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 | 981 |
 Clarke's Circular Express, New
York N.Y., (unstated value) Blue on Wove (50LU1). Dark Purplish Blue
shade, cut square with large even margins, uncancelled, affixed to folded
cover addressed to W. E. Robinson, Custom House, to which it may or may not
belongEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE CLARKE'S CIRCULAR EXPRESS STAMP -- THE ONLY DARK PURPLISH SHADE OF BLUE AND THE ONLY ONE ON WOVE PAPER. Elliott Perry located the city directory listings for Marion M. Clarke, whose name first appears in 1866-67 as an "express" at 436 Broadway, then as "advertising" in the following year (see Pat Paragraphs, reprint, p. 404). The short-lived express entry, combined with the great rarity of the stamps (one of which is dated Apr. 15, 1867), led Perry to surmise that the local post operation lasted approximately one year. Clarke used ribbon-marker devices to make his stamps and cancel them. It is believed that all of the stamps were impressed on envelopes or circulars, which would make the example here a cut square from another entire. However, so little is known about the post and so few examples have survived, that this might be a legitimate adhesive usage. Our records contain six examples of the basic stamp, but only this one is on wove paper, which is the Scott 50LU1 listing. The others are printed on diagonally laid paper in Blue (50LU1a) or Black (50LU2). The six recorded copies of this design are as follows: 1) 50LU1, Dark Blue (or purple shade variety) on wove cut square, uncancelled, affixed to folded cover, the lot offered here, 2) 50LU1a, Blue on diagonally laid cut square, blue ribbon-marker datestamp at left, slight crease, offered as lot 982 in this sale, ex Richardson, 3) 50LU1a, Blue on diagonally laid cut square, trace of blue ribbon-marker datestamp at lower left, slight creasing, offered in this sale as lot 983, ex Boker, Lilly (as unused), 4) 50LU1a?, black-and-white photo in Ferrary sale (no details), presumed to be Blue on diagonally laid paper, 5) 50LU2, Black on diagonally laid cut square, part of blue ribbon-marker datestamp, offered in this sale as lot 984, ex Boker, Richardson, and 6) 50LU2 Black on diagonally laid cut square, Apr. 15, 1867 blue ribbon-marker datestamp, ex Caspary. One of the most unusual and elusive of American locals. (Image) |
E. 4,000-5,000 |
| A | 982 |
 Clarke's Circular Express, New
York N.Y., (unstated value) Blue on Diagonally Laid (50LU1a). Cut
square with clear to ample margins on three sides, just slightly in at
left, blue double-circle ribbon-marker datestamp at left, very slight
diagonal creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF 50LU1a, THE CLARKE'S CIRCULAR EXPRESS STAMP IN BLUE ON LAID PAPER. As noted in the previous description, three of the six recorded Clarke's Circular Express stamps are in Blue on paper showing diagonal laid lines. Ex Richardson. With 1975 P.F. certificate. (Image) |
E. 3,000-4,000 |
| A | 983 |
 Clarke's Circular Express, New
York N.Y., (unstated value) Blue on Diagonally Laid (50LU1a). Cut
square with clear to ample margins at top and bottom, just slightly in at
sides, faint blue double-circle ribbon-marker datestamp at lower left, very
slight creasing and toned spotFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF 50LU1a, THE CLARKE'S CIRCULAR EXPRESS STAMP IN BLUE ON LAID PAPER. As noted in the description for lot 981, three of the six recorded Clarke's Circular Express stamps are in Blue on paper showing diagonal laid lines. Signed Scott. Ex Boker and Lilly. (Image) |
E. 2,000-3,000 |
| A | 984 |
 Clarke's Circular Express, New
York N.Y., (unstated value) Black on Diagonally Laid (50LU2). Cut
square with huge margins all around, blue ribbon-marker double-circle
datestamp at upper left, trace of address at lower left corner, faint toned
spot and trace of a creaseEXTREMELY FINE. ONLY TWO OF THE CLARKE'S CIRCULAR EXPRESS STAMPS ARE RECORDED IN BLACK. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF AMERICAN LOCAL POSTS. Our description of lot 981 lists the six recorded examples of Clarke's Circular Express 50LU1, 50LU1a and 50LU2 stamps. Only two are 50LU2, the Black on diagonally laid paper. The other copy was offered in the Caspary sale and has an Apr. 15, 1867 datestamp (it also has faint age stains). Ex Boker and Richardson. (Image) |
E. 4,000-5,000 |