385th Auction

1847, Franklin 5c. dark-brown, fresh color and wide even margins, tied by red grid with matching cds. “NEW-YORK FEB 1” alongside to folded lettersheet to Mauch Chunk, minor ageing on lettersheet, otherwise fine

1847, Franklin 5c. red-brown, fresh color, close to good margins, tied by blue grid with matching cds. “WORCESTER FEB 27” alongside to folded letter to Boston, very fine and attractive

1847, Franklin 5c. gray-brown, fresh color and good margins all around, tied by blue cds. “PHILADELPHIA APR 23” with further strike alongside, to folded lettersheet to Orwigsburg, fine

1847, Franklin 5c. red-brown on blued paper, fresh color, good margins on three sides, 4mm right sheet margin, tied by red grid to folded lettersheet with adjacent red “NEW YORK AUG 19” to Norwich, very fine and attractive, certificate Jakubek BPP (1989)

1847, Washington 10c. black, fresh color and good margins all around, tied by blue “PHILADA SEP 26 10” with adjacent blue “20” to folded lettersheet to St. Louis, one backflap slightly shortened, otherwise fine and scarce

1851/57, Washington 12 c. black, horizontal pair, with long pre-cut, almost parting the stamps, tied by cds. “BRISTOL R.I. JAN 12” to buff envelope with red tax mark "3" via London to Birmingham with arrival mark, stamps touched due to pre-cut, envelope with transportation wear including partially missing backflap, an interesting and attractive entire

 1869, Pictorial Issue 3 c. blue, two singles, fresh colors and good perforation, tied by target cancel with adjacent cds. “DENVER MAY 17” to buff envelope to Ontario, right stamp tiny corner crease, otherwise fine and attractive

Provenance: 309. Heinrich Köhler-Auction (2000)

1930, Zeppelin 65 c.-2,60 $ with first day cancel "WASHINGTON APR 19 1930" to round flight cover. Somewhat toned overall. Very rare. Philatelic Foundation certificate (1996)

1930, Zeppelin 65 c.-2,60 $, each tied by duplex cancel on two envelopes and one card with the special postmarks “EUROPE PAN-AMERICA ROUND FLIGHT” and red “LUFTSCHIFF GRAF ZEPPELIN SÜDAMERIKA 1930”, the 65 cents a couple of toned perfs, otherwise very fine

1930, Zeppelin 65 c.-2,60 on postcard and 2 covers of the  Pan-America flight, some usual transportation marks 

1932, Lake Placid winter games 2 c., die proof on wove paper, very fine and rare

1932, Lake Placid winter games 2 c., die proof on india on sunken card, very fine and rare

1932, Olympic issue 3 c. purple and 5 c. blue, the unique large die proofs on India Paper, on sunken card with blue control numbers "334309" resp. "334410" and handstamp "FROM THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT COLLECTION::::" on reverse. Very fine. A highlight of Olympic Philately. (Scott 718-19P1)

Olympic issue 3 c., the unique large die trial color proof in unissued colour carmine, on India paper, on sunken card, black control number "70020" on reverse. Very fine and choice. From the collection of John Eissler, who was the engraver of the vignette. (Scott 718TC1a)

Provenance: Robert A.Siegel 'Rarities of the world' (2009)

Olympic issue, unissued 2 c. carmine, the unique large die proof on India paper, on sunken card, black control number "70019" on reverse. Very fine and choice. A highlight of Olympic philately.

1873, Agriculture department 1 c.- 30 c., two complete proof sets on India paper and as a small die set on white wove paper, also Department of Interior 1 c.- 90c. complete on India paper, mostly in very fine condition

1873, Executive 1 c.- 10 c., four complete proof sets on India paper, thick card and twice as a small die set on white wove paper, mostly in very fine condition

1873, Justice 1 c.- 90 c., three complete proof sets on India paper, thick card, and as a small die set on white wove paper, mostly in very fine condition

1873, Navy Department 1 c.- 90 c., three complete proof sets on India paper, thick card, and as a small die set on white wove paper, the latter with the 24 c. and 90 c. slightly toned, otherwise mostly in very fine condition

1879/90 (ca.), Newspaper and Periodicals 1 c.- 60$, 34 plate proofs printed on thick card, a couple of dollar values with minor soiling, otherwise mostly in fine condition

1875, 1 c.- 90 c. reprints, complete set, each value as a plate proof on thick card, 90 c. lower left corner fault, otherwise very fine

1873, Post Office Department 1 c.- 90 c., two complete proof sets on India paper and thick card, and 1c.- 10c. and 15 c.-90 c. as a small die set on white wove paper (12 cents missing), mostly in very fine condition

1873, Treasury Department 1 c.- 90 c., three complete proof sets on India paper, thick card, and as a small die set on white wove paper, mostly in very fine condition

1873, War Department 1 c.- 90 c., three complete proof sets on India paper, thick card, and as a small die set on white wove paper, mostly in very fine condition

1893, Colombus 1c.- 2$ and 4$-5$, plate proofs on India paper, 2$ minor toned spot and surface erosion, 5$ minor toned spot, otherwise very fine

