Eagle City Post, Philadelphia
Pa., (2c) Black, Tete-Beche (61L2a). Block of 18 with nine Type A/B
repetitions containing four tete-beche pairs, original gum causing
some creasing and toning, large margins except at a few spots where touched
or slightly into points, one stamp has small pinholeVERY FINE. THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE EAGLE CITY POST STAMP. A REMARKABLE BLOCK, CONTAINING FOUR TETE-BECHE PAIRS.
The Eagle City Post sheets comprised two types, arranged in a vertical pair that was repeated throughout the sheet: Type A with 39 points around the border, and Type B with 46 points. The make-up of this block is shown in the illustration below. Both types have the misspelling "Chesnut". The earliest 61L2 cover is dated Oct. 1, 1846, with the stamp tied by pen and a small red "Paid" handstamp, signed Perry (Robson Lowe sale, Mar. 1, 1973, lot 1766).
Ex Mason and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $3,300.00. (Image)
EXPRESS POST. Straightline
in stock Eagle and Shield frame struck in blue on small Valentine cover
with lace flaps addressed to Miss M. A. Blacke at Leary & Co., Astor House,
New York, no contents but accompanied by 1850 and 1852 folded letters from
the same correspondence, Very Fine, this is the first and only recorded
example of this "Express Post" local-post handstamp, the approximate period
of use (ca. 1852) and use of the "Express Post" title point to one of the
small operators in New York City (Image)
Floyd's Penny Post, Chicago
Ill., (1c) Green (68L3). Ample to large margins, well-struck "Floyd's
Penny Post Chicago" circular handstampVERY FINE. ONLY 10-12 EXAMPLES OF FLOYD'S GREEN STAMP ARE KNOWN TO US.
John R. Floyd advertised the start of his Penny Post in July 1860. In June 1861, after the outbreak of the Civil War, Floyd sold the firm to Charles W. Mappa, but continued to assist in managing the post for several months before leaving for war in January 1862. Mappa in turn sold out to Kimball & Waterman in May 1862, and the post continued at least until November 1862 and then closed.
The Brown and Blue stamps were the first issued, and the Blue continued to be issued from 1860 through 1862. The Green stamps are known used only in October and November 1862, thus they appear to be the last printing, probably by Kimball & Waterman before the post was closed. The Blue is the most common, and the Brown is extremely scarce. The Green is by far the rarest, with only two recorded covers, six or seven used stamps off cover, and three unused stamps (two with original gum) known to us. (Sources: Abt's American Philatelist series on Chicago local posts and Stimmell's article in The Penny Post, Jan. 1997).
Signed Sloane (Image)
Frazer & Co., Cincinnati O., 2c
Black on Pink (69L2). Large margins almost all around, clear at top
left, tied by ms. "2" cancel on buff cover addressed in print to
"Miss Sallie Wilson, South Side 8th, 2nd door East of Vine.", the
top flap was folded up slightly when originally sealed, stamp has a slight
bend from placement at the edge (not noted on certificate), etiquette seal
on flapVERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH THE FRAZER & CO. 2-CENT BLACK EAGLE ON PINK PAPER. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN TEN EXAMPLES OF THIS RARITY EXIST ON OR OFF COVER.
Hiram Frazer Sr. was appointed to the Cincinnati carrier department on October 17, 1837, and served continuously until October 23, 1845. After resigning, Frazer and his son, Hiram Jr., established a publication depot and the City Despatch Post. Elliott Perry attributed the "& Co." to a partnership with Joseph Haskell (Feb. 15, 1959, letter to Eugene Costales). The "& Co." that appears on the Eagle issue was deleted by hand, and the title of the post appears as "Frazer's City Express Post" on the subsequent Horse & Rider issue. In 1846 Hiram Jr. joined the army during the Mexican War, but was killed in 1847. On February 3, 1848, Hiram Sr. was reappointed a U.S. letter carrier, serving until June 5, 1849. He subsequently operated a penny post until 1853, when he entered the insurance business. Although Frazer's name is listed for a third appointment in August 1849, there is no evidence he actually served. The chronology of Frazer's involvement with the City Despatch Post and his second appointment as a letter carrier is significant, because any Frazer cover dated within the period of his carrier status -- Feb. 3, 1848, to Jun. 5, 1849 -- is a government-carrier usage, not a local-post usage. (Reference: Robert B. Meyersburg, "Frazer & Company City Despatch/Express Post", Penny Post, Aug. 1992, and "Some New Semi-Official Carrier Stamps", Chronicle, Aug. 1987).
There are very few covers with the Frazer & Co. Eagle stamps genuinely used. The Meyersburg article cited above provides a count based on his census: Green Paper (6), Pink Paper (1), Yellow Paper (3) and Grayish Paper (3). His one Pink cover is described as an "unpaid to the mails" usage, which indicates that the cover offered here is a second example. We have been unable to locate any other examples of the 69L2 on Pink paper.
From the Sallie Wilson correspondence (see lot 78). Ex Schenck and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $5,500.00. (Image)
Frazer & Co., Cincinnati O., 2c
Black on Green (69L3). Three full to large margins, outer frameline at
right just touched, ms. "2" cancel (not tied), used on small embossed cover
addressed in blue print to "Miss Sallie Wilson, S. Side 8th Bet. Vine &
Walnut, Near Vine", small etiquette label affixed over
backflapsEXTREMELY FINE. ONLY SIX COVERS BEARING THE FRAZER & COMPANY EAGLE STAMP ON GREEN ARE REPORTED -- THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE.
Robert B. Meyersburg reported six covers with Frazer & Co.'s Green stamp (Penny Post, Aug. 1992), including three local usages and three covers delivered to the post office (postage unpaid). The only 69L3 stamp tied to the cover by a handstamp realized $10,000 hammer in our Golden sale.
Ex Schenck and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $3,000.00. (Image)