Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE SPAULDING'S PENNY POST LETTER CARRIER ISSUE WITHOUT ADVERTISING TEXT AROUND THE BORDER -- THIS BEING THE ONLY STAMP KNOWN OFF COVER. THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN LOCAL POST STAMP.

As noted in the introduction to this section, the first Spaulding's Penny Post adhesive stamp reported to the philatelic world was the small Letter Carrier stamp used on a July 17, 1848, folded letter to Emeline Sanford in Marion, New York. The cover was located in 1945 by Elmer E. Gunner, a Rochester philatelist who found it among correspondence in a western New York farmhouse. The 156L1 cover has never been available in the philatelic market, to the best of our knowledge. The second recorded example of the small Letter Carrier stamp is the one offered here, which was acquired by John R. Boker Jr. at the Harmer, Rooke & Co. May 15-17, 1963, sale of the Burrus United States collection. Its history prior to Burrus's ownership is not known. Mr. Golden acquired the stamp at the October 1973 Robson Lowe sale of a portion of the Boker collection. Therefore, Spaulding's 156L1 has changed hands only twice since the Gunner discovery led to its listing in the Scott Catalogue.

The small Letter Carrier stamp is not a cut-down version of the large stamp with text surrounding the border (see lot 1476). They were printed from slightly different typographic plates.

Ex Burrus and Boker. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS REMARKABLE STAMP, ISSUED BY SPAULDING'S PENNY POST OF BUFFALO IN 1848. THE OTHER KNOWN EXAMPLE IS USED ON COVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN AVAILABLE THROUGH A PUBLIC OFFERING.

The large Letter Carrier stamp with text surrounding the border was first discovered about 1952 by Mrs. Frieda Bulger. The discovery example is used on a cover to Mrs. James Purdy in Mansfield O. with a faint Buffalo 10c integral-rate circular datestamp that appears to have "S" as the first letter of the month, which could only be September. The 10c integral-rate marking on the Purdy cover is not known used prior to December 1848 (reference: Calvet M. Hahn) and Spaulding sold the post in October 1849, so the 156L2 cover is probably a September 1849 usage. The Purdy cover was later sold to John R. Boker Jr. and never appeared at auction when the Boker collection was dispersed in the early 1970's. It is believed to reside in a European collection today. The off-cover 156L2 stamp offered here was acquired by Mr. Golden in the Mar. 1, 1973, Robson Lowe auction, but the Lowe catalogue provides no information about its prior sales history. To the best of our knowledge, Spaulding's 156L2 has appeared at public auction only once, in the 1973 Robson Lowe sale. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF SPAULDING'S DOVE HANDSTAMP, USED DURING THE 2-CENT RATE PERIOD. ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE HANDSTAMPED MARKINGS IN AMERICAN POSTAL HISTORY.

As noted in the introduction to this section, Spaulding's Penny Post advertised a 1c letter rate when it opened in July 1847, but raised the rate to 2c on November 15, 1847. The "One Cent" coin handstamp (see lot 1478) was modified by deleting the value from the center (one cover recorded, dated Dec. 13, 1847), and evidently the Dove handstamp took its place. Only one Dove example is recorded--this Apr. 8, 1848 cover--followed in sequence by the May 20th cover with the red Letter Carrier handstamp (see lot 1480).

Ex J. W. Brown. (Image)

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF SPAULDING'S "ONE CENT" COIN HANDSTAMP AND THE ONLY COVER KNOWN FROM THE ONE-CENT RATE PERIOD. A SPECTACULAR COVER.

HISTORY.

As previously noted, Spaulding raised the letter rate from 1c to 2c on November 15, 1847. Although undated, this cover is the only "One Cent" coin strike known and obviously dates from the 1c rate period. After the rate change, the "One Cent" value was deleted from the center (one cover recorded, dated Dec. 13, 1847). This "One Cent" cover is addressed to J. Brement "at Sizers", referring to H. H. Sizer, a prominent Buffalo businessman who died on June 29, 1849.

Ex Petri and illustrated in his CCP article (Vol. 32, No. 2). (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF SPAULDING'S LETTER CARRIER HANDSTAMP AND THE ONLY KNOWN STRIKE IN BLACK. ARGUABLY THE MOST ARTISTIC AND DISTINCTIVE OF ALL KNOWN MARKINGS USED BY AMERICAN LOCAL POSTS.

This cover was the first discovery of any item associated with Spaulding's Penny Post. It was found by Harry Flierl and reported in the July 24, 1915, issue of Mekeels. Elliott Perry reported the cover in Pat Paragraphs (May 19, 1937). Prior to the discovery of the Spaulding's adhesives (156L1 and 156L2), the Letter Carrier design was known only as a handstamped marking.

This May 3, 1849, cover is also the latest Spaulding's usage. In October 1849 Spaulding sold his post to William Hinwood and Frederick W. Robinson.

Ex J. W. Brown. Illustrated in Petri's CCP article (Vol. 32, No. 2). (Image)

FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF SPAULDING'S LETTER CARRIER HANDSTAMP AND THE ONLY STRIKE KNOWN IN RED.

As noted previously, the 2c Letter Carrier handstamp was introduced in 1848, probably in proximity to this May 20th usage. The other recorded example is in black on a May 3, 1849 folded letter (lot 1479).

Illustrated in Petri's CCP article (Vol. 32, No. 2). (Image)