FRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE EARLY USE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER ON A COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE.
The St. Louis "Bears" were issued by Postmaster John M. Wimer from November 1845 until the first United States General Issue became available in July 1847. The stamps were issued in three denominations -- 5c and 10c at first and a 20c denomination later -- and were sold at a premium over face value to pay the cost of printing. This November 18, 1845, cover is an early use (EDU is November 13).
Ex Faiman. With 1979 P.F. certificate. Scott value on cover $14,000.00
VERY FINE AND CHOICE STAMP AND COVER. RARELY SEEN TIED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP AND WITHOUT A PEN CANCEL. A BEAUTIFUL ST. LOUIS "BEARS" PROVISIONAL COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE.
The St. Louis "Bears" were issued by Postmaster John M. Wimer from November 1845 until the first United States General Issue became available in July 1847. The stamps were issued in three denominations -- 5c and 10c at first and a 20c denomination later -- and were sold at a premium over face value to pay the cost of printing.
With 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for cover with usual pen cancellation
VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT CORNER-MARGIN COPY OF THE ST. LOUIS 10-CENT "BEARS" PROVISIONAL ON COVER. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.
Ex Hessel and Clippert. With 1976 and 2019 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail for a cover with usual pen cancellation
VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT CORNER-MARGIN COPY OF THE ST. LOUIS 10-CENT "BEARS" PROVISIONAL ON COVER. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP.
Ex Hessel and Clippert. With 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for a cover with usual pen cancellation
FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL SPECIFICALLY ROUTED VIA TERRE HAUTE. A REMARKABLE COVER.
The contents read in part "We now have 2 Mails pr. day going East, this we send by the new route which they say is the quickest, by this evening's mail we will remit you Sunday Bank Notes &c for our Co." The sender, Wm. Nisbet & Co., sent a second cover the same day via the more established route via Louisville.
Ex Pope and Faiman.
FRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER, USED ON A COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE.
The St. Louis "Bears" were issued by Postmaster John M. Wimer from November 1845 until the first United States General Issue became available in July 1847. The stamps were issued in three denominations -- 5c and 10c at first and a 20c denomination later -- and were sold at a premium over face value to pay the cost of printing. This November 18, 1845, cover is an early use (EDU is November 13).
Ex Faiman. With 1979 P.F. certificate
FRESH AND FINE ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER.
Ex Pope and Faiman. With 1989 P.F. certificate
FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON A COVER TO NEW ORLEANS. A GREAT RARITY.
Ex Faiman.
VERY FINE AND CHOICE STAMP AND COVER. RARELY SEEN TIED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP AND WITHOUT A PEN CANCEL. A BEAUTIFUL ST. LOUIS "BEARS" PROVISIONAL COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE.
The St. Louis "Bears" were issued by Postmaster John M. Wimer from November 1845 until the first United States General Issue became available in July 1847. The stamps were issued in three denominations -- 5c and 10c at first and a 20c denomination later -- and were sold at a premium over face value to pay the cost of printing. This November 29, 1845, cover is an early use (EDU is November 13).
USPCS Census No. 21101. Ex Seymour and Weill Brothers' Stock. With 1989 P.F. certificate
DESCRIPTION
St. Louis, Missouri, 10¢ Black on Greenish (11X2), Type I, Position 2, full even margins, sharp impression on greenish paper, cancelled and tied solely by red “St. Louis Mo. Jan. 12” (1846) circular datestamp, matching “PAID” handstamp and manuscript “10” rate on folded letter datelined “Saint Louis, January 10th, 1846” from Loker, Renick & Co. to Charnley & Whelen in Philadelphia
PROVENANCE
* Charnley & Whelen correspondence, H. R. Harmer sale, 12/13/1948, lot 2
* T. Cullen Davis, Siegel Auction Galleries, 10/6/1964, Sale 276, lot 15
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* USPCS census nos. 21133
* https://www.uspcs.org/resource-center/censuses/postmasters-provisionals-cover-census/
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1993)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine; cover with light horizontal file fold; H. R. Harmer (1948 sale) description noted a “small break” in the stamp’s margin at bottom from the “2” numeral in datestamp, but this was never mentioned again nor is it noted on 1993 P.F. certificate
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/10.pdf