Brainard & Co., (5c) Black
(24L1). Cut to shape slightly impinging on circle, pencil cancel (not
tied), red "Forwarded by Brainard & Co. Albany" oval, "6" due handstamp and
Hale's red Collect box on Sep. 9, 1844 folded letter to Philadelphia street
address, file fold clear of stampFINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS SHOWING CONJUNCTIVE USE OF BRAINARD & COMPANY'S BLACK ADHESIVE AND HALE'S SERVICE TO PHILADELPHIA.
We record four Brainard & Co. 5c Black 24L1 covers from Albany to Cornelius & Co. in Philadelphia, each of which involved conjunctive service between Brainard (Albany to New York City) and Hale (New York City to Philadelphia). The dates are July (docketed "Jul/44"), Sep. 3, Sep. 9 (the cover offered here) and Nov. 26 (with two Brainard stamps). In three cases, the Brainard stamp paid half of the postage, and the other half (Hale's share) was represented by a "6" due marking and Hale's Collect box. The Nov. 26 cover (ex Peltz) bears two Black 24L1 stamps for both rates involved and no due marking, which corroborates the genuine double-rate franking and the three single frankings (half prepaid, half unpaid).
References: Perry-Hall (Schwartz, editor), "Brainard & Co.", Chronicle, May 2000, and Calvet M. Hahn, "The Brainard Independent Mail Companies", Collectors Club Philatelist, May-June 1984.
A similar cover realized $10,500 hammer in our Hall sale. (Image)