3c Rose Red (11). Horizontal pair and -1/3 of another stamp adjoining, tied by "New-York Sep. 8" circular datestamp and bold "Due 6" handstamp on brown cover to Greenfield Mass., the "6" due rate crossed out in pencil and re-rated "due 5", manuscript "1854" year date, edge faults mostly confined to corners, otherwise Fine, a number of interpretations of this usage are possible, the most intriguing being that the sender franked it for a double rate plus carrier fee, but the P.O. rated it as a triple rate with the bisect not accepted (5c plus 1c), then decided to accept the bisect, leaving only the unpaid portion due (5c), another possibility, which a P.F. certificate (no longer accompanies) seems to embrace, is that the pair was inadvertently cut -1/3 into the next stamp, and the "Due 6" was struck in error, then corrected, the "bisect" is 6.5 mm in width, almost exactly -1/3 of the full design (19.5 mm); to attribute this cut to simple carelessness seems to us to be a greater stretch of imagination than to accept the prepaid carrier fee theory, but the P.F. has opined that it "is not a bisect usage." Offered on its own merits, ex Piller

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3c Dull Red, Ty. I, Chicago Perf 12-1/2 (11 var). Position 78R6, perfs intact on three sides, roughly separated at left, tied by "Chicago Ill. Aug. 4, 1856" circular datestamp on cover to Skaneateles N.Y., manuscript "R. K. Swift Bro & Johnston" return address across top, with original printed enclosure from the Swift Brothers' banking firm

VERY FINE COVER AND AN IMPORTANT POSTAL HISTORY ARTIFACT SHOWING USE OF THE 3-CENT CHICAGO PERF BY R. K. SWIFT, THE PROMOTER OF THE HADLEY PERFORATING MACHINE.

Wilson Hulme speculates in his article in Chronicle 175 that R. K. Swift distributed Chicago perf stamps to various businesses as a trial or to strengthen the possibility of selling the perforating machine to the post office. Many of the businesses were in a straight path between Swift's bank and Elijah Hadley's (inventor of the machine) office (p. 167). Hulme recorded two covers with an R. K. Swift printed corner card and this cover with the firm's printed enclosure (there are others with signatures or writing that can be tied to Swift, discussed in lot 1231). This cover and enclosure are illustrated in Chronicle 175, page 162, where described as having "the highest degree of desirability".

Ex Hulme.

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3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Full margins to in, tied by "Manchester N.H. May 20, 1857" circular datestamp on patent envelope with 14 holes on back to Tunbridge Vt., very unusual, accompanied by Chronicle article from the Cover Corner section showing another similar with hypothesis as to their meaning

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3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11). Margins clear to just touching, indistinct cancel, bold strike of "Adamsville Mich. June 13" semi-circular handstamp with day in manuscript, on cover to Ashton Wis., Very Fine and extremely rare, the listing example in Simpson-Alexander and illustrated on p. 27 (Rarity 10), ex Wagshal, with 1992 P.F. certificate calling the shade Red Brown

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3c Claret, Ty. I (11). Two full margins, other sides touched to slightly in, tied by red Flag in Circle fancy cancel, matching "Newark Valley N.Y. Feb. 26" circular datestamp on brown cover to Killaway N.Y., 1857 enclosure, very minor wear, otherwise Very Fine, rare example of the 1851 Issue with a pictorial fancy cancel, ex Sheriff and Dr. Martin

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3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A). Large margins to slightly in, tied by fantastic strike of large Negative Star fancy cancel on orange buff cover to Groton Centre Mass., neat "Worcester Mass. May 31" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine strike of this scarce fancy cancel, ex Dr. Amonette

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3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11). Full margins to touched at lower right, intense shade, tied by perfectly struck "Chicago Ill. Jun, 19, 1857" circular datestamp on buff cover to Macomb Ill. with "Prairie Farmer Works" illustrated advertising design, elaborate engraving of a horse-drawn self-raking reaper/mower with statistics on its production below, answer docketing at left, fresh and Extremely Fine, a lovely illustrated farming design, with 2012 P.F. certificate

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3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Brilliant color, large margins to just in, tied by "Augusta Me. Sep. 22" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Goshen Conn., with Fremont three-quarter portrait, Milgram JF-6, 1856-dated enclosure, Extremely Fine, a superb and very pretty cover, ex Jarrett, with 2009 P.F. certificate

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3c Deep Brownish Carmine, Ty. I (11 var). Position 14L7 noted on back, intense shade which is deeper and darker than the usual Brownish Carmine, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Dec. 30" circular datestamp on Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Red on White Entire (15LU5), "Blood's Despatch Dec. 30 1856 4-1/2 P.M." circular datestamp, addressed to Norristown Pa., Very Fine and absolutely pristine, accompanied by normal No. 11A Brownish Carmine for comparison and note stating Dr. Amonette's opinion that this is a "very deep Brownish Carmine" (not signed)

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3c Dull Red, Ty. I (11). Large margins to just touched, tied by "PAID" grid cancel, red "Boston Mass. Sep. 22" circular datestamp on yellow cover to New York with Millard Fillmore three-quarter portrait in oval, Milgram MF-3, missing part of backflap, Very Fine and scarce campaign design, Fillmore acceded to the presidency after the death of Zachary Taylor in 1850, however he was defeated for the Whig Party nomination for a full term in 1852 by General Winfield Scott, who in turn lost the election to Democrat Franklin Pierce, he ran again in 1856 as the Know Nothing Party nominee, winning only the State of Maryland, ex Jarrett

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