Lot 527
1889 cover from Haiti to a New York post office box, bearing 1882 7¢ (11) strip of three and singles (3) and 1887 1¢ (21) strip of six and pair, tied by "Port de Prince/Haiti" c.d.s. and additionally by "12" in barred ovals, prominent strike of "U.S. Charge/to/Collect" "2/60 cents" and "T" in circle handstamp, and on reverse Postage Due 50¢ red brown (J21) horizontal strip of five, well centered, natural straight edge at right, tied by four strikes of "New York PO" oval with 10¢ red brown (J19), cover with folds from filing and two tears at top from opening, none of which affect the postage dues, which are sound and Very Fine.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000
There remains the possibility that additional Haiti stamps fell off or were removed at lower right during transit - this would help explain such a large deficiency in postage; another explanation put forth is that a shortage of stamps existed because of the Civil War; whatever the reason, this is a magnificent and very rare usuage.
Only four covers are reported for all printings of the 50¢ Bamnk Note Postage Due, this being the largest known on-cover multiple of the 50¢.
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| Realized $8,000 |
