Part II - LOCALS A - G continued...
SPECIAL NOTE: Lot Numbers with an "A" preceding them will be offered in three special sessions. Please refer to the Arrangement of the Sale web page for the schedule.
| Lot | Lot Description | ||
| A | 975 |
 City Letter Express Mail,
Newark N.J., 1c Red (45L1). Cut to heart shape, used with 3c Dull Red
(11), full margins to cut in at top, both stamps tied by "Newark
N.J. Aug. 22" (1856) circular datestamp on buff cover to Binghamton N.Y.,
opening tear at top center, some edge wear (could easily be improved with
minor cosmetic repairs)FINE. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES OF THE NEWARK CITY LETTER EXPRESS 1-CENT STAMP ARE KNOWN TIED ON COVERS. ONE OF THE RAREST LOCALS, ALTHOUGH EASILY CONFUSED WITH THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN EXPRESS STAMPS OF A SIMILAR DESIGN. The Newark Daily Advertiser carried daily advertisements for Peck & Company's City Letter Express from June 12 through September 29, 1856. Augustus L. Peck's partner in the City News Office was R. Jaques, and their office was located at 324 Broad Street. The City Letter Express provided letter delivery to the mails (1c) and within the city (2c). Their competitor, Rogers' Penny Post, only carried letters to the post office. Peck's advertisements also solicited package-express business, which may have been on behalf of the New Jersey Express Company, which had its business in Newark during the same period (reference: Elliott Perry, Pat Paragraphs, reprint, pp. 405-408). Our records contain just three examples of the 45L1 stamp tied on cover, all dated in 1856: 1) Aug. 22, the cover offered here, 2) Oct. 28, ex Caspary, Middendorf, and 3) Dec. 1, ex Boker. Another three covers are recorded with uncancelled stamps, and four or five off-cover stamps are recorded. (Image) |
E. 7,500-10,000 |
| A | 976 |
 City Letter Express Mail,
Newark N.J., 2c Red (45L2). Cut to heart shape, torn slightly into
upper right corner, used on buff cover to local Newark street address, no
postal markings and the stamp is uncancelled as was customary for the post,
flap partly torn away, sealed opening tear at bottom does not affect
stampTHE UNIQUE DISCOVERY COPY OF THE 2-CENT STAMP ISSUED BY THE NEWARK CITY LETTER EXPRESS. UNVEILED BY HENRY ABT AT A COLLECTORS CLUB MEETING IN APRIL 1956 AND LISTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SCOTT CATALOGUE IN 1957. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS UNIQUE STAMP HAS EVER BEEN OFFERED PUBLICLY. As advertised, the Peck & Co. City Letter Express charged 1c for delivery of a letter to the post office, and 2c for local city delivery. Although both rates were announced, the existence of a 2c stamp was not known until Henry Abt showed this cover at the Collectors Club of New York on April 4. Although somewhat faulty at upper right, condition is of secondary importance to its longtime standing as the only known stamp of its kind. Ex Abt. Listed but unpriced in Scott. (Image) |
E. 10,000-15,000 |