Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

The Gordon N. John Collection of United States Stamps Issued Before July 1, 1845 continued...

**Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
2046		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., 3c Black (15L2). Cut to shape clear of circle all around, every letter of "Phila. Despatch Post" unusually well-defined, black "Paid" handstamp struck twice and "R & Co." ms. control, affixed with wax seal, cancelled by red "3" handstamp, matching partly struck "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp folded cover dated "1842" on back (must be December) to the Treaurer of the American Sunday School Union at 146 Chesnut Street EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE TWO FINEST OF THE FIVE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST CIRCULAR BLACK STAMP. BASED ON THE 1842 DOCKETING, THIS IS THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF A UNITED STATES ADHESIVE STAMP USED OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY. The Philadelphia Despatch Post is documented in an advertisement in the Philadelphia Public Ledger (Dec. 8, 1842) and in an expanded version with some differences (see Sale 825, p. 293, or go to www.siegelauctions.com/enc/carriers/robertson.jpg for an image of the revised ad). In the later ad, the stamps are priced at 3c individually, 31c per dozen and $2 per hundred. Valuable-letter registration for 6-1/4c and a 6c rate on letters beyond two miles are quoted (no examples of either special service are known). The firm's address is 93 Chesnut Street, not 83 South Second Street as in the earlier advertisement. The five recorded examples of the Black circular stamps 15L2, which was actually the first issued, are as follows in chronological order: 1) 1842 folded letter (docketed "1842" on back, must be December) to Treasurer American Sunday School Union, ex Caspary, lot 561, Hollowbush, Schwartz, the cover offered here, 2) Jan. 13, 1843 folded letter to Rev. George Boyd, stamp cancelled by red "T"-shaped handstamp, red "Paid" and "Phila. Despatch Post 10 A.M." timestamp (on flap), ex Hall (realized $10,500 hammer), 3) Mar. 20 (1843) folded letter to N. R. Potts, stamp cancelled by dots in small circle, red "Phila. Despatch Post 3 P.M." timestamp (ms. "20" below time) and "Paid", ex Hall (realized $22,000 hammer), 4) Apr. 20, 1843 folded letter to Shrack & Co., stamp cancelled by small red outline "3", no timestamp or postmark, ex Gibson, Middendorf, and 5) May 19, 1843 folded letter to Booth, stamp cancelled by large red "3", red "Phila. Despatch Post 10 A.M." timestamp, discovery example (1889), ex Caspary, Boker. Ex Caspary, Hollowbush and Schwartz. (Image)	E. 20,000-30,000	29,000.00
2047		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., 3c Red (15L1). Octagonal margins just barely into letters "IL", bright white paper and remarkably clear impression of "Phila. Despatch Post P.M." handstamp, ms. "R & Co." control mark, perfectly clear strike of small red outline "3" cancel (not tied), used on folded letter addressed in blue to the local printing firm of Carter & Scattergood, dated Nov. 1, 1843, from a former employee telling them he has obtained financial backing and started a new venture of his own, red "Phila. Despatch Post -- P.M." circular timestamp A VERY FINE, COLORFUL AND REMARKABLY FRESH COVER. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FOURTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST RED 15L1 STAMP. A WONDERFUL "PRIMITIVE" AMONG PHILATELIC RARITIES. A census of Philadelphia Despatch 15L2 stamps may be found in Sale 830, page 167, or at our website: www.siegelauctions.com/2000/830/y83082.htm. Ex Schwartz. With 1983 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000	14,000.00
2048		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Large margins to ample at top, fine impression showing some of the background shading lines, red cancel, Very Fine, signed Sloane, ex Schwartz (Image)	500.00	1,300.00
2049		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Ample margins to just touching, fine impression showing some background shading lines, ms. "X" cancel, thin spots, Fine appearance, ex Schwartz (Image)	500.00	550.00
2050		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Close margins to touching, cleaned, which has washed out the contorl mark, small thins, still a presentable and very scarce example of the first pictorial stamp in the world, ex Schwartz (Image)	500.00	105.00
2051		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On thin paper with clear background lines, two, each with ms. cancel, clear margins but both are defective with small repaired holes, the Scott Catalogue still errs in differentiating between 15L3 and 15L4 by the presence of background lines -- 15L3 has the "R & Co." control mark and comes from printings with and without background lines, while 15L4 has the "DOB & Co." control mark applied to stamps with the background lines (from a supply on hand when Blood took over the City Despatch Post) -- also included is a folded letter with 15L4, which was partly peeled off before mailing (still useful for comparison) (Image)	1,000.00	350.00
2052		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On stout paper with very faint background lines, large even margins all around, cancelled by red outline "3" handstamp, impression ties stamp thru paper, matching "Phila. Despatch Post P.M." circular timestamp on Jan. 23, 1844 folded letter to local street address, sender's notation on back "Despatch Post From Dr. Ducachet" EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP USED ON COVER. ISSUED IN 1843, THIS IS THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL STAMP. Ex Emerson, Hollowbush and Schwartz. (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000	4,750.00
2053		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On stout paper with very faint background lines, huge even margins all around, affixed over pencil "Paid" and cancelled by heavily impressed red outline "3" handstamp, impression ties stamp thru paper, matching "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp on folded letter to local street address, dated Jan. 8, 1843 -- obviously an error in year-dating just after the New Year (the issue was not released until October 1843), should be 1844 -- few ink smears in address VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP ON COVER. Ex Ackerman and Hall (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	2,500.00
2054		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). On stout paper with faint background lines, large even margins, uncancelled, on folded letter from Brunswick Me., Jan. 2, 1844, to publisher of Biblical Repertory, street address written at top, red "Phila. Despatch Post P.M." timestamp and matching outline "3" handstamp, Very Fine, stamp may have been used for prepayment on this letter but offered "as is", ex Hollowbush and Schwartz (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,050.00
2055		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On thin paper with clear background lines, three large margins, clear at top, cancelled by red outline "3" handstamp, matching faint "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp on Jul. 6, 1844 folded letter from Schuylkill Haven Pa. to Philadelphia street address VERY FINE. EXAMPLES OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER PRINTING ON THIN PAPER -- SHOWING THE FULL DESIGN WITH BACKGROUND LINES -- ARE VERY RARE. The Scott Catalogue still errs in differentiating between 15L3 and 15L4 by the presence of background lines -- 15L3 has the "R & Co." control mark and comes from printings with and without background lines, while 15L4 has the "DOB & Co." control mark applied to stamps with the background lines (from a supply on hand when Blood took over the City Despatch Post). Ex Mason and Hall (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	3,250.00
2056		Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On thin paper with clear background lines, two large margins, clear at bottom and slightly in at right, tied by ms. "X" with large matching "1" on Sep. 29, 1844 folded letter from Philadelphia to Richmond Va., red "Philadelphia Pa. Oct. 2" circular datestamp and blue ms. "18-3/4" rate, Fine, a survey of our records produced no more than eight 15L3 covers addressed to other cities, with 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	800.00

