Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Horizontal pair, ample to large margins, deep impression on brilliant colored paper, each stamp cancelled by lightly inked but strongly impressed Pomeroy "Cd." cancel, impressions tie thru paper, on July 30, 1844 folded letter from Geneva N.Y. to Belleville near Newburyport Mass., written by a student at Geneva College, Benjamin Hale, to his mother, Mrs. Thomas Hale, clear strikes of red "Forwarded by Hale & Co. from Albany" oval and black "H. T. Crofoot's Letter Office Newburyport" oval handstamps

EXTREMELY FINE. A COLORFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE TRIPLE CONJUNCTIVE USAGE, INVOLVING POMEROY'S LETTER EXPRESS (WITH ADHESIVE FRANKING), HALE & COMPANY, AND H. T. CROFOOT.

This beautiful cover demonstrates one of the most interesting aspects of the Independent Mail system in 1844-45: the cooperation among different firms to provide service between two distant locations. It was carried by Pomeroy's Letter Express from Geneva to Albany, where it was handed over to Hale & Co. for the eastbound trip to Boston and from there to Newburyport. Hosea T. Crofoot, a bookbinder and expressman, had an agreement with Hale to carry mail between Boston and Newburyport. The pair of Pomeroy's Letter Express stamps included their fee (one stamp) and the fee charged by Hale. Presumably Crofoot was compensated for his services out of the postage Hale received.

Very few covers exist that show three Independent Mail companies' service -- so-called triple conjunctive usage -- and this cover with the Pomeroy's Letter Express pair is regarded as one of the most beautiful. A similar Pomeroy/Hale/Crofoot cover, except stamped with both Pomeroy and Hale adhesives, was sold for $23,000 hammer in our sale of the Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito collection (Sale 1214, lot 270).

Ex Stephen A. Brown, Frank A. Hollowbush, Pitt Petri ("Buffalo" collection) and David L. Jarrett. Illustrated in Independent Mails book (pp. 88 and 230).

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Horizontal pair, large margins, deep impression on intensely colored paper, tiny wrinkle at bottom right, each stamp cancelled by manuscript "X", used on folded letter dated Aug. 15, 1844, but without town origin indicated -- based on reference to a Harriett Peckham and New Hartford in letter, we have determined it originated in Oneida County, near Utica N.Y. -- carried by Pomeroy to Albany where given to Hale & Co. for delivery to Salem Mass., "Forwarded by Hale & Co. from Albany" oval handstamp (Ty. F1), manuscript "Single" indicating single-rate letter, Extremely Fine, a rare Pomeroy's Letter Express and Hale conjunctive use, one of the stamps paid the Pomeroy fee and the other paid for Hale's service to Salem

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow (117L1). Large even margins, slight oxidation as usual, cancelled by strongly impressed red "Cd." cancel (ties thru paper) on folded cover to New York City, Aug. 7, 1844 docketing, one panel removed from lettersheet, Very Fine, ex Kuphal, with 1982 P.F. certificate

