VERY FINE. A VERY CHOICE BALTIMORE 5-CENT HANDSTAMPED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
No. 38 in the Hayes census. USPCS Census No. 20034. Ex Stephen Brown. With 1993 P.F. certificate. Scott value $5,000.00
Baltimore, Maryland, 5¢ Blue on Gray Entire, Black Signature Handstamp (3XU1 variety), clear strike of the "5" in oval and "PAID" provisional markings with brownish black "James M. Buchanan" signature handstamp, neat strike of "Baltimore Md. Feb. 27" (1846) circular datestamp on gray envelope to Mrs. G. Rogers Jr. in Washington D.C., blue manuscript check mark, pencil "Feb. 26, 1846" docketing at right, small ink smear
Very Fine and immaculate condition.
The envelopes with the signature handstamp in black and other markings in blue were evidently the earliest of Postmaster James M. Buchanan's provisional issues. This is an early use of the provisional in any form, and of the Blue/Black handstamp combinations, there is one later use, on March 1, before the two-color strikes were superseded by single-color strikes. Twelve examples of the 5¢ Blue/Black combination envelope are recorded in the USPCS census.
Ex Marcus Meyer (Scott Stamp & Coin Co., Sale 121, 3/15/1893), Weill Brothers sale and Dr. Charles E. Test ("Concord" collection). USPCS census no. 20038. Unlisted in the Hayes census.
Baltimore, Maryland, 5¢ Blue on Manila entire (3XU1), superb bold strikes of provisional markings, clear "Baltimore Md. Jul. 28" (1846) circular datestamp on manila envelope addressed to Miss Susan Julia Mayer in Reading, Pennsylvania, faint wax seal mark at center, Extremely Fine example of the 5¢ Baltimore entire, ex Weill Brothers sale and Dr. Charles E. Test ("Concord" collection), USPCS census no. 20054, unlisted in Hayes census, with 1994 P.F. certificate
VERY FINE. A VERY CHOICE BALTIMORE 5-CENT HANDSTAMPED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
Hayes Census No. 38. USPCS Census No. 20034. Ex Stephen Brown
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BALTIMORE 5-CENT HANDSTAMPED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
Hayes Census No. 34. USPCS Census No. 20053
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BALTIMORE 5-CENT HANDSTAMPED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
Hayes Census No. 34. USPCS Census No. 20053
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BALTIMORE 5-CENT HANDSTAMPED PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
Hayes Census No. 34. USPCS Census No. 20053
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUE BALTIMORE PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
No. 31 in the Hayes census. From the Weill sale. Ex "Concord," "Laila" and "Hampshire". With 2002 P.F. certificate.
VERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF A BALTIMORE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMPED ENVELOPE. A RARE COLOR COMBINATION WITH THE "JAMES M. BUCHANAN" SIGNATURE HANDSTAMP STRUCK IN BLACK.
The Baltimore provisional envelopes with the signature handstamp in black and other markings in blue were evidently the earliest of Postmaster Buchanan's issues. This September 7, 1845, envelope is addressed to Miss Delia M. Black, who married Gilbert Roger Jr. on October 6, 1845, after which point letters were addressed to her married name. Both the Hayes published census and the Shearer unpublished census list this envelope as number 1 in the handstamped envelope section. Twelve examples of the 5c Blue/Black combination envelope were recorded by Shearer as of June 1996 (plus the unlisted 5c envelope and two 10c Blue/Black envelopes offered in the Frelinghuysen Sale).
No. 1 in Hayes census. Small "W.H.C." (Warren H. Colson) handstamp at lower right. Ex Col. Green and Frelinghuysen. The Scott U.S. Specialized mentions that entires with the black signature handstamp were issued first and "sell for more," but this handstamp color combination is not given its own major listing. Scott value for blue signature handstamp is $6,500.00.
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE BALTIMORE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL 5-CENT BLUE ON BUFF ENTIRE.
No. 23 in Hayes census. With 1997 P.F. certificate