9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
18 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 2
General/Issue
Date
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Huge to ample margins including bottom sheet margin, small margin tear at upper right far from design, light file fold usefully ties the stamp with a slight bend but does not cease it, conjunctive use with Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow (117L1), ample to full margins, light pre-printing paper fold not mentioned on certificate, manuscript "W&C" (Wells & Co.) cancel, on folded letter to New York City datelined "Cleveland July, 21, 1844", fresh and Extremely Fine cover and use, a rare mixed franking for conjunctive service, this cover travelled from Cleveland to New York City through Wells & Co. (Cleveland to Buffalo) and Pomeroy (Buffalo to New York City), the full rate (10c by stamps) was paid by the Wells & Co. stamp, and the Pomeroy stamp was affixed by Wells to credit Pomeroy with its half of the postage, ex Caspary, with 2007 P.F. certificate
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Horizontal pair, ample margins to barely touched at left, manuscript cancels, file fold thru left stamp ties pair on folded letter to Buffalo N.Y., Sidney Shepard correspondence, datelined "Detroit August 29th, 1844", manuscript "Double" at bottom left, pair has negligible scissors-cutsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER BEARING A PAIR OF THE WELLS' LETTER EXPRESS 10-CENT STAMP DEPICTING A MARINE CHARGING ASHORE WITH SWORD AND FLAG.
The stamps issued by Wells' Letter Express are remarkable both for the purpose they served and for their distinctive designs. The oval 96L1-96L2 stamps depict the Goddess of Commerce surrounded by bales and barrels with a merchant vessel in the background -- symbols of private enterprise and the robust economic growth of America during the 1840's. The circular 96L3-96L4 stamps depict an American marine charging ashore with sword raised and Union Flag waving, and a naval vessel in the background. This design, chosen for stamps that would be used in the Great Lakes region, has been described as a commemoration of the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812.
Letter Express advertisements list two different rates to Buffalo: a 6-1/4c rate (one oval or one-half circular stamp) and a 12-1/2c rate (two ovals or one circular stamp). There must have been some confusion over prepayment, because some covers from Detroit to Buffalo are prepaid at the lower rate, and others at the higher rate. In this case the pair of 10c prepays double the higher rate.
Ex Petri. With 2013 P.F. certificate
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Full to large margins, unusually bright and fresh color, cancelled by manuscript "X" and used on Aug. 8, 1844 legal-size folded letter to Buffalo, Shepard correspondence, double rate for an enclosure mentioned in letter, stamp appears unaffected by a light fold that passes underneath (probably a stationery fold, not a filing fold), Very Fine, scarce use of the 10c stamp, ex Schwartz
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Full margins to touched, slight oxidation as usual, light manuscript cancel on Feb. 8, 1844 docketed folded cover to New York City, stamp with light crease and scoring line which are not apparent except in cross-lighting, otherwise Very Fine
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Ample to clear margins, manuscript "X" cancel, tied by file fold on folded letter datelined "Detroit, August 22, 1844" to Buffalo N.Y., small sealed cover tear at top, Very Fine appearance, ex Pitt Petri
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Ample to full margins, ms. "X" cancel, tied by file fold on folded letter datelined "Detroit, July 16, 1844" to Buffalo N.Y., ms. "Paid" at top, stamp with light vertical crease to left of file fold, tiny nick at bottom, otherwise Very Fine and and an early use, from the Pitt Petri collection
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Ample to clear margins, ms. "X" cancel, tied by file fold on folded letter datelined "Detroit, August 22, 1844" to Buffalo N.Y., Very Fine appearance, from the Pitt Petri collection
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Cut octagonally, margins all around except just in at left, tied by red manuscript "X" cancel, also by file fold on folded letter datelined "Detroit, August 28, 1844" to Buffalo N.Y., Very Fine appearance and scarce tied by the red manuscript cancel, from the Pitt Petri collection
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Horizontal pair, ample margins to barely touched at left, manuscript cancels, file fold thru left stamp ties pair on folded letter to Buffalo N.Y., Sidney Shepard correspondence, datelined "Detroit August 29th, 1844", manuscript "Double" at bottom leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER BEARING A PAIR OF THE WELLS' LETTER EXPRESS 10-CENT STAMP DEPICTING A MARINE CHARGING ASHORE WITH SWORD AND FLAG.
The stamps issued by Wells' Letter Express are remarkable both for the purpose they served and for their distinctive designs. The oval 96L1-96L2 stamps depict the Goddess of Commerce surrounded by bales and barrels with a merchant vessel in the background -- symbols of private enterprise and the robust economic growth of America during the 1840's. The circular 96L3-96L4 stamps depict an American marine charging ashore with sword raised and Union Flag waving, and a naval vessel in the background. This design, chosen for stamps that would be used in the Great Lakes region, has been described as a commemoration of the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812, which may or may not be accurate.
This cover, along with the rest of a Wells' Letter Express study collection, was stolen from the residence of noted Buffalo collector Pitt Petri in 1967. It was recently reunited with Mr. Petri's family due to the efforts of a good samaritan. It is now offered to the market for the first time in more than 50 years
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Diamond-shaped margins barely into design at one side, ms. "X" cancel, conjunctive use with Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow (117L1), full even margins, ms. "P" cancel, on folded cover to New York City, docketing indicates July 31, 1844 origin date (from Cleveland based on letter which no longer accompanies), dampstained and split along folds, vertical filing crease thru Pomeroy stamp, rare and presentable mixed franking for conjunctive service, this cover travelled from Cleveland to New York City through Wells & Co. (Cleveland to Buffalo) and Pomeroy (Buffalo to New York City), the full rate (10c by stamps) was paid by the Wells & Co. stamp, and the Pomeroy stamp was affixed by Wells to credit Pomeroy with its half of the postage, illustrated in Allen's Cleveland Postal Markings book, p. 106, ex Skove
18 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 2
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