| Postmasters' Provisionals through the 1857-61 Issue |
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Description |
Lot 1024 |
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Post Office Annapolis, Md. with Eagle (2XU1 var), blue negative post office seal handstamp used to seal the flap on a postmaster free frank folded letter to the Postmaster General in Washington, D.C., matching blue "FREE" straightline handstamp, manuscript "Post Office Business / Martin F. Revell, P.M.", single vertical file fold with toning, opening fault in seal, Fine, extremely scarce.
Scott $3,500
ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST SOUGHT AFTER STAMPLESS FANCY POSTMARKS.
Expertization: 1970 P.F. Certificate.
The Scott listed variety of the Annapolis, Maryland Postmasters' Provisional is the rare 5¢ carmine red on white envelopes with the seal and rating applied prior to sale. A small number of envelopes and lettersheets exist with the post office seal and rating ("2", "FREE") in blue or red. These are not considered true provisionals as they were not prepared prior to sale.
The letter contains an accounting of the mail matter weight that passed over the Annapolis & Elk Ridge railroad, to and from Annapolis post office for one week commencing May 18, 1841.
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Lot 1025 |
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New York, N.Y., 1845, 5¢ black on bluish (9X1), four margins, uncancelled on 1846 folded letter to Marseille, France, endorsed "Str Britannia", red "Paid" arc handstamp, red "Colonies &c Art. 13" framed accountancy handstamp, bright red French "Angl Boulgne Aout 56" French entry c.d.s. and manuscript due rating, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
Expertization: 1988 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1026 |
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Providence, 5¢ & 10¢ trial color and plate proofs on card (10X1TC5-10X2TC5, 10X1P4-10X2P4), five complete sheets of 12, comprised of the four complete colors of the former and the normal black color of the latter, exceptionally clean and fresh and while a few have a negligible corner bend this is an Extremely Fine and superior set of these rare proofs.
Scott $18,250
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Lot 1027 |
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St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 5¢ black on gray lilac (11X4), type III, position 5, unusually large even margins, PF certificate states "ms cancel removed affecting the paper color", the paper is only minimally affected in the area of the manuscript cancel. Otherwise Extremely Fine.
Scott $25,000
AN EXCEEDINGLY HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE STAMP.
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.
The St Louis Bear stamps were printed from a single plate of six subjects that was modified twice to change the denominations of two positions. The rarity of the 5¢ on gray lilac paper derives from the use of gray lilac paper in only a portion of the printing from the second state of the plate. In the second state, there was only one position with the 5¢ value (position 5), the other two 5¢ positions (1 and 3) from the first state having been changed to 20¢ values. With this, the 5¢ on gray lilac is perhaps rarer than the 20¢ on gray lilac that had two positions on the second state of the plate.
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Lot 1028 |
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1847, 5¢ red brown (1), large to oversize margins, rich color and full original gum with a small hinge remnant. Fresh and Very Fine.
Scott $6,500
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF A RARELY SEEN MINT 5¢ 1847.
Expertization: 2000 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1029 |
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1847, 5¢ red brown (1), large margins including sheet margin at left, with warm color and an excellent impression on fresh paper. Red grid cancel. Choice Very Fine and handsome.
Scott $575
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Lot 1030 |
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1847, 10¢ black (2), large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at left, cancelled by attractive red grid on 1850 folded letter to Salem Mass., matching "Richmond Va. Sep 2" circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1031 |
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10¢ black (2), ample to large margins, tied by red grid, matching "Pittsburgh Pa. May 24" c.d.s. on 1850 folded cover with "R" in blue at center, manuscript "12" at bottom, boldly addressed to Philadelphia, refolded at bottom, still Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
A SCARCE PHILADELPHIA RECORDED USAGE FROM PITTSBURG.
Expertization: 1980 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: Stollnitz
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Lot 1032 |
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10¢ black (2), full to large margins, deep shade, tied by red grid, matching "Charleston S.C. 10 Aug. 9" c.d.s. on buff envelope with "Charleston Hotel" in double oval on flap, to Richmond, Va., Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
THE 10¢ IS EXTREMELY RARE WITH A HOTEL MARKING.
Expertization: 1989 P.S.E. Certificate.
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Lot 1033 |
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1847, 10¢ black, diagonal bisect (2a), uneven margin at right cuts in slightly, tied by several strikes of orange red circular grids, additional manuscript "x" cancellation, matching "Gardiner Me. Apr 26" c.d.s. on cover to Brattleborough Vt., Fine.
