Sale 817 — The David Golden Collection of U.S. Carriers and Locals
Sale Date — Monday, 15 November, 1999
Category — Mearis City Despatch Post (Baltimore MD) (Part II)
Mearis' City Despatch Post, Baltimore Md., 2c Black on Gray (this type unlisted in Scott). Unlisted Type K, Position 9 in our plating analysis ("City Despatch" in serifed type, "M. W. Mearis" in large block letters), approximately one-third of stamp remaining, initialled "MWM", red "City Despatch Post Baltimo." double-line circular handstamp on undated folded letter to local street address, file fold, faint toningONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS BEARING FRAGMENTS OF MEARIS' CITY DESPATCH POST 2-CENT STAMP.
As noted in the description of lot 1335, the ex-Caspary se-tenant pair originally had a fragment of the adjoining stamp below at lower left, which showed part of the "City Despatch" label (the margin was later trimmed to improve the appearance). The fragment showed a serifed typeface used for "City Despatch" and floral corner ornaments, which rule out any of the other 2c types -- we call it Type K. The cover offered here bears the only example of the type, which would probably be given its own Scott number (103L1A) if it was a complete stamp.
Ex Kelly and illustrated in his CCP series (Vol. 50, No. 3, p. 153).
Mearis' City Despatch Post, Baltimore Md., 2c Black on Gray (103L5). Unlisted Type I, Position 5 in our plating analysis ("City Despatch" in sans-serif type, "M. W. Mearis" in small block letters, floral ornaments -- similar to Kelly Type H), fragment of stamp remaining, initialled "MWM", red "CITY/DESPATCH" two-line handstamp in rectangular ornamental frame on undated front only to local street address, file foldONE OF TWO RECORDED FRAGMENT USAGES OF MEARIS' CITY DESPATCH POST 2-CENT STAMP.
This front previously had a label adhering to lower left with a Hanford's Penny Post handstamp, which has been removed. There are only four recorded examples of the rectangular "City Despatch" handstamp, this being the only one with the Mearis adhesive. Three of the four are listed by Steven M. Roth in his Feb. 1997 Chronicle article on Baltimore locals.
Ex Abt.
(Mearis?) Despatch Post/3. Small double-line circle rate handstamp boldly struck on small cover to Henry M. Morfit at local address, very faint toning, Very Fine, the "Despatch Post" title and 3c rate are our only justification for including this under Mearis' City Despatch Post -- it could well be the marking of another unrelated Baltimore post -- extremely rare in any case
(Mearis') City Despatch Post, Baltimo. Red double-line circle clearly struck on ca. 1846 folded cover to New York City, red "Baltimore Railroad Apr. 6" route agent's circular datestamp, blue ms. "5" rate, forwarded in New York with part strike of red Boyd's City Express Post oval datestamp and matching "Paid/J.T.B." two-line handstamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, a colorful and unique combination of markings, including the rare Mearis' City Despatch Post circle, the Baltimore route agent's datestamp and Boyd's oval for forwarding, ex Caspary
(Mearis') City Despatch Post, Baltimo. Red double-line circle clearly struck on small Valentine cover to Miss Adeline J. Thomas at local street address, small decorative label on flap, Extremely Fine, Roth records only six covers with this handstamp, in addition to the disputed adhesive made from the same marking (see Chronicle 173), ex Jarrett
(Mearis') City Despatch Post, Baltimo. Red double-line circle on Apr. 28, 1846 folded letter to local addressee, ms. 3" rate -- the enigmatic "3" is not one of Mearis's published rates -- somewhat toned, file fold, otherwise Fine, Roth records only six covers with this handstamp, in addition to the disputed adhesive made from the same marking (see Chronicle 173), ex Boker, illustrated in Kelly's CCP series (Vol. 50, No. 3, p. 153).
(Mearis') City Despatch. Two-line handstamp in rectangular ornamental frame, boldly struck in red on folded letter datelined New York City, Sep. 11, 1846, to local addressee, sender's routing "p. W. C. Howard" at lower left, Mr. Howard (of Wilmington N.C.) adds his own post-script "Necessity compells me to go on to W(ilmington) or I would stop and see you..."EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINEST OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF MEARIS' "CITY DESPATCH" FRAMED HANDSTAMP.
This cover is not among the three listed by Steven M. Roth in his Feb. 1997 Chronicle article. Ex Richardson.
(Mearis') City Despatch. Red two-line handstamp in rectangular ornamental frame, detailed strike and ms. "Paid" on Jun. 1, 1846 blue folded letter to Baltimore City HallVERY FINE. ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES OF MEARIS' "CITY DESPATCH" FRAMED HANDSTAMP ARE RECORDED.
Adding lot 1343 to the three listed by Steven M. Roth in his Feb. 1997 Chronicle article, there is a total of four examples of this marking. However, one is struck on a front only (lot 1338 in this sale).
Ex Kelly and illustrated in his CCP series (Vol. 50, No. 3, p. 156).