Sale 817 — The David Golden Collection of U.S. Carriers and Locals
Sale Date — Monday, 15 November, 1999
Category — U.S.P.O. (7LB18)
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Mostly complete impression on nicely blued selvage, margins all around, faint diagonal crease and small tear, Very Fine appearance, rare, with 1979 P.F. certificate and notecard from Stanley B. Ashbrook
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Large side margins, slightly in at top and bottom of oval handstamp, used with strip of three 1c Blue, Ty. II, Cracked Plate (7 var), Positions 11-13L2, right pair showing the major plate crack, scissors cut between two righthand stampsA FINE AND EXTRAORDINARY COMBINATION OF THE RARE U.S.P.O. CARRIER -- HANDSTAMPED ON THE SHEET MARGIN OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE -- AND THE REGULAR ONE-CENT 1851 STAMPS SHOWING THE MAJOR PLATE CRACK IN PLATE 2.
Scott value for 4LB18 used off cover is $1,400.00; this combination with Scott 7 is unlisted
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Large margins with "Toppan, Carpenter" portion of imprint, handstamped impression incomplete, uncancelled, used on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to Hartford Conn., "Philadelphia Pa. Mar. 23" circular datestamp, small skinned spot in cover next to carrier stampVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING IMPRINT EXAMPLE OF THE U.S.P.O. CARRIER STAMP ON ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE SHEET SELVAGE.
Ex Caspary.
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Rectangular margins just into handstamp, grid cancel (off top edge -- not tied), used with 3c Dull Red (11), margins all around, slightly oxidized, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Aug. 4" circular datestamp on blue 1856 folded letter to New York, file folds, one thru carrier stamp, effectively tying it to the cover, otherwise Fine, extremely rare, with 1962 P.F. certificate declining opinion as to usage on this cover
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Black (7LB18). Small rectangular-cut stamp showing only one-quarter of the handstamp and part of the 1c 1851 design at top, well-tied by grid cancel, used with strip of three 1c Blue, Ty. II (7), Plate 2, large margins to slightly in, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Mar. 11" circular datestamp on buff cover to Alexandria Va., slight wear along edgesA FINE AND REMARKABLE COVER WITH AN EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF THE U.S.P.O. CARRIER 7LB18 AND THE ONE-CENT 1851 STAMP THAT PROVIDED THE PAPER FOR THIS CARRIER ISSUE. AN INTRIGUING USE OF A FRACTIONAL STAMP.
Several specialists in United States carrier issues have speculated that the U.S.P.O. handstamped adhesives (7LB14, 7LB16 and 7LB18) -- used when other printed carrier stamps were available -- were prepared by one or more carriers and affixed by them to show receipt of the carrier fee when paid by coin. This cover supports the theory that these stamps were not really sold to the public, because the use of a fraction of a stamp would be highly suspect if it was intended to show the carrier that prepayment was made. However, a carrier who received a coin and simply needed to mark the letter as fully paid would feel free to affix a fraction of a stamp, especially if his supply was running low.
With 1981 P.F. certificate.