Scott $13,000
A RARE 1847 10¢ BISECT NEATLY TIED BY ATTRACTIVE ORANGE RED GRIDS.
Expertization: 2005 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: Matthies, 'Sierra Madre'
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Lot 1034 |
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1847 (1875 Reproduction), 10¢ black (4), without gum as issued, with large beautifully balanced margins and a sharp impression. Fresh and Extremely Fine.
Scott $975
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Lot 1035 |
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1851, 1¢ blue, type Ia (6), a bottom row stamp from plate 4, clear early impression and deep color on bright white paper, large to oversized margins with adjacent stamps visible at top and right, full bottom right ball and plume ornaments and barely shaved at bottom left, light face-free town cancel. Fresh and choice Very Fine.
A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT TYPE IA.
Expertization: 2005 P.S.E. and P.F. Certificates, both graded VF 80.
The key to differentiating the type Ia from the more common type Ic is the complete ball and plume ornaments at the bottom right, which on this example have a full margin beneath them.
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Lot 1036 |
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1852, 3¢ brownish carmine (11 var.), margins to in at left, cancelled by grid on all-over hand-drawn Bearded Man illustrated envelope from the Pattee correspondence to New York N.Y., "West Cambridge Ms. Apr 10" origin c.d.s. on reverse; slight soiling, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
AN EYE CATCHING HAND-DRAWN ILLUSTRATED ENVELOPE USE FROM THE PATTEE CORRESPONDENCE.
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: Grunin
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Lot 1037 |
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1856, 5¢ red brown (12), clear to large margins including portions of adjoining stamps at top and right, deep rich color. Large part original gum. Minor small tone spots entirely on reverse. Fresh and Very Fine.
Scott $20,000
Expertization: photocopy of 2005 P.F. Certificate for the block of three from which it was taken.
Provenance: Mayer
It is estimated that fewer than 50 unused examples of the five cent imperforate exist. Of these very few have any portion of original gum.
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Lot 1038 |
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1856, 5¢ red brown (12), strong color and impression, large margins to just touching at bottom. Original gum. Fresh and Fine.
Scott $20,000
ONE OF ONLY A FEW MINT EXAMPLES THAT IS BOTH SOUND AND WITH ORIGINAL GUM.
Expertization: 1998 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1039 |
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1856, 5¢ red brown (12), relief D, large to huge margins including left sheet margin, rich color. Grid cancel plus a bit of red. Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott $900
Expertization: 2006 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: Klein, Mayer
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Lot 1040 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type II (14), unused, lustrous prooflike color contrasted by post office fresh paper, large margins all around. An Extremely Fine gem.
Scott $2,200
Expertization: 1974 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1041 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type II (14), huge to truly gargantuan margins including a goodly portion of the adjacent stamps at left and right, two partial, neatly struck San Francisco town cancels. Wonderfully fresh and absolutely Superb.
Scott $200
AN INCREDIBLE STAMP IN THE ULTIMATE GRADE.
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate as the middle stamp in a strip of three.
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Lot 1042 |
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10¢ green, type II (14), ample margins, closer at left, tied by grid and matching "West Cambridge Mass. Sep. 17" c.d.s. on 1857 cover to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, reverse with red Calais Me., St. John N.B. and Prince Edward Island postmarks, without bottom flap, Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
Provenance: Robertson
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Lot 1043 |
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1855, 10¢ green, type III (15), beautifully balanced margins, deep color and fresh, full original gum. Extremely Fine. A very attractive example of a seldom offered mint 10¢ 1855.
Scott $5,500
A TRULY RARE STAMP IN THIS CHOICE MINT CONDITION.
Expertization: 1993 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1044 |
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1851, 12¢ black (17), ample to large margins, particularly dark, prooflike impression and full barely hinged original gum. Very Fine.
Scott $6,500
AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE MINT STAMP.
Expertization: 1983 and 2006 P.F. Certificates.
This stamp was purchased by the owner as never hinged and, quite frankly, still appears so to us.
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Lot 1045 |
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1851, 12¢ black (17), large margins including sheet margin at bottom, bright color. Full original gum. Fresh and Very Fine.
Scott $6,500
THE 12¢ 1851 IS RARELY SEEN IN SUCH PREMIUM MINT CONDITION.
Expertization: 1991 P.F. Certificate.
It is extremely unusual to offer two premium mint examples of the 12¢ 1851 in one sale.
