OF THE 1843 PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST "STRIDING MESSENGER" ISSUE -- THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL STAMP. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE TIED BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP. The Striding Messenger stamp, issued in 1843 by the Philadelphia Despatch Post, is the first pictorial stamp in the world. It depicts a gargantuan letter carrier -- the "City Despatch Post" bag slung over his shoulder -- stepping over the Merchant's Exchange Building, which housed Philadelphia's post office. The image conveys the private posts' superior speed and reliability. The Striding Messenger stamp superseded the handstamped adhesives issued by the Philadelphia Despatch Post in December 1842. Printings were made by Thomas Sinclair, a local lithographer, on thick coated paper and thinner uncoated paper. The varying quality of impressions indicates that the thick coated paper was not well-suited for lithography. The stamp design did not have a stated denomination, but all used examples have a handstamped "3" cents rate. The "R & Co." manuscript initials were applied to each stamp prior to sale by the proprietor, reputed to be Robertson & Co. When the firm was sold to D. O. Blood & Co. in 1845, the stamps were then marked "DOB & Co." A similar design, incorporating the D. O. Blood & Co. name, was lithographed by Wagner & McGuigan and issued after July 1845. Signed "Genuine Robson Lowe" (Image) |
12,500.00 | 6,750.00 |
| 1295° | |
 Philadelphia Despatch Post,
Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black, Without Shading in Background, Initialed "R &
Co." (15L3). Large margins to slightly in at top, corner crease,
cancelled by red outline "3", matching faint "Phila. Despatch Post P.M."
circular datestamp on Oct. 13, 1843 folded letter to local street address,
minor aging and splits along foldsFINE. THIS IS THE RAREST OF THE STRIDING MESSENGER STAMPS, ISSUED BY THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST, PREDECESSOR TO D. O. BLOOD. BETWEEN SEVEN AND NINE COVERS ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST. The "R & Co." Striding Messenger stamps without any background shading lines are extremely rare. This stamp shows an extremely worn impression with the buildings at left and right almost completely missing. (Image) |
E. 3,000-4,000 | 2,500.00 |
| 1296° |  |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Pane of twelve -- Group A on the
lithographic plate of 72 (see Sale 868, lot 2059) -- severed horizontally
into two blocks of six (rejoined with hinges), original gum, large margins,
couple small thins and slight wrinkling from gumVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY SEVEN PANES (INCLUDING ONE PART PANE) OF THE BLOOD'S STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP ARE RECORDED. Our records contain five intact panes, this severed and rejoined pane, and one part-pane of eleven (bottom right stamp cut out). We have determined that there were six different groups of twelve on the lithographic stone. This multiple is an exact duplicate of one of the six arrangements, which we call Group A. D. O. Blood & Co. advertised stamps for sale at the rate of 25c per dozen, therefore, it is logical that sheets were printed with 72 subjects, which could be divided into 6 units of 12 stamps for convenient sale. Scott retail for intact pane of twelve is $5,500.00 (Image) |
E. 2,500-3,500 | 3,250.00 |
| 1297° | |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Large margins incl. part of
adjoining stamps, cancelled by penstroke at left and affixed to
Valentine used to local address, with original contents, stamp with
tiny scuff at top left, cover with some wear, otherwise Fine, attractive
Valentine usage (Image) |
800.00 | 300.00 |
| 1298° | |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Large margins incl. part of
adjoining stamps, uncancelled, affixed to folded cover to New York, blue
"Philadelphia Pa. Sep. 17" circular datestamp and matching "5" in circle
handstamp, 1845 docketing on back, fresh and Very Fine, ex Judd (Image) |
800.00 | 1,000.00 |
| 1299° | |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L6). Large margins to full, intense
shade, small ms. cross at left, affixed to folded cover to New York, blue
"Philadelphia 5 Jun. 30" integral-rate circular datestamp, stamp with some
light toning at left from gum which "ties" it to the cover, Very Fine,
scarce (Image) |
1,250.00 | 650.00 |
| 1300° | |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L6). Large margins to just in,
cancelled by small ms. cross at left and affixed to Dec. 1847 printed
circular soliciting donations for The Colored Infant School, orange label
affixed upside down "By means of Blood & Co's City Despatch, removal
circulars are delivered in quantities, at low rates", stamp with some
slight toning, otherwise Very Fine, interesting usage, ex Gibson (Image) |
1,250.00 | 550.00 |
| 1301° | |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black, "For the Post Office" (15L7). Cut
octagonally, clear margins to just touched, tied by blue
"Philadelphia 5 Jul. 1" integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter
to Milford Mass., trivial soiling, Very Fine, this circular type adhesive
("City Despatch Post" at center) is much rarer than is generally perceived
-- the three circular types (15L7-15L9) were used on outbound letters
carried by Blood's to the post office
(Image) |
1,100.00 | 750.00 |
| 1302° | |
 D. O. Blood & Co.,
Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black, "For the Post Office" (15L8). Margins to
just touched, uncancelled, affixed to folded cover with July 27, 1847
docketing on back and sent to Baltimore, blue "Philada. Pa. 5cts. Jul 28"
integral-rate circular datestamp, vertical file fold well away from stamp,
Very Fine (Image) |
500.00 | 0.00 |
| 1303° | |
 5c Brown (1). Large even
margins, deep rich early color, tied by blue "Paid" in oval, matching
"Philada. Pa. 5cts Oct. 21" circular datestamp on bluish 1847 folded letter
to Baltimore, used with D. O. Blood & Co., (2c) Black, "For the Post
Office" (15L8), two large margins incl. part of adjoining stamp, in at
other sides, uncancelled, file crease thru 5c stamp, still a very
attractive and scarce usage, Extremely Fine appearance
(Image) |
E. 1,500-2,000 | 1,800.00 |