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

2046

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., 3c Black (15L2). Cut to shape clear of circle all around, every letter of "Phila. Despatch Post" unusually well-defined, black "Paid" handstamp struck twice and "R & Co." ms. control, affixed with wax seal, cancelled by red "3" handstamp, matching partly struck "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp folded cover dated "1842" on back (must be December) to the Treaurer of the American Sunday School Union at 146 Chesnut Street

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE TWO FINEST OF THE FIVE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST CIRCULAR BLACK STAMP. BASED ON THE 1842 DOCKETING, THIS IS THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF A UNITED STATES ADHESIVE STAMP USED OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY.

The Philadelphia Despatch Post is documented in an advertisement in the Philadelphia Public Ledger (Dec. 8, 1842) and in an expanded version with some differences (see Sale 825, p. 293, or go to www.siegelauctions.com/enc/carriers/robertson.jpg for an image of the revised ad). In the later ad, the stamps are priced at 3c individually, 31c per dozen and $2 per hundred. Valuable-letter registration for 6-1/4c and a 6c rate on letters beyond two miles are quoted (no examples of either special service are known). The firm's address is 93 Chesnut Street, not 83 South Second Street as in the earlier advertisement.

The five recorded examples of the Black circular stamps 15L2, which was actually the first issued, are as follows in chronological order: 1) 1842 folded letter (docketed "1842" on back, must be December) to Treasurer American Sunday School Union, ex Caspary, lot 561, Hollowbush, Schwartz, the cover offered here, 2) Jan. 13, 1843 folded letter to Rev. George Boyd, stamp cancelled by red "T"-shaped handstamp, red "Paid" and "Phila. Despatch Post 10 A.M." timestamp (on flap), ex Hall (realized $10,500 hammer), 3) Mar. 20 (1843) folded letter to N. R. Potts, stamp cancelled by dots in small circle, red "Phila. Despatch Post 3 P.M." timestamp (ms. "20" below time) and "Paid", ex Hall (realized $22,000 hammer), 4) Apr. 20, 1843 folded letter to Shrack & Co., stamp cancelled by small red outline "3", no timestamp or postmark, ex Gibson, Middendorf, and 5) May 19, 1843 folded letter to Booth, stamp cancelled by large red "3", red "Phila. Despatch Post 10 A.M." timestamp, discovery example (1889), ex Caspary, Boker.