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Lot 1046 |
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1857, 1¢ blue, type II (20), horizontal pair. Incredibly well centered and remarkably fresh with intense color and a razor sharp impression on bright paper, New York town cancel. Extremely Fine and handsome.
Scott $625
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1047 |
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1857, 1¢ blue, type III (21), exceptionally well centered, with the breaks at top and bottom clearly visible, rich color and a deeply etched impression, very lightly cancelled. Fresh and Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,750
IT IS A RARE PERFORATED TYPE III WHICH FEATURES WIDE BREAKS AT TOP AND BOTTOM AND POSSESSES LARGE MARGINS TOP AND BOTTOM AS WELL, THUS ALLOWING US A CLEAR VIEW OF THE TYPE CHARACTERISTICS.
Expertization: 2003 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1048 |
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1857, 1¢ blue, type IIIa (22), exceptionally well centered, showing a break at the top, bright and fresh. Full lightly hinged original gum. Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,750
A TRULY RARE STAMP WITH THIS EXEMPLARY CENTERING.
Expertization: 2005 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1049 |
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1857, 1¢ blue, type V (24), block of 20. Positions 24-28/54-58R10, well centered and exceptionally fresh with bright color and full original gum, very lightly hinged on position 24 and 28 only, others are never hinged though a bit of minor disturbance on the two left rows. Slight separations between two stamps, some perforation breaks between stamps in left vertical row. Otherwise Very Fine to Extremely Fine and overall a choice multiple.
Scott $3,920+
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Lot 1050 |
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1857, 3¢ rose, type I (25), tied by "Richmond Va. Aug 21 1857" c.d.s. on an immaculate illustrated insurance company advertising envelope depicting the Virginia state seal allegorical scene, addressed to Winchester, Va., bright red "O.F. Bresee, Agent, Richmond Va." oval handstamp; small stamp faults, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
A STUNNING ADVERTISING USAGE OF THE 1857 3¢ TYPE I.
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: Emerson
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Lot 1051 |
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1858, 5¢ brick red, type I (27), near perfectly centered with the perforations clear of the design all around with rich color on bright paper, New Orleans Feb. 1859 c.d.s. Fresh and choice Extremely Fine, unprice in SMQ.
Scott $1,700
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE BRICK RED WHICH IS RARELY SEEN THIS WELL CENTERED.
Expertization: 1985 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. graded VF-XF 85 Certificates.
Given the exceedingly narrow spacing of these stamps, the virtually perfect centering, together with the perforations that clear the design all around, we believe this stamp to be undergraded by at least one, if not two grades.
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Lot 1052 |
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1857, 5¢ red brown, type I (28), well centered with the perforations clearing all around, black and red cancels. Fresh and Very Fine. An especially fresh and handsome used example with unusually large margins.
Scott $1,150
Expertization: 2003 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1053 |
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1858, 5¢ Indian red, type I (28A), excellent centering with perforations virtually clear all around, striking intense Indian red color and strongly etched impression, New Orleans c.d.s. Fresh and Extremely Fine, unpriced in SMQ.
Scott $3,500
A SUPERLATIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS DIFFICULT AND FREQUENTLY MISIDENTIFIED SHADE.
Expertization: 2005 P.S.E. Certificate graded XF 90.
The P.S.E. population report lists only three examples with a 90 grade, and none higher.
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Lot 1054 |
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5¢ Indian red (28A), two vertical pairs, cancelled by rim of "Yreka Cal. Oct. 15, 1858" c.d.s. and right pair tied by full strike, on cover to Westchester, N.Y., additional strike of fancy "Bison" handstamp occasionally used by the Yreka postmaster, though its use was pictorial rather than postal; cover with wear at left, Fine and very rare usage.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
Expertization: Signed Ashbrook.
Provenance: Rust, Kramer
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Lot 1055 |
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1861, 5¢ orange brown, type II (30), very well centered with perforations essentially clear of design all around, rich color. Original gum, lightly hinged. Fresh and choice Very Fine to Extremely Fine.
Scott $1,250
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Lot 1056 |
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1860, 5¢ brown, type II (30A), right sheet margin single with part of Toppa(n Carpenter) imprint, exceptionally well centered. Original gum, lightly hinged, particularly fresh. (negligible light soiling in selvage only). Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,250
THE 5¢ BROWN, IN CONTRAST TO THE ORANGE BROWN SHADE, IS QUITE SCARCE IN THIS CHOICE MINT CONDITION.
Expertization: photocopy of 1997 P.F. Certificate for strip of three.
