New York City, New York continued...
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 | ||
| 296 |
 U.S. City Despatch Post, New
York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Unused (no gum),
three large margins, ample at bottom, Very Fine
(Image) |
500.00 | |
| 297 |
 U.S. City Despatch Post, New
York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large margins,
orange-red "U.S." in frame cancel, tied by matching "U.S. City Despatch
Post Sep. 1, 1 O'Clock" Type I double-line circular datestamp on folded
cover to street address, lightly cleanedVERY FINE. IN OUR OPINION, THIS SEPTEMBER 1ST COVER REPRESENTS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE FIRST STAMP ISSUED UNDER THE POST OFFICE'S AUTHORITY. Although no year date is shown, it is definitely September 1, 1842, because orange-red cancelling ink was used in 1842, not 1843, and 6LB3 was superseded by other printings by September 1843. For many years, August 19, 1842, has been cited as the earliest recorded date for 6LB3, based on the ex-Caspary/Middendorf cover reputed to have been mailed with the 6LB3 stamp on August 19, just three days after the U.S. City Despatch Post carrier service commenced (August 16). While we are satisfied that the stamp is genuinely used on the Caspary/Middendorf cover, it is our opinion that the manuscript date is a docketing note referring to contents, not the mailing date, which was probably in early September. The red datestamp on the Caspary/Middendorf cover is so faint that it cannot be read. The cover offered here is the only September 1 date we record, and it is followed by several other 6LB3 covers dated September 3, 5 and later. There are no 6LB3 covers dated between August 19 and September 1. The first post office announcement stating that "Free" stamps are available is dated "Sept. 1842". Therefore, until another 6LB3 cover can be shown to have actually been mailed prior to September 1, it is our opinion that this September 1 cover stands as the earliest recorded usage. Ex Middendorf (Image) |
E. 1,000-1,500 | |
| 298 |
 U.S. City Despatch Post, New
York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Huge margins
including bottom sheet margin, orange-red "U.S." in frame, matching "U.S.
City Despatch Post Oct. 26, 9 O'Clock" Type I double-line circular
datestamp on 1842 folded letter to local street address, Extremely Fine, an
outstanding example of this scarce stamp on cover, with 1984 P.F.
certificate (Image) |
E. 1,000-1,500 | |
| 299 |
 U.S. City Despatch Post, New
York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large even
margins, tied by orange-red "U.S. City Despatch Post Feb. 15, -- O'Clock"
Type I double-line circular datestamp on 1843 folded letter to local street
address, Extremely Fine, ex Mason (Image) |
E. 750-1,000 | |
| 300 |
 U.S. City Despatch Post, New
York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large even
margins, cancelled by sharp strike of orange-red "U.S." in frame, tied by
matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Sep. 5, 1 O'Clock" (ca. 1842) Type I
double-line circular datestamp on small folded letter to local street
address, ms. "Paid 3 cts", Extremely Fine, very early use of the
first stamp issued under U.S. government authority, ex Middendorf (Image) |
E. 750-1,000 | |
| 301 |
 U.S. City Despatch Post, New
York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large margins,
cancelled by orange-red "U.S." in frame (not tied, but impression goes thru
paper to lettersheet), used on Sep. 1842 folded letter to New York street
address, redirected to Rye N.Y., faint red "Albany N.Y. Sep. 20" circular
datestamp and ms. "12-1/2" rate, orange-red "New-York Sep. 22" circular
datestamp and blue ms. "6" for forwarding, Very Fine and unusual usage (Image) |
E. 750-1,000 |