Cincinnati, Ohio
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 | 276 |
 Williams' City Post,
Cincinnati O., 2c Brown (9LB1). Three full to large margins, just
touched at bottom right, straight horizontal tear in upper part of stamp
appears to have been made by sender before affixing, tied by ms. lines on
brown cover to Maj. H. Schley, ms. "2 cts" at upper right, pencil
note 1855 but no contents or markings to confirm year, vertical and
horizontal folds in coverFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RARE WILLIAMS' CITY POST CARRIER STAMP. Beginning in late October 1854, C. C. Williams was appointed as superintendent of Cincinnati's carrier department, which had functioned sporadically since 1837 (in fact, there was no carrier service from October 1845 to February 1848). The earliest advertisements for Williams' City Post specified carrier fees for city delivery (2c) or delivery to the mails (1c). The announcements specifically required that carrier fees be prepaid with carrier stamps, that is, the official Eagle Carrier (LO1) or semi-official Williams' City Post (9LB1) stamps issued for this purpose. Research by Elliott Perry establishes that Williams left the carrier department and joined the post office as a clerk on April 1, 1855. However, the 9LB1 stamp remained in use, as evidenced by three recorded covers dated in May 1855, June 1855 and January 1856. The Williams 9LB1 stamp is extremely rare, with one unused pair and perhaps six or seven singles known off cover. Our census of covers contains just six that are believed to be genuine: 1) 1854 docketing, tied by blue "City Post" in circle as found on Browne & Co. local post covers, to 112 Clinton St., ex Knapp, 2) May 29, 1855 (contents), tied by red square target, to 294 Plum St., ex Caspary, Middendorf, 3) Jun. 18 blue circular datestamp, 1855 content, tied by red square target, with 1c 1851 on printed circular to NYC, ex Meyersburg, 4) 1855?, tied by ms. lines, to Maj. Schley, no street designation, the cover offered here, 5) No date, ms. "X" cancel (not tied), to 8th St. below Carr, Costales photo files, and 6) Jan. 1 blue circular datestamp, 1856 content, tied by red square target, with 3c 1851 on folded letter to NYC, Costales photo files. Signed Sloane (Image) |
E. 2,000-3,000 |
| A | 277 |
 Williams' City Post,
Cincinnati O., 2c Brown (9LB1). Red square target cancel, mounted on
piece, faults, Fine appearance (Image) |
2,750.00 |