9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
52 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 6
General/Issue
Date
24c Steel Blue (70b). Rich color and choice centering, used with 1c Blue (63) and 12c Black (69), all three cancelled by neat strikes of "PAID" handstamp, matching "Gorham Me. Jun. 25" circular datestamp on mourning cover to St. Petersburg, Russia, bold red "Portland Me. Am. Pkt. Paid 14 Jun. 27" (ca. 1862) 14c credit datestamp, magenta "f3" (sgr) Prussian Mail creditVERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND RARE FRANKING FOR THE 37-CENT RATE TO RUSSIA VIA PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL. A PHENOMENAL COVER FROM THE JOSIAH PIERCE CORRESPONDENCE.
This cover must have been sent prior to May 1863 when the rate via Prussian Closed Mail was lowered from 37c to 35c. The June date and use of the 1861 Issue point to 1862.
In 1855 the addressee, Josiah Pierce, was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be secretary of the legation of the United States at St. Petersburg, Russia. He resigned his position in 1858 to become part of a syndicate of businessmen (under the name Winans, Harrison & Winans) who were building and equipping railroads in Russia, particularly between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sometime after 1866 Pierce re-established his residence in London, where he was the legal representative of this firm. In recognition of his services to Russia, Pierce was made a knight of the order of St. Anne by Alexander II in October 1865 (source: Google Books, Bowdoin College obituaries).
Ex Gibson and Vogel
24c Steel Blue (70b). Bright color in the true Steel Blue shade, used with 3c Rose Pink (64b) and 12c Black (69), tied by large Boston "Paid" grid cancels on 1861 blue folded cover to Melbourne, Australia, endorsed "Persia via Marseilles", red "Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Oct. 8" and receiving backstamps, red crayon "34" credit, red London transit also ties 3c, faint waterstainsVERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND RARE THREE-COLOR 1861 ISSUE FRANKING, INCLUDING THE SCARCE 24-CENT STEEL BLUE, PAYING THE 39-CENT RATE TO AUSTRALIA BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES.
Ex Vogel. With 1971 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, beautiful true Steel Blue color on bright paper providing contrasting background to vivid red grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1861 STEEL BLUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS SHARED BY ONLY ONE OTHER.
The Steel Blue is the most distinctive of all the 24c shades. Unlike some of the others, it is rarely mistaken or misidentified, and as such has always been a favorite of collectors. It is extremely rare in this superb used condition.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it (ex Kirke).
24c Steel Blue (70b). Used with 10c Green (68), tied by "Washington D.C. Apr. 18, 1862" double-circle datestamp on cover to Guatemala, neat "4" reales due handstamp, slightly reduced at leftVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER TO GUATEMALA WITH THE 24-CENT 1861 STEEL BLUE SHADE.
This cover comes from the Crosby correspondence. Using Power Search, we located only one other cover to Guatemala with the 24c Steel Blue (from our 1983 Rarities sale).
Ex Haas and Rose. With 1998 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Used with three 1c Blue (63) in different shades and 3c Rose (65), tied by target cancels, light strike of "Greenburg N.Y. July 21" (1865) circular datestamp on cover to Dunkirk, France, with "Office of the Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police" label at top left and Hussey's Time Posted label on back (tied by receiving datestamp), red "New York Paid 6 Jul. 22" credit datestamp, boxed "P.D." ties 3c, French transit datestamp ties one 1c, Very Fine and unusual double-rate franking, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Rich color, tied by cork and "Baltimore Md. Dec. 17" circular datestamp on cover to Oxford, England and forwarded first to Banbury and then to Sheffield, forwarding postage paid by Great Britain 1p Red, Plate 86 (33), cancelled by "603" in barred oval, Oxford (Dec. 30) and Banbury (Jan. 1), red "Boston Br. Pkt. 19 Paid 19 Dec." integral-rate circular datestamp, minor edgewear barely affects 24c, Very Fine and unusual use
24c Steel Blue (70b). Intense shade and well-centered, tied by grid cancel and "Oberlin O. Mar. 27" circular datestamp on 1863 cover to London, England, red New York 19c credit circular datestamp, receiving backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Intense shade, neatly tied on corner by "Washington D.C. July 10, 1862" double-circle datestamp, red "New York Am. Pkt 3 Jul. 12" credit datestamp on cover to Elveden, England, red Liverpool datestamp, Thetford receiving backstamp, backflap tears, Very Fine, a pretty cover to England with the 24c Steel Blue, with 1977 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Incredibly well-centered, tied by well-struck large Boston "Paid" grid cancel, red "Boston Br. Pkt. 19 Paid Feb. 19" credit datestamp on cover to Esk Park, Scotland, transit backstamp, Extremely Fine, a choice cover with the scarce 24c Steel Blue, with 1983 P.F. certificate
24c Steel Blue (70b). Intense shade and impression, cancelled by grid cancel and tied by "Oberlin O. Feb. 13" circular datestamp on cover to London, England, red New York 19c credit circular datestamp, receiving backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive cover
52 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 6
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