Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**City Mail Co., New York, N.Y.**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
2076		City Mail Co., New York N.Y., (2c) Black on Grayish (46L1). Huge margins all around, appears to be a top left corner position, horizontal crease, uncancelled, used on May 15, 1845 folded letter to New York City Postmaster Robert H. Morris, red "Overton & Co.'s City Mail, Office, 7 Broad Street" oval handstamp, red crayon "0", the letter is a recommendation to appoint someone as a clerk in the post office EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE GENUINE COVERS BEARING THE CITY MAIL COMPANY STAMP ARE RECORDED -- ONLY SIX EXAMPLES OF 46L1 ARE KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER. The City Mail Company was the successor to the New York office of Overton & Company, a letter-and-package express and foreign-mail forwarding agency founded by Richard Carleton Overton prior to July 3, 1844. The change in name was announced in the February 15, 1845, edition of the New York Daily Express and soon after the company's address changed from 3 Broad Street to 7 Broad Street. The handstamp on this cover shows the modified "3" appearing as a "7", reflecting the move. Overton & Co. issued stamps in 1844 for use on inter-city letters (Scott 113L1), these are recorded on covers from Jul. 29, 1844 (see Hall sale, lot 370), through Jun. 30, 1845, the day before the independent mail firms were forced out of business by the July 1845 postal laws. The City Mail Co. issued its own stamps for use on city-delivery letters at 2c each. It is thought that these stamps were issued after the February 1845 announcement of the new City Mail Company. The ex-Caspary folded letter dated Jun. 18, 1844, is an improbable 46L1 usage, inasmuch as it predates both the issue date and documented formation of Overton & Company. Three covers in the proper time period are recorded with 46L1: 1) uncancelled on May 15, 1845 folded letter to Robert H. Morris, red "Overton & Co. City Mail Office 7 [modified] Broad St." oval, ex Golden, the cover offered here, 2) cancelled by red "Paid" (not tied, creased) on Sep. 15, 1845 folded letter to Cornelius W. Lawrence, red framed "City Mail Co. Office 6 Wall Street", ex Boker, and 3) repaired stamp cancelled by red "Paid" (not tied) on Oct. 15 (1845) folded letter to Mr. Mathews, red framed "City Mail Co. Office 6 Wall Street", ex Hunter, Worthington, Mason, Richardson, Golden (realized $7,500). Including the two stamps added to covers (ex-Caspary and ex-Hall), the ex-Ferrary stamp (defective, off cover) and the three genuine covers listed above, we count a total of six examples of 46L1. Signed Sloane. Ex Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000	10,000.00

City Mail Co., New York, N.Y.

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

2076

City Mail Co., New York N.Y., (2c) Black on Grayish (46L1). Huge margins all around, appears to be a top left corner position, horizontal crease, uncancelled, used on May 15, 1845 folded letter to New York City Postmaster Robert H. Morris, red "Overton & Co.'s City Mail, Office, 7 Broad Street" oval handstamp, red crayon "0", the letter is a recommendation to appoint someone as a clerk in the post office

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE GENUINE COVERS BEARING THE CITY MAIL COMPANY STAMP ARE RECORDED -- ONLY SIX EXAMPLES OF 46L1 ARE KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER.

The City Mail Company was the successor to the New York office of Overton & Company, a letter-and-package express and foreign-mail forwarding agency founded by Richard Carleton Overton prior to July 3, 1844. The change in name was announced in the February 15, 1845, edition of the New York Daily Express and soon after the company's address changed from 3 Broad Street to 7 Broad Street. The handstamp on this cover shows the modified "3" appearing as a "7", reflecting the move.

Overton & Co. issued stamps in 1844 for use on inter-city letters (Scott 113L1), these are recorded on covers from Jul. 29, 1844 (see Hall sale, lot 370), through Jun. 30, 1845, the day before the independent mail firms were forced out of business by the July 1845 postal laws. The City Mail Co. issued its own stamps for use on city-delivery letters at 2c each. It is thought that these stamps were issued after the February 1845 announcement of the new City Mail Company. The ex-Caspary folded letter dated Jun. 18, 1844, is an improbable 46L1 usage, inasmuch as it predates both the issue date and documented formation of Overton & Company.

Three covers in the proper time period are recorded with 46L1: 1) uncancelled on May 15, 1845 folded letter to Robert H. Morris, red "Overton & Co. City Mail Office 7 [modified] Broad St." oval, ex Golden, the cover offered here, 2) cancelled by red "Paid" (not tied, creased) on Sep. 15, 1845 folded letter to Cornelius W. Lawrence, red framed "City Mail Co. Office 6 Wall Street", ex Boker, and 3) repaired stamp cancelled by red "Paid" (not tied) on Oct. 15 (1845) folded letter to Mr. Mathews, red framed "City Mail Co. Office 6 Wall Street", ex Hunter, Worthington, Mason, Richardson, Golden (realized $7,500). Including the two stamps added to covers (ex-Caspary and ex-Hall), the ex-Ferrary stamp (defective, off cover) and the three genuine covers listed above, we count a total of six examples of 46L1.

Signed Sloane. Ex Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

10,000.00