Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

FINE. ISSUED FRANKLIN CARRIER STAMPS SHOWING THE PLATE CRACK ARE EXTREMELY RARE. WE ARE AWARE OF JUST THREE USED EXAMPLES, ONLY TWO OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

This stamp (Pos. 13R), a used off-cover stamp (Pos. 19L, ex Ferrary, Chase, Miller) and the cover offered in the following lot (Pos. 19L, ex Lichtenstein) are the three used examples we record of the Franklin Carrier with plate crack. The ex-Ferrary Pos. 19L stamp was acquired by Carroll Chase, whose whole carrier collection was sold to Benjamin K. Miller and is now at the New York Public Library. This stamp was acquired by Mr. Golden privately from the Ezra Cole collection. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE UNIQUE AND RENOWNED COVER BEARING THE FRANKLIN CARRIER STAMP WITH PLATE CRACK. THE ONLY COVER AMONG THE THREE RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE PLATE VARIETY. A HIGHLIGHT OF THE GOLDEN COLLECTION AND ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ITEMS IN CLASSIC UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

The 1851 Franklin Carrier plate prepared by Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. was marred by a large, nearly horizontal crack across six stamps in the second row from the top (Positions 18-20L and 11-13R), as the plate wore, the crack extended further into the two adjoining at left and right (Positions 17L and 14R). The crack is evident on plate proofs, issued stamps and reprint proofs. Our records contain only three used examples: 1) Position 19L on the cover offered here, ex Lichtenstein, 2) Position 19L off cover, ex Ferrary, Chase, Miller and now at the New York Public Library, and 3) Position 13R off cover, offered in the previous lot. To date we have been unsuccessful in locating an unused example, although it is listed unused in Scott.

This remarkable cover shows proper use of the Franklin Carrier stamp in March 1852 to prepay the fee for delivery within city limits by the carrier department, entirely outside of the regular mails. The Meyersburg census of Franklin Carrier covers, which remains current, contains 19 confirmed examples (this number was corrected after our Meyersburg Sale 791 by removing a duplicate listing). Included among the 19 covers are 4 from New York (3 tied by the red circular datestamp, one of which is in the New York Public Library), one cover from New Orleans (tied, offered in lot 19), and 14 covers from Philadelphia (3 tied by blue circular datestamp, 10 cancelled by red star but not tied, and one tied by red star). Only this cover, among the 19 known, has a stamp from one of the cracked-plate positions.

Illustrated in National Philatelic Museum booklet (Vo. VI, No. 4, p. 482). Ex Lichtenstein (Image)

VERY FINE. ONLY THREE OF THE FOUR RECORDED FRANKLIN CARRIER COVERS FROM NEW YORK CITY HAVE TYING CANCELS -- OF THE THREE, ONLY TWO ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. AN IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE RARITY.

The Meyersburg census, which is current (and corrected to remove a duplicate listing), contains only four Franklin Carrier covers from New York City: 1) Undated buff cover to John J. Latting, 85 Fulton St., tied by red "New York" circle, ex Chase, Miller Collection, New York Public Library, 2) Sep. 15, 1852 folded letter to David Sands, 141 William St., tied by red New York circle, ex Caspary, Middendorf, 3) Oct. 28, 1852 cover to Henry Mathews, Union Hotel, ex Seybold, offered here, and 4) Dec. 21, 1852 cover to R. J. Palfrey, New Orleans, Franklin stamp uncancelled, 3c 1851 tied by New York circular datestamp. Therefore, only two of the covers available to collectors (numbers 2 and 3 listed above) have Franklin Carrier stamps actually tied by a cancel.

The enclosed invitation identifies the addressee, Henry Mathews, as co-proprietor of the Union Hotel at 22nd Street and Third Avenue, where the Complimentary Ball was to be held in memory of Wilsey McGinness, who "was unfortunately run over by Engine 46."

Ex Seybold. Signed Bloch (Image)

A FINE-APPEARING STAMP AND SUPERB STRIKE OF THE BLACK NEW YORK CIRCULAR DATESTAMP. THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THIS MARKING ON A FRANKLIN CARRIER.

In addition to the four recorded Franklin Carrier covers from New York, there are perhaps five to seven stamps off cover with the red New York dateless circle, which was used by the carrier department. This piece is the only known example with this style of post-office datestamp used to cancel the Franklin Carrier. An off-cover stamp (ex Hessel) and another on piece (ex Middendorf), each cancelled by the black "New-York 1ct." drop-rate marking, are also recorded.

With 1957 P.F. certificate (Image)

THE ONLY FRANKLIN CARRIER COVER KNOWN FROM NEW ORLEANS, WHERE 50,000 STAMPS WERE SENT IN 1851.

The New Orleans carrier fee for delivery to the post office was 2c, and the original franking on this cover included a pair of Franklin Carrier stamps, one of which remains, and the 3c 1851 stamp. It is obvious that a stamp collector took one example for his collection, but a thorough search on our part has failed to locate the long-lost brother to the Franklin Carrier on this cover.

Despite the effect of vandalism, this cover remains an important and unique artifact of carrier service in New Orleans. The few other existing Franklin Carrier stamps from New Orleans are off cover or on piece. Only two other genuine covers are known with a combination of the Franklin Carrier and 1851 Issue (both 3c), but neither of these is tied. Therefore, this is the only tied 1851 Issue and Franklin Carrier combination cover extant.

Ex Waterhouse and Middendorf (Image)