Lot 94
St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 20¢ black on gray lilac (11X6, 11X5), two singles of first, types I & II, positions 1 & 3, single 10c type II, position 4, each with large margins to cutting, each has matching pen stroke and nicely tied together by red "St. Louis Mo. May 28" c.d.s. on five times rate 1846 folded letter to Charnley & Whelen in Philadelphia, matching red "Paid" and manuscript "50" rate, lettersheet with minor wrinkling not affecting stamps, Fine and very rare showpiece, the 20¢ stamps were most likely a pair- one of only three 50¢ rate covers recorded.
Estimate 75,000 - 100,000
THE UNIQUE 50¢ RATE COVER WITH THE 20¢ ON GRAY LILAC.
The 50¢ rate is the highest known Bear franking. There are three surviving 50¢ rate covers, all from the Charnley & Whelen correspondence:
1) a November 16, 1845 cover with five 10¢ stamps
2) a May 21, 1846 cover with a 10¢ and two 20¢ on greenish that was part of the Weill stock
3) the present cover.
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| Realized $57,500 |