1c.- 5 $ complete set, each as plate proof on thick card, very fine, also a 8 c. on larger card (small faults)

Boston, Massachusetts, Hill's Post, , 1849, 1c black on rose, large margins all around, used on folded letterwith adjacent red “Boston 10 Cts / 18 / Oct”, to Cincinnati, Ohio. A rare and fine franking. Only seven covers have been recorded, all but one of which have the adhesive untied. Philatelic Foundation certificate (2023 ) (Scott 81L1)

Mason’s New Orleans City Express, 1850/51, “1” in manuscript over ½ c.black on blue, tied by red grid to local folded letter datelined “Franklin House (Mrs. Taylor’s), 39 Canal Street”,  postmarked "N-ORLEANS CITY EXPRESS POST. LA / FEB / 6" (day in manuscript). The stamp cut out with a liitle piece of paper and skilfully replaced, cover with repairs. A rarity; one of only two recorded examples of this stamp. Certificate Philatelic Foundation (2024) (Scott 102L2)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary Maurice Burrus

Philadelphia Telegraph Despatch Post Office, 1848, 1c black on yellowish paper, ample to large margins, cancelled with black manuscript "X", on letter sheet to Washington D.C., with adjacent blue "Philadelphia 5cts" c.d.s. Stamp with slight scuffing in th emargins and cover slightly soiled. Certificate Philatelic Foundation (2021) (Scott 138L1)
 

Portland, Maine, Prince's Letter Despatch, 1861, undenominated black adhesive, ample to large margins on three sides, just touched at right, tied by indistinct circular cancellation to cover with adjacent 3c. rose, tied by "Hallowell ME  Mar 14", to Boston.The local with trivial horizontal crease at foot well clear of design, the 3c with natural straight-edge, cover with small nick at right and slightly reduced. A most attractive usage of this scarce local, one of only about a dozen covers known. Philatelic Foundation certificate  (2022) . (Scott 122L1)
 

New York, Messenkope's Union Square Post Office, 1849, (2c) black on pink, margins clear of outer oval on three sides, used on cover to Amos Street, with partial enclosure dated July 5, 1850, from the Manhattan Gas & Light Company. The cover with tears and the adhesive faulty. An extremely rare franking, with George B. Sloane guarantee signature on reverse, sent during the early period following the takeover of the company by Joseph E. Dunham from Charles Messenkope. Philatelic Foundation certificate (2023) (Scott 106L2, unpriced)

New York, Metropolitan Post Office, 1852, (2c) blue, cut to shape, tied by boxed "PAID / WH LAWS" to folded cover front wit adjacent “PAID …” at left, postmarked "Metropolian / P.O. / Mar / 20", to G. Robertson 135 Water Street. Stamp affected by strong filing crease, A rare franking. Philatelic Foundation certificate (2023) 
(Scott 108L3A)

 

Adams & C o Express, J.M. Freeman, Agent, Panama, scalloped handstamp struck on stampless cover to a passenger on board the steamer "Columbus" at "Panama or Tobago", piece torn from reverse due to rough opening, yet a fine example of this scarce marking.

Arizona and New Mexico Express Co., Paid, 1875/6, printed frank in black on 3c. Nesbitt postal stationery cover to San Francisco, struck with blue oval ""A. & N.M.EX. Co. Prescott A.T." datestamp, the odd spot of trivial discoloration around edges, of little importance given the rarity of this otherwise fine entire, the Company having operated only between 1875-6 between Prescott, Phoenix and Tucson, to the end of the South Pacific Railway.

Provenance: Herman Toaspern Collection, with his backstamp.

Bradway's Despatch, Millville, New Jersey, undenominated, margins touching to clear, affixed to small embossed cover, cancelled in manuscript, used in conjunction with 3c dull red, tied by Millville N.J. c.d.s. (15 Jan), to Phoenix, Rhode Island, some peripheral edge toning of no importance given the cover's great rarity, the earliest of only four examples recorded by Lyons.

Provenance: Caspary, Ambassador J. William Middendorf II Collections.

California Penny Post, 1855 (29 June) PAID 2 Type I frank, intended to be deposited into a San Francisco street letter box, variant with “CIRCULAR” imprint at upper right corner, additionally franked with four 1851 3 c. red, from San Francisco, with August 23 despatch c.d.s. on reverse, to the Post Master at Mount Ophir, backstamped “HELD FOR POSTAGE” in black, “care of” in printed instructions crossed-out, docketed as received 17 October, some creasing, adhesion marks at corners, a rare cover, one of only six Type I franks recorded in the Frajola census, and the only one showing the “CIRCULAR” variant; with 1976 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Note: J.B. Goodwin founded the California Penny Post in June, 1885, for the conveyance of mail between San Francisco, Sacramento, Stockton, and Marysville. In the case of the PAID 2 type frank, these envelopes were intended to be deposited into a Penny Post street letter box, from which the company would convey the mail to the Post Office, the government postage for which was to be prepaid by adhesive stamps.

Provenance: Marc Haas Collection.