Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

4LB1 - 4LB2:

Lot

Lot Description

206

Honour's City Express, Charleston S.C., 2c Black on Yellow (4LB2). Huge margins -- octagonal in overall shape but of such enormous dimensions that a fully rectangular-cut stamp is contained within -- uncancelled, used on May 24, 1849 folded letter to Cincinnati O., red "Charleston S.C. May 24/10" integral-rate circular datestamp, corner with stamp has been torn out of letter and reaffixed, file folds

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVE COVER -- THE EARLIEST OF ALL RECORDED HONOUR'S CARRIER COVERS. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS WITH THE HONOUR'S OVAL STAMP ON YELLOW PAPER. DESCRIBED BY HERBERT BLOCH IN THE 1956 CASPARY SALE AS "BY FAR THE FINEST OF ALL OVAL HONOUR'S STAMPS" -- AN OPINION THAT STILL HOLDS TRUE.

John H. Honour, Superintendent of the Charleston Penny Post, advertised the commencement of carrier service in the Charleston Mercury on May 9, 1849. This cover, postmarked May 24th, is the earliest of all recorded Honour's covers and establishes the oval stamp on Yellow paper (Scott 4LB2) as the likely first issue of the Charleston carrier stamps. The oval design on Brown Rose paper (4LB1) is recorded with July and August 1849 dates.

We record five examples of the oval stamp on Yellow paper: 1) May 24, 1849, the cover offered here, ex Chapman, Caspary, Boker, 2) Jul. 18, 1849, used with 10c 1847, ex Caspary, Middendorf, 3) Jan. 24, 1850, to New York (Siegel Sale 164), 4) Jun. 26, 1850, the cover offered in the following lot, and 5) Cut to shape, off cover, uncancelled, ex Lilly.

Ex Chapman, Caspary and Boker. Unlisted as a single used alone on cover. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

207

Honour's City Express, Charleston S.C., 2c Black on Yellow (4LB2). Darker shade of paper, cut to shape, slightly impinging on oval frame, cancelled by two faint pen strokes, affixed with red wax wafer to Jun. 26, 1850 folded letter to New York, red "Charleston S.C. Jun. 26/10" integral-rate circular datestamp and matching "Paid" straightline, stamp has trivial wrinkles caused by wafer

FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS WITH THE HONOUR'S OVAL STAMP ON YELLOW PAPER. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CARRIER STAMPS.

As detailed in the previous description, there are five examples of Scott 4LB2, including four used on covers, two of which are cut in this oval shape. This is the latest of the 4LB2 dates, which begin on May 24, 1849 (lot 206), and the noticeably darker shade of paper suggests that this stamp may have come from a later printing.

Ex Ferrary. Scott does not list 4LB2 used alone on cover. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

208

Honour's City Express, Charleston S.C., 2c Black on Brown Rose (4LB1). Oval frame just touched on three sides, in at top, uncancelled, used on rectangular piece of brown cover with part of red Charleston S.C. circular datestamp at right and ms. "Aug. 6th 1849" date, pinhole thru stamp and piece

FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE HONOUR'S 1849 OVAL STAMP ON BROWN-ROSE PAPER, THREE OF WHICH ARE CUT RECTANGULAR.

Our records contain four examples of the Honour's 1849 oval-type carrier stamp on Brown Rose paper (Scott 4LB1): 1) cut rectangular, in at top, used on Aug. 16, 1849 cover, ex Hind, offered in lot 209, 2) cut to shape (brighter Pink paper), used with 10c 1847 on Jul. 14, 1849 cover, ex Hessel, offered in lot 210, 3) cut rectangular, in at top, on piece dated Aug. 19, 1849, ex Worthington, Caspary, Boker, the lot offered here, and 4) cut to shape, cancelled by red Charleston circular datestamp (June date, no year), minor faults, ex Middendorf.

Ex Worthington, Caspary and Boker. Scott values are quoted for rectangular-cut stamps unused ($4,000.00) and used ($2,500.00), and cut-to-shape used ($600.00). It seems to us that none of these values applies to this example. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

209

Honour's City Express, Charleston S.C., 2c Black on Brown Rose (4LB1). Ample margin at bottom, clear at left, slightly in at top and right, fresh and uncancelled, used on Aug. 16, 1849 blue folded letter to New York, red "Charleston S.C. Aug. 16/10" integral-rate circular datestamp, light file folds at top clear of stamp

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH A RECTANGULAR-CUT EXAMPLE OF THE HONOUR'S OVAL STAMP ON BROWN-ROSE PAPER. ONLY FOUR KNOWN IN TOTAL, INCLUDING TWO COVERS.

Of the four Scott 4LB1 examples we record (see previous lot for details), only two are found on covers, and only this cover bears a rectangular-cut stamp.

Ex Hind. With 1981 P.F. certificate. The Scott Catalogue does not list 4LB1 on cover. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

210

Honour's City Express, Charleston S.C., 2c Black on Brown Rose (4LB1). Distinctive bright Pink shade of paper -- not the same as the Brown Rose of the two previous lots -- cut to shape, slightly impinging on oval frame, slight surface scrapes, tied by red crayon cross strokes, used with 10c Black (2), short transfer position, two large margins, clear to ample at top and bottom, tied by red grid, matching "Charleston S.C. Jul. 14/10" integral-rate circular datestamp on light blue folded cover to New York, file folds, 1849 docketing on back, slight toning, addressee's name crossed out in ink, file folds, one ending in small tear at top

FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH A COMBINATION OF THE HONOUR'S OVAL CARRIER STAMP AND THE 1847 ISSUE. AN EXHIBITABLE AND HIGHLY IMPORTANT COVER FOR BOTH THE CARRIER AND 1847 SPECIALIST.

As detailed in the previous two lots, only four examples of Scott 4LB1 are recorded, including a cut-to-shape stamp off cover, a rectangular-cut stamp on piece (lot 208), a rectangular-cut stamp on cover (lot 209) and the cover offered here. The other Honour's 1849 oval stamp, printed on Yellow paper (Scott 4LB2), is almost as rare, with just five recorded: one off cover and four on covers (see lot 206 for details). Of the two 4LB1 covers and four 4LB2 covers, only one of each has additional United States stamps, in both cases, the regular postage is paid by a 10c 1847 Issue. The other known combination cover (with 4LB2) is ex Caspary and Middendorf (sold for $50,000 in the Frajola net price sale).

As a side note, the paper of this stamp is decidedly brighter and more pink than the paper of the three other 4LB1 examples. Given the great rarity of the Honour's oval stamp and the basic differentiation between Brown Rose and Yellow papers, it is only an academic point to separate this Pink shade from the others. However, among other more abundant carrier issues, the paper color would certainly be grounds for a separate catalogue listing.

Ex Ferrary, Waterhouse and Hessel (where acquired by Mr. Golden). With 1975 P.F. certificate. Unlisted in Scott (the 4LB2/1847 cover is listed but unpriced) (Image)

E. 30,000-40,000

Charleston, South Carolina