Bishop's City Post, Cleveland
O., (1c) Blue (10LB1). Vertical pair, margins mostly clear to ample
except bottom right corner where paper is nicked, pencil cancel -- faint
but impressed thru to envelope, effectively tying pair -- affixed by
carrier to indicate payment of 2c delivery fee on inbound cover to
Cleveland street address, 3c Dull Red (11), three huge margins, clear at
bottom, tied by "Ogdensburgh N.Y. Aug. 9" (1854) circular datestamp, pair
has tiny tear at bottom, cover has very slight wear at edgesVERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE BISHOP'S BLUE CARRIER STAMP, ON OR OFF COVER, AND ONE OF SEVEN COVERS EXTANT. AN OUTSTANDING CARRIER USAGE AND IMPORTANT 1851 ISSUE COVER.
Henry S. Bishop was appointed to operate the Cleveland carrier department on December 21, 1853. Research by Elliott Perry shows that Bishop became an employee of the post office on July 1, 1854, but the city post continued to function, with or without his direct participation. Bishop issued two stamps: the 10LB1 Blue with blank oval, presumably designed to accommodate more than one denomination, and the 10LB2 Black with 2c value. Both are very rare. The census by Thomas F. Allen (19th Century Cleveland, Ohio, Postal Markings) is still current with seven 10LB1 covers recorded, of these, only one cover has the stamp tied by a cancel, and only this cover is addressed to Cleveland with the 2c delivery fee paid by stamps.
Ex Hollowbush and Golden. Signed Sloane. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $16,500.00. (Image)