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Glazed (117L1). Large even margins, cancelled by heavily impressed red "Paid" cancel (tied by impression thru stamp and lettersheet), red "Boyd's City Express Post Mar. 6 9 O'C" oval datestamp for local delivery on folded cover to New York City street address, receipt docketing "Friendly Sons of St. Patrick", light soiling, Very Fine and enigmatic use, Pomeroy's Letter Express discontinued service gradually beginning in August 1844, but covers are known dated as late as September 16, 1844, the Boyd's oval on this letter came into use in September 1844, therefore, as a March 1845 cover it does not seem possible that Pomeroy could have been involved, however, the physical characteristics of the cover - notably the "Paid" tying the stamp where the serifs of the "P"are impressed thru the stamp and lettersheet - are convincing enough that we feel this represents an attempted (and successful?) late use of the Pomeroy's stamp, it is also interesting that this "Paid" marking was never used by Pomeroy, but is exactly like the type used by Hale & Co., if Hale did, in fact, carry this letter into New York City with the Pomeroy stamp affixed, this use becomes all the more fascinating, with 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Glazed (117L1). Large even margins, cancelled by heavily impressed red "Paid" cancel (tied by impression thru stamp and lettersheet), red "Boyd's City Express Post Mar. 6 9 O'C" oval datestamp for local delivery on folded cover to New York City street address, receipt docketing "Friendly Sons of St. Patrick", light soiling, Very Fine and enigmatic use, Pomeroy's Letter Express discontinued service gradually beginning in August 1844, but covers are known dated as late as September 16, 1844, the Boyd's oval on this letter came into use in September 1844, therefore, as a March 1845 cover it does not seem possible that Pomeroy could have been involved, however, the physical characteristics of the cover - notably the "Paid" tying the stamp where the serifs of the "P"are impressed thru the stamp and lettersheet - are convincing enough that we feel this represents an attempted (and successful?) late use of the Pomeroy's stamp, it is also interesting that this "Paid" marking was never used by Pomeroy, but is exactly like the type used by Hale & Co., if Hale did, in fact, carry this letter into New York City with the Pomeroy stamp affixed, this use becomes all the more fascinating, with 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Large to huge margins, cancelled by light strike of red "Cd." on Aug. 1, 1844 partial folded notice from the Exchange Bank of Buffalo to Albany N.Y., parts of notice missing but two backflaps intact, slightly toned file fold far from stamp, and Extremely Fine stamp

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Large margins to clear, slightly oxidized, pen cancelled and tied by file fold, clear strike of red "Boyd's City Express Post, July 28 9 O'C" framed datestamp and "Paid/J.T.B." handstamp on 1844 folded letter to New York, missing one leaf of letter but cover is intact, stamp creased from file fold, Fine and scarce conjunctive use, accompanied by a cover front bearing Pomeroy's No. 117L4, pen cancelled, creased by file fold and small tear, otherwise Fine

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Large margins to full, cancelled by light strike of red "Cd.", impression ties thru paper on July 3, 1844 folded letter from Albany to New York City street address, red "Boyd's City Express Post, July 5 9 O'C" framed datestamp, bold "FREE" handstamp, gently cleaned, still Very Fine, a very early use, it appears that Pomeroy's Letter Express introduced stamps immediately upon announcing service on June 26, 1844, the earliest recorded cover is datelined Albany, June 27, 1844 (ex Hollowbush, John A. Fox sale, Jan. 4-5, 1966, lot 1407), followed by covers dated June 28, July 1 and 3, this July 3rd cover is a first-week use of the new stamps, with 1997 P.F. certificate

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Large margins to just in including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, cancelled by red "Cd." handstamp with strong impression tying thru paper, red "Boyd's City Express Post, Aug. 9 9 O'C" framed datestamp and "Paid/J.T.B." handstamp on 1844 folded cover to New York where delivery attempted at first address and then sent to another address, missing bottom flap, vertical file fold well away from stamp, some overall wear, Fine and scarce conjunctive use, accompanied by analysis from Calvet M. Hahn

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Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Large to huge margins, proof-like impression on brilliant colored paper, cancelled by perfect strike of red "Cd.", impression ties thru paper on July 3, 1844 folded letter from Buffalo to New York City street address, red "Boyd's City Express Post, July 5 9 O'C" framed datestamp, letter states "Pomeroy & Co. are carrying letters now between here & N.Y. for 6c each or 20 stamps for a dollar. It reduces the expense."

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE EARLIEST COVERS SHOWING GENUINE USE OF POMEROY'S LETTER EXPRESS STAMP AND WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST POMEROY COVERS WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED -- PERFECTION..

It appears that Pomeroy's Letter Express introduced stamps immediately upon announcing service on June 26, 1844. The earliest recorded cover is datelined Albany, June 27, 1844 (ex Hollowbush, John A. Fox sale, Jan. 4-5, 1966, lot 1407, illustrated in Independent Mails book), followed by covers dated June 28, July 1 and 3. This July 3rd cover is a first-week use of the new stamps.

Ex Emerson and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate

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