Walton & Co.'s City Express, Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (142L1). Rectangular margins with outer frameline showing all around, ms. line thru "City Express" -- not tied, but toning provides a clear tie thru paper -- used on Mar. 27, 1846 folded letter to Philadelphia street address, red "Brooklyn N-Y. Mar. 27" circular datestamp and matching "Paid/5" handstamp, ms. "Paid" at lower left

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED COVERS WITH WALTON & CO.'S STAMP, OF WHICH THREE HAVE RECTANGULAR MARGINS. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE BROOKYLN LOCAL.

John T. Boyd discontinued his Brooklyn post on June 30, 1845, when the new postal laws made it illegal for private companies to carry mail along postal routes -- in Boyd's case, between Brooklyn and New York City. Elliott Perry suggested that Boyd's Brooklyn agent was Wellington Walton, who is listed in the 1846 city directory as an "express proprietor" at 195 Gold Street in Brooklyn. Walton & Co. City Express covers are dated as early as February 14, 1846 (see lot 1572), leaving a seven-month gap between Boyd's discontinuance and Walton's successor post -- possibly Walton did not start up until the next Valentine season. In early 1847, Walton sold out to Henry Kidder, whose "Kidder's Brooklyn City Express Post" oval handstamp is recorded as early as Mar. 11, 1847 (reference: Calvet M. Hahn, "Brooklyn City Post 1850's").

Our records contain seven Walton & Co. 142L1 covers, including one postmarked at New Haven Conn., Sep. 28, 1846, which almost certainly is not a genuine usage. The covers are listed here in chronological order: 1) cut to shape, tied by "Paid/W.W." on cover to local addressee, name erased, Feb. 16 (1846) oval, with Valentine enclosure to "Emma", offered as lot 1570 in this sale; 2) cut to shape, "Paid/W.W." cancel, matching strike with Feb. 18 (1846) oval on cover to Lefroy Ravenhill, Brooklyn, ex Middendorf, offered as lot 1569 in this sale; 3) rectangular margins, "Paid/W.W." cancel, used on 1846 folded letter to Mr. Ward, Newark N.J., Brooklyn Mar. 21 datestamp and "Paid/5", Costales files; 4) rectangular margins, ms. cancel, used on 1846 folded letter to Constant Guillou, Philadelphia, Brooklyn Mar. 27 datestamp and "Paid/5", the cover offered here; 5) octagonal margins, tied by ms. cross strokes on 1846 folded letter to Peter G. Sharp, Kingston N.Y., Brooklyn Mar. 21 datestamp and small "5", ex Worthington; and 6) rectangular margins, oblong handstamped cancel, used on 1846 folded letter to Constant Guillou, Philadelphia, Brooklyn Apr. 27 datestamp and "Paid/5", ex Boker.

Signed Perry.

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Walton & Co.'s City Express, Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (142L1). Neatly cut to oval shape, cancelled by "Paid/W.W." two-line handstamp, second strike and equally sharp "Walton's Brooklyn City Express Post, Feby. 18 4 O'C" oval datestamp on small Valentine cover to local street address

EXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH. ONE OF TWO RECORDED WALTON & CO. 142L1 VALENTINE COVERS. EXTRAORDINARY QUALITY FOR A LOCAL STAMP OF SUCH GREAT RARITY.

Details for each of the six Walton & CO. 142L1 covers are provided in the description of lot 1568. Only two covers are Valentine usages (the other is offered in the following lot). The four other covers are used to the mails on regular correspondence.

Ex Middendorf.

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Walton & Co.'s City Express, Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (142L1). Cut to oval shape, tied by "Paid/W.W." two-line handstamp struck twice (both tying stamp), "Walton's Brooklyn City Express Post, Feby. 16 9 O'C" oval datestamp lightly struck on cover to local addressee, the name and street have been erased, with a Valentine poem and second envelope enclosed (address panel removed), to "Emma" and datelined "Valentines Day Feb. 14 '46"

VERY FINE. THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF WALTON & CO.'S STAMP TIED BY A HANDSTAMPED MARKING -- ONLY ONE OTHER TIED USAGE IS KNOWN, AND IT IS PEN-CANCELLED.

Details of the six recorded 142L1 covers are provided in the description of lot 1568. This cover is one of two Valentine usages. It is also one of two tied examples on cover, this being the only stamp tied by a handstamp.

With 1963 P.F. certificate.

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Walton & Co.'s City Express, Brooklyn N.Y., 2c Black on Pink Glazed (142L1). Rectangular margins, tied by "Paid/W.W." on small piece with red "5" handstamp of Brooklyn post office, stamp repaired at right, Very Fine appearance, ex Boker and Richardson

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Walton's Brooklyn City Express Post. Feby. 14 1 O'C. Oval datestamp on undated cover (probably 1846) to local street address, original Valentine enclosure, a beautiful hand-painted floral design with center that pulls up to reveal Cupid, love poem in sender's hand, small gold "Believe Me Sincere" label on flap

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE WALTON & CO. VALENTINE USAGE. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR HANDSTAMPED COVERS EXIST.

There is no rate indicated on this cover, but Walton & Co.'s prepaid rate was 2c.

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