Sale 824 — 2000 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 May, 2000
Category — Locals (A thru E)




VERY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL LOCAL POST STAMPS -- PERHAPS THREE OR FOUR GENUINE EXAMPLES EXIST.
Researchers have argued over the origins of this post, but the best evidence available indicates that it was run briefly in 