Baltimore Md., 5c Black on
Bluish (3X3). Traces of framelines show around evenly cut margins, tied
on small piece by blue "Paid" without usual pen cancelVERY FINE. A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
Roumet backstamp (Image)
Millbury Mass., 5c Black on
Bluish (7X1). Two clear to ample margins, just into outer rim at top
and left, clear impression on bright fresh paper, tied by neat "Milbury Ms.
Mar. 23" circular datestamp in red on piece of folded cover (circa 1847),
light folds in piece clear of stampA VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS DISTINCTIVE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL STAMP. THE ONLY SOUND STAMP AMONG THE NINE USED EXAMPLES RECORDED ON PIECE OR OFF COVER.
This piece is illustrated and discussed in Philip T. Wall's article on the Millbury provisional (Chronicle 120 and 121), in which he records seventeen examples (an eighteenth stamp on cover has since been recorded). There are three stamps known on pieces, two of which are tied by the town marking. The stamps on the other two pieces are creased. All of the six used stamps off cover and not on piece have creases or more serious faults.
Backstamped W.H.C. (Warren H. Colson). With 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)
New York N.Y., 5c Black on
Blue, "ACM" Initials (9X2). Position 37, large margins all around, neat
red "PAID" in arc handstamp, wonderful impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EXCEEDINGLY RARE WITHOUT A PEN CANCELLATION.
With 1961 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 5c Black on
Greenish (11X1). Position 5, full to huge margins all around, corner
angled at top left well clear of design, tied only by red "St. Louis Mo.
Feb. 10" circular datestamp on small piece, deep impression on bright
greenish paperEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY 20-25 OFF-COVER EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN TIED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE RED ST. LOUIS DATESTAMP.
With 1974 P.F. certificate (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on
Greenish (11X2). Position 6, large margins all around, tied only by
"St. Louis Mo. Feb. 20" circular datestamp on small blue piece, crisp
impression on bright greenish paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. VERY RARE CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED ST. LOUIS DATESTAMP.
Small "W.H.C." backstamp (Colson). With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)
St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on
Greenish (11X2). Position 6, large margins all around, intense
proof-like impression on deep green paper, two neat pen stroke cancels,
tied by red "St. Louis Jan. 13" circular datestamp, matching "Paid" and ms.
"10" rate on 1846 folded letter to Charnley & Whelen at Philadelphia, usual
horizontal file foldEXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH. A SUPERB STAMP ON A PRISTINE COVER -- ONE OF THE CHOICEST ST. LOUIS "BEAR" PROVISIONAL COVERS FROM THE FAMOUS CHARNLEY & WHELEN FIND.
This cover has not been available in the market for decades. (Image)