Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow (139L3). Cut to oval shape as always, frameline complete all around, bold impression, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11), in at left, tied by "New-York Jan. 29" circular datestamp on cover to Haverstraw N.Y., with original enclosure dated 1856

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY FOUR YELLOW THIRD AVENUE POST COVERS ARE KNOWN TO US. A GREAT RARITY

The origin of the Third Avenue Post Office was reported in 1872 by W. Dudley Atlee in Vol. X of the Stamp Collectors Magazine, and Atlee's account was quoted in Charles H. Coster's article in the August 1874 American Journal of Philately. It reads, in part: "According to Mrs. S. Allan Taylor, this post was established in 1855 or 1856, by one S. Rothenheim, carrier for Boyd's post. The stamps he made himself, with a handstamp of either brass or metal. He afterwards gummed and trimmed them carefully, and put them up in pill boxes for sale, on the principle that they got lost and destroyed better that way, and more were the sooner asked for. Street letter boxes being generally kept at groceries, the usual place for the stamps was the till or cash drawer, where they got greatly tossed about, and being separate, small and gummed, they were easily destroyed..." Dated covers corroborate the existence of the post in 1855 and 1856. Elliott Perry located four city directory listings for S. Rothenheim (Simon and Simeon), including a letter carrier named Simeon residing at 121 W. 28th Street in 1855, but none in proximity to Third Avenue. A more detailed summary of this information will be found in the Patton book (p. 241).

Ex Chapman, Lilly and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $3,000.00

Image Magnifier / Download

Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow (139L3). Cut to oval shape as always, beautiful clear impression on bright paper, some excess gum at right, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red (11), ample to huge margins, tied by bold "New-York Dec. 18" circular datestamp on greenish 1855 folded letter to Philadelphia, filing crease thru 3c stamp in right margin only

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST OF THE FOUR YELLOW THIRD AVENUE POST COVERS THAT ARE KNOWN TO US.

Ex Hollowbush and Golden (Siegel Sale 817, lot 1545, realized $4,250 hammer). Signed Sloane. With 1999 P.F. certificate

Image Magnifier / Download

Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow (139L3). Cut to oval shape as always, frameline complete all around, beautiful bold impression, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red (11), full margins to clear, tied by "New-York Jan. 31" (ca. 1856) circular datestamp on small cover to Boston, 3c stamp slightly oxidized

VERY FINE STAMP AND COVER. ONLY FOUR YELLOW THIRD AVENUE POST COVERS ARE KNOWN TO US.

Ex Emerson and Knapp.

Image Magnifier / Download

Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow (139L3). Cut to oval shape as always, frameline complete all around, beautiful clear impression, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red (11), large margins to touching, tied by "New-York Oct. 5" (ca. 1856) circular datestamp on buff cover to South Cairo N.Y.

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND COVER. ONLY FOUR YELLOW THIRD AVENUE POST COVERS ARE KNOWN TO US.

The origin of the Third Avenue Post Office was reported in 1872 by W. Dudley Atlee in Vol. X of the Stamp Collectors Magazine, and Atlee's account was quoted in Charles H. Coster's article in the August 1874 American Journal of Philately. It reads, in part: "According to Mrs. S. Allan Taylor, this post was established in 1855 or 1856, by one S. Rothenheim, carrier for Boyd's post. The stamps he made himself, with a handstamp of either brass or metal. He afterwards gummed and trimmed them carefully, and put them up in pill boxes for sale, on the principle that they got lost and destroyed better that way, and more were the sooner asked for. Street letter boxes being generally kept at groceries, the usual place for the stamps was the till or cash drawer, where they got greatly tossed about, and being separate, small and gummed, they were easily destroyed..." Dated covers corroborate the existence of the post in 1855 and 1856. Elliott Perry located four city directory listings for S. Rothenheim (Simon and Simeon), including a letter carrier named Simeon residing at 121 W. 28th Street in 1855, but none in proximity to Third Avenue.

A more detailed summary of this information and an illustration of the cover offered here will be found in the Patton book (p. 241). Ex Perry.

Image Magnifier / Download

Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow (139L3). Cut to oval shape as always, frameline complete all around, bold impression, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red (11), in at left, tied by "New-York Jan. 29" circular datestamp on cover to Haverstraw N.Y., with original enclosure dated 1856

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY THREE OR FOUR YELLOW THIRD AVENUE POST COVERS ARE KNOWN TO US.

Ex Chapman and Lilly.

Image Magnifier / Download

Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow (139L3). Cut to oval shape as always, beautiful clear impression on bright paper, some excess gum at right, uncancelled, used with 3c Dull Red (11), ample to huge margins, tied by bold "New-York Dec. 18" circular datestamp on greenish 1855 folded letter to Philadelphia, filing crease thru 3c stamp in right margin only

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST OF THE THREE OR FOUR YELLOW THIRD AVENUE POST COVERS KNOWN TO US.

Signed Sloane. Ex Hollowbush.

Image Magnifier / Download