Lot 143
1857 (Jul. 6) Saint John, New Brunswick to Glasgow, Scotland, via Boston and New York, cover front bearing 5¢ red brown (12) two horizontal pairs, lovely clear shade, full to large margins except one pair slightly in at top, used with 1¢ blue type IV (9) and 3¢ dull red (11), each just slightly in, tied by "Colonial Express Mail St. John, N.B. Jul. 6" route agent postmark and matching "Paid" handstamps, red Boston "19" credit handstamp, endorsed "via 'New York'", red "America Paid Liverpool JY 17 57" postmark; 3¢ with small defect at bottom, cover fold through bottom pair which is hinged in place, a Very Fine and unique usage. Illustrated in Frajola and Mayer, p. 139, fig. 13-2.
Estimate 50,000 - 75,000
ONE OF THE MOST SPACTACULAR AND MOST IMPORTANT 1856 5¢ USAGES EXTANT
THE ONLY RECORDED 1856 5¢ USAGE FROM BRITISH NORTH AMERICA AND ONE OF TWO RECORDED 1856 5¢ USAGES TO GREAT BRITAIN (BOTH OF WHICH ARE TO SCOTLAND).
Provenance: Dale-Lichtenstein, Dupont
The cover was posted at St. John, New Brunswick, and went directly to the American steamer Admiral, which was bound for Boston. The mail was processed by a steamboat letter carrier who applied the "Colonial Express Mail" postmark. Upon arrival in Boston, the letter was processed through the exchange office with handstamped 19¢ credit to Great Britain, representing 3¢ British inland postage plus 16¢ for providing sea transport. It was transferred to New York City for the Cunard Line steamer Persia, which departed New York City on July 8 and arrived in Liverpool on July 17.
Reference:
Illustrated in Stanley Ashbrook, "Special Service" Issue 24, 1953, p. 170-171, photograph no. 81.
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| Realized $42,500 |
