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Officials on Cover continued...

Prices realized...
War Department
Lot Sym. Lot Description Est/Cat Realized
3859 c 3c War (O85).> Horizontal pair, s.e. at left, scuffed corner at top right, tied by purplish-black <Fort Grant * Arizona * Mar. 29, 1880> duplex datestamp and Star in Circle cancel on legal-size cover to Tucson, reduced at left, otherwise Fine, scar3c War (O85). Horizontal pair, s.e. at left, scuffed corner at top right, tied by purplish-black "Fort Grant * Arizona * Mar. 29, 1880" duplex datestamp and Star in Circle cancel on legal-size cover to Tucson, reduced at left, otherwise Fine, scarce use from this territorial fort in Arizona (Image Magnifier) E. 400-500 1,000.00
3860 c 1c and 10c War (O83, O88).> 10c horizontal pair, wide margins, used with single 1c (few pulled perfs at top), all tied by segmented circular cork cancels, Washington D.C. Apr. 20 4PM circular datestamp on legal-size cover with War Department, Offi1c and 10c War (O83, O88). 10c horizontal pair, wide margins, used with single 1c (few pulled perfs at top), all tied by segmented circular cork cancels, "Washington D.C. Apr. 20 4PM" circular datestamp on legal-size cover with "War Department, Office Commissary-General of Subsistence, Official Business" imprint and printed address to "Captain William H. Nash, Commissary of Subsistence, U.S. Army, Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory", slightly reduced and couple small tears at right, light toning band at left

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY SCARCE WAR DEPARTMENT FRANKING FOR THE SEVEN-TIMES DOMESTIC RATE.

The supply depot in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, was one of the country's largest until the removal of Native Americans from surrounding areas eliminated the need for many of the territorial forts. (Image Magnifier)

 E. 2,000-3,000 3,250.00
3861   10c War (O88).> Scissors-trimmed perfs, tied by lightly struck oval cancel on registered front only to Hudson N.Y. with red and black imprints of War Department, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Printed Matter and penalty clause, purple Registe10c War (O88). Scissors-trimmed perfs, tied by lightly struck oval cancel on registered front only to Hudson N.Y. with red and black imprints of "War Department, Office of the Chief of Engineers", "Printed Matter" and penalty clause, purple "Registered/Jan. 7, 1882/Washington D.C." three-line datestamp, large tear, soiled, an unusual wrapper usage (Image Magnifier) E. 150-200 900.00
3862 c 3c and 12c War (O85, O89).> Tied by segmented circular cork cancels, San Antonio Tex. Sep. 17 circular datestamp on legal-size cover with Headquarters Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Medical Directors Office, Official Business imprint a3c and 12c War (O85, O89). Tied by segmented circular cork cancels, "San Antonio Tex. Sep. 17" circular datestamp on legal-size cover with "Headquarters Department of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, Medical Director's Office, Official Business" imprint and printed address to the Surgeon General, U.S. Army, in Washington D.C., blue receiving datestamp, faults but still presentable and scarce, the stamps might possibly be 1879 printings on soft paper (Image Magnifier) E. 300-400 325.00
3863 c 15c War (O90).> Rich color and proof-like impression, tied by quartered cork cancel, partly struck Washington D.C. Jan. (?) circular datestamp on legal-size War Department, Adjutant Generals Office, Official Business imprint cover to Baltimore,15c War (O90). Rich color and proof-like impression, tied by quartered cork cancel, partly struck "Washington D.C. Jan. (?)" circular datestamp on legal-size "War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Official Business" imprint cover to Baltimore, receiving backstamp, a bit aged and brittle around edges, reinforced in places

ONE OF THREE REPORTED 15-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT COVERS.

The Markovits sale catalogue (Bennett) reports three 15c War covers, but it is uncertain if this is one of the three (some of the census figures exclude Starnes covers). Ex Hughes. (Image Magnifier)

 E. 2,000-3,000 2,700.00
3864   30c War (O92).> Two horizontal pairs, a few minor perf flaws along top, tied between perfs by circle of wedges cancel on cover-size package label with <Jefferson Depot of the Quartermasters Department, Jeffersonville, Ind., Official Business impri30c War (O92). Two horizontal pairs, a few minor perf flaws along top, tied between perfs by circle of wedges cancel on cover-size package label with "Jefferson Depot of the Quartermaster's Department, Jeffersonville, Ind., Official Business" imprint, addressed in violet and red Spencerian script to John W. Kline, care of John Wanamaker, in Philadelphia Pa.

ONE OF FOUR RECORDED 30-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT COVERS, AND THE ONLY 30-CENT WAR MULTIPLE FRANKING AMONG THEM. AN OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL STAMP USAGE.

John W. Kline was a well-known collector of coins, medals and numismatic literature. John Wanamaker, in whose care this package to Kline was directed, is known as the "Father" of the modern department store and commercial advertising (he was appointed Postmaster General in 1889).

The census by Alan C. Campbell ("High Value Official Stamps on Cover", Chronicle No. 188, Nov. 2000, pp. 287-299) lists four 30c War Dept. covers, including three with singles and the 6c War. This is No. 42 in the census, and it is the only 30c War multiple known on cover. The $1.20 postage evidently paid the 40x domestic 3c rate for 20 ounces.

Ex Hughes (Image Magnifier)

 E. 7,500-10,000 13,500.00
3865 c War Department Covers. 17 covers, nice range of frankings incl. 1c, 1c and 2c combination (2), 2c (3), 2c and 3c combination, 3c (3 incl. one with two), 6c (2), 3c and 6c combination (5), range of imprints incl. illustrated Rock Island Arsenal, Quartermaster at Fort Snelling Minn., Engineer Office in Cleveland, Signal Service, some faults, many appear Fine-Very Fine E. 500-750 3,500.00