Part III - Locals H-Z 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 | 1306 |
 Wells & Co. Express Mail from
Chicago. Small circular handstamp clearly struck on Sep. 19, 1844
folded letter from Chicago to New York City street address, ms. "Paid
12-1/2" rate, red crayon "Paid" at upper left, red "Boyd's
City/Express Post./Sep. 28 9 O'C." framed datestamp for local
deliveryEXTREMELY FINE. THE WELLS' CHICAGO OFFICE HANDSTAMP IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL INDEPENDENT MAIL MARKINGS. THIS CONJUNCTIVE USAGE WITH BOYD'S PERFECTLY ILLUSTRATES THE INDEPENDENTS' COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OVER THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE. For 12-1/2 cents, versus 25c charged by the U.S. Post Office, this letter was carried from Chicago to the door of 150 Nassau Street (this presumes Boyd's received its share from the prepaid amount). The letter reached its destination in less than ten days (in 1844). The low cost and reliability of independent mail routes won public support and caused Congress to approve the previously-rejected postal reforms in 1845, which created the standard 5c and 10c rates and paved the way for the 1847 General Issues. Ex Hennan. (Image) |
E. 1,000-1,500 |
| A | 1307 |
 Wells & Co. Express Mail from
Chicago. Small circular handstamp clearly struck three times on
Aug. 25, 1844 folded letter from Chicago to Hallowell Me., sender's
notation "Agent of the american letter mail co." and "Free",
the latter crossed out and overstruck by Wells' handstamps, ms.
"18-3/4" rate, each handstamp probably represents a 6-1/4c rate
charged, red oval "Forwarded by Hale & Co. from Albany" and "Collect Six
Cents for Hale & Co." framed handstamp with ms. "18-3/4" written
over "Six Cents", religious contents mentions hope of sending mail
freeVERY FINE. A UNIQUE TRIPLE-RATED LETTER BEARING THE RARE WELLS' CHICAGO OFFICE HANDSTAMP, USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH HALE & COMPANY'S ALBANY OFFICE MARKINGS. AN IMPORTANT INDEPENDENT MAIL USAGE. Ex Hennan. (Image) |
E. 2,000-3,000 |
| A | 1308 |
 Wells & Co. Express Mail from
Chicago. Small circular handstamp perfectly struck on Sep. 9, 1844
folded letter from Chicago to Sidney Shepard in Buffalo, fresh and
Extremely Fine, a remarkably choice example of this extremely rare Wells'
Chicago handstamp, ex Abt (Image) |
E. 750-1,000 |