Lot 357
1847, 10¢ black (2), diagonal half of single, appears at first glance to be a bisect, tied by red grid, matching "U.S. Express Mail Boston Mass. Jun. 2" c.d.s. on folded cover to Philadelphia with "20" rate handstamp and red pencil "10 Due". Fascinating usage.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
Expertization: 1996 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: "Elite"
This appears to have been first considered simply overweight, but the 20 can suggest the original payment was disallowed, and like a number of Express mail covers, is a restatement of the full rate. Based on the number of Ludlow Beebee covers caught for underpayment, it seems unlikely such scrutiny would have ignored this mutilated single; if a clerk suspected this was an attempt at reusing an already used stamp, after 150 years we can still see why.
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| Realized $1,350 |
