Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE RARE MOODY'S PENNY DISPATCH STAMP ISSUED IN CHICAGO IN 1856 -- A MIRACULOUS SURVIVOR OF THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871 AND ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL CARRIER AND LOCAL ISSUES.

What little is known about Moody's Penny Dispatch comes from original research by Dr. Clarence Hennan and Henry E. Abt, with additional information provided by Elliott Perry. Abt's series on Chicago locals was published in the American Philatelist (June 1957-January 1958), and the discovery of the "Henny Dispatch" error with a plating analysis was published by Scott R. Trepel in Chronicle 164 (November 1994).

City directories point to Robert J. Moody as the proprietor. Gager's directory for 1856-57 lists Moody at 30 Dearborn, at the corner of Lake Street. Dated examples establish a brief period of operation from September through December 1856 and possibly into January 1857. A total of 18 stamps are recorded, including this strip and 15 singles on and off cover.

This vertical strip shows three of the distinct punctuation varieties of the Moody's setting. As best as we can determine from the 17 stamps studied, this strip comes from three positions in the left column of the sheet of ten (two columns of five). A photograph of this strip exists that shows it before the top margin was trimmed, and there were ornaments from the adjoining stamp above in the margin, which rules out Positions 1/3/5. The sans-serif "Chicago" variety is assigned to Position 9 in the left column, and there are right sheet-margin examples from the right column, which leave only Positions 3/5/7 for this strip.

In our opinion, this is one of the most significant multiples of any Carrier or Local issue, by virtue of its uniqueness and condition, and considering the rarity of Moody's stamps in general.

Ex Caspary, Lilly and Boker (acquired by Mr. Golden in the October 1973 Robson Lowe sale for Sfr. 4,750). (Image)

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN MOODY'S PENNY DISPATCH STAMPS -- ONLY THREE OF THE SEVENTEEN RECORDED STAMPS ARE THE SANS-SERIF "CHICAGO" 110L1a VARIETY.

Two plate positions in the setting of ten have been identified with the sans-serif "Chicago" font variety. One has a period (Position 10) and the other a Comma afer Dispatch (Position 9). This stamp is significant in our plating analysis, because it has a left sheet margin, which places it in the left column of five.

Ex Abt. (Image)

FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS WITH THE MOODY'S PENNY DISPATCH STAMP TIED. A DESIRABLE AND COLORFUL LOCAL POST USAGE.

Our records contain six Moody's Penny Dispatch covers with stamps: 1) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, repaired, Nov. 15, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Deerfield Mass., ex Hennan, the cover offered here, 2) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 7, Nov. 14, 1856 datestamp, tied with three 1c 1851's on cover to Middletown R.I., ex Caspary, also Siegel Sale 773, 3) 110L1b Ty. III "Henny Dispatch" error, Pos. 8, Sep. 18, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Voluntown Conn., ex Rohloff, Siegel Sale 773, 4) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, Sep. 29, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Dover N.H., ex Knapp, Brown, 5) reported 110L1 uncancelled on Oct. 9, 1856 cover, ex J. W. Kline, Abt article, no further details, and 6) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, blue Moody's datestamp, not tied, with 3c 1851 tied by Chicago Jan. 5 datestamp, 1856 receipt docketing, uncertain usage, see lot 1384 in this sale. Reviewing the list, it is obvious that there are only two 110L1 covers with the stamps tied in combination with the 3c 1851. Two of the four remaining covers are not tied, one is a combination with the 1c 1851, and the last is the 110L1b "Henny" error, which is in a class of its own. Given the rarity of this usage, the repaired stamp is excusable.

Ex Hennan. (Image)