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Lot 1057 |
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1857, 10¢ green, type III (33), well centered with particularly deep color contrasting with uncommonly bright paper, full barely hinged original gum. Fresh and Very Fine.
Scott $6,000
THE 10¢ PERFORATED TYPE III IS SELDOM ENCOUNTERED IN SUCH PRISTINE MINT CONDITION.
Expertization: 1983 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1058 |
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1857, 10¢ green, type III (33), unused, near perfect centering within remarkably wide margins all around, fresh and rich color. An Extremely Fine gem.
Scott $2,500
THIS TYPE III WITH ITS SUPERLATIVE CENTERING AND PHENOMENAL MARGINS IS AMONG THE CHOICEST UNUSED EXAMPLES WE HAVE SEEN.
Expertization: 2000 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1059 |
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1857, 10¢ green, type IV (34), recut at bottom, position 55L, unusually well centered with bold New York ocean mail c.d.s., deep color. Fresh and Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,250
AN EXCEPTIONAL TEN-CENT TYPE IV.
Expertization: 2005 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1060 |
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1859, 10¢ green, type V (35), horizontal strip of three, each neatly cancelled by matching grids on 1861 flag and "The Union Forever" verse patriotic envelope in red, white and blue to Switzerland at the 30¢ Prussian Closed mail rate, matching "Carlyle Ills. May 31" c.d.s. and red "New York Paid 7" exchange c.d.s., carried on Cunarder Persia, red framed Aachen transit and rare matching "Franco, Preuss.Resr Vereins, Ausgange.Grenze" handstamp signifying payment to border only, Basle, Lucerne, and Reinach backstamps; Very Fine.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
A REMARKABLE USE OF THE 10¢ TYPE V TO SWITZERLAND.
Expertization: 1965 (copy) and 2004 P.F. Certificates.
Provenance: Rider
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Lot 1061 |
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10¢ Green type V (35), block of six, two horizontal strips of three and one pair, on cloth lined envelope to New York with 1¢ blue type Va (24 var. two) tied by multiple strikes of "San Francisco Cal. Jul. 26" c.d.s., large manuscript "Via Panama" at top; lower right 10¢ in block with scrape and right stamp in strip at far right with tear, cover with some expert restoration at edges, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
Provenance: Kramer
This is a 14 times rate cover with an additional 2¢ which could only be a ship fee and would indicate the cover originated outside San Francisco, Hawaii being the most likely place of origin.
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Lot 1062 |
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1860, 90¢ blue (39), well centered with deep color, bright paper and a clear Savannah, Ga. town cancel. Very Fine and choice.
Scott $9,000
AN EXCEPTIONALLY FRESH USED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE USED 90¢ OF 1860.
Expertization: 2002 P.F. Certificate.
The 90¢ was in use for only one year before the Civil Was caused the demonetization of the entire issue. Many of the small number of genuine used examples certified by the Philatelic Foundation are pen cancelled and/or faulty.
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Lot 1063 |
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1860, 90¢ blue, imperf (39a), three huge margins, just touching at bottom. Without gum as issued. Fine and rare. One pair and only a handful of singles are recorded.
Scott $2,750
Expertization: 1995 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 1064 |
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1857, Professor Wise Balloon Cachet, type I handstamp cachet on 3¢ red on buff (U10) entire cancelled by "Lancaster Pa Apr 21" c.d.s. and addressed to Eilliam Markoe at St. Paul Minn. Terr., docketed "John Wise, April 20th 1857, Recd April 29th" at right, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
ONE OF ONLY A FEW RECORDED EXAMPLES OF PROFESSOR WISE'S TYPE I BALLOON CACHET.
Professor John Wise used three different types of balloon cachet handstamps. He is famous for carrying the first United States official air mail in Balloon "Jupiter" that ascended from Lafayette Ky. on Aug. 17, 1859 carrying a bag of mail sealed by Postmaster Thomas Wood destined for New York. The mail was dropped near Crawfordsville due to adverse wind and reached final destination by train. William Markoe was a fellow pioneering balloonist who in September 1857 would be the first to rise above St. Paul in a balloon.
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Lot 1065 |
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1857-60 (1875 Reprint), 3¢ scarlet (41), without gum as issued, unusually well centered for this notoriously difficult issue, with vibrant color on brilliant paper. Fully Extremely Fine for this stamp and quite rare with this extraordinary centering.
Scott $3,250
Expertization: 2000 P.F. Certificate.
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