Lot 519
1859 (Aug. 9) cover to Havana, Cuba, bearing 1¢ blue type V, 3¢ dull red (24, 26), single of first, three of latter, tied by bold strikes of "Newark/ N.J." c.d.s. and red New York exchange c.d.s., clear "NA1" in oval, reverse with early example of the so-called "Good Samaritan" label from Newark, attractively printed in black on lilac blue, with "one postage stamp" deleted in pen and "10 cents" written in, tied by Havana receiving postmark; cover opened to display both sides, 1¢ with some small wrinkles in one corner, Very Fine usage, a rare example of this label on trans-ocean usage.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
Because domestic mail could not go unpaid, charities and enterprising individuals started the practice of franking mail for senders who either neglected to use stamps or could not afford them. The "Good Samaritan" would attach a label requesting reimbursement from the addressee. Begun in Newark, N.J. at some date after the Act of March 3, 1855 which made prepaid domestic mail compulsory, the practice continued well into the Bank Note period, though examples with the 1857 Issue are quite rare.
This foreign-bound usage, which technically speaking lay outside the concerns of the Newark Samaritans, may be unique.
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| Realized $850 |