Ex Caspary, Hollowbush and Schwartz. (Image)

E. 20,000-30,000

29,000.00

2047

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., 3c Red (15L1). Octagonal margins just barely into letters "IL", bright white paper and remarkably clear impression of "Phila. Despatch Post P.M." handstamp, ms. "R & Co." control mark, perfectly clear strike of small red outline "3" cancel (not tied), used on folded letter addressed in blue to the local printing firm of Carter & Scattergood, dated Nov. 1, 1843, from a former employee telling them he has obtained financial backing and started a new venture of his own, red "Phila. Despatch Post -- P.M." circular timestamp

A VERY FINE, COLORFUL AND REMARKABLY FRESH COVER. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FOURTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST RED 15L1 STAMP. A WONDERFUL "PRIMITIVE" AMONG PHILATELIC RARITIES.

A census of Philadelphia Despatch 15L2 stamps may be found in Sale 830, page 167, or at our website: www.siegelauctions.com/2000/830/y83082.htm.

Ex Schwartz. With 1983 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

14,000.00

2048

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Large margins to ample at top, fine impression showing some of the background shading lines, red cancel, Very Fine, signed Sloane, ex Schwartz (Image)

500.00

1,300.00

2049

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Ample margins to just touching, fine impression showing some background shading lines, ms. "X" cancel, thin spots, Fine appearance, ex Schwartz (Image)

500.00

550.00

2050

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). Close margins to touching, cleaned, which has washed out the contorl mark, small thins, still a presentable and very scarce example of the first pictorial stamp in the world, ex Schwartz (Image)

500.00

105.00

2051

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On thin paper with clear background lines, two, each with ms. cancel, clear margins but both are defective with small repaired holes, the Scott Catalogue still errs in differentiating between 15L3 and 15L4 by the presence of background lines -- 15L3 has the "R & Co." control mark and comes from printings with and without background lines, while 15L4 has the "DOB & Co." control mark applied to stamps with the background lines (from a supply on hand when Blood took over the City Despatch Post) -- also included is a folded letter with 15L4, which was partly peeled off before mailing (still useful for comparison) (Image)

1,000.00

350.00

2052

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On stout paper with very faint background lines, large even margins all around, cancelled by red outline "3" handstamp, impression ties stamp thru paper, matching "Phila. Despatch Post P.M." circular timestamp on Jan. 23, 1844 folded letter to local street address, sender's notation on back "Despatch Post From Dr. Ducachet"

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP USED ON COVER. ISSUED IN 1843, THIS IS THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL STAMP.

Ex Emerson, Hollowbush and Schwartz. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

4,750.00

2053

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On stout paper with very faint background lines, huge even margins all around, affixed over pencil "Paid" and cancelled by heavily impressed red outline "3" handstamp, impression ties stamp thru paper, matching "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp on folded letter to local street address, dated Jan. 8, 1843 -- obviously an error in year-dating just after the New Year (the issue was not released until October 1843), should be 1844 -- few ink smears in address

VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP ON COVER.

Ex Ackerman and Hall (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

2,500.00

2054

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish (15L3). On stout paper with faint background lines, large even margins, uncancelled, on folded letter from Brunswick Me., Jan. 2, 1844, to publisher of Biblical Repertory, street address written at top, red "Phila. Despatch Post P.M." timestamp and matching outline "3" handstamp, Very Fine, stamp may have been used for prepayment on this letter but offered "as is", ex Hollowbush and Schwartz (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,050.00

2055

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On thin paper with clear background lines, three large margins, clear at top, cancelled by red outline "3" handstamp, matching faint "Phila. Despatch Post" circular timestamp on Jul. 6, 1844 folded letter from Schuylkill Haven Pa. to Philadelphia street address

VERY FINE. EXAMPLES OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER PRINTING ON THIN PAPER -- SHOWING THE FULL DESIGN WITH BACKGROUND LINES -- ARE VERY RARE.

The Scott Catalogue still errs in differentiating between 15L3 and 15L4 by the presence of background lines -- 15L3 has the "R & Co." control mark and comes from printings with and without background lines, while 15L4 has the "DOB & Co." control mark applied to stamps with the background lines (from a supply on hand when Blood took over the City Despatch Post).

Ex Mason and Hall (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

3,250.00

2056

Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co." Initials (15L3). On thin paper with clear background lines, two large margins, clear at bottom and slightly in at right, tied by ms. "X" with large matching "1" on Sep. 29, 1844 folded letter from Philadelphia to Richmond Va., red "Philadelphia Pa. Oct. 2" circular datestamp and blue ms. "18-3/4" rate, Fine, a survey of our records produced no more than eight 15L3 covers addressed to other cities, with 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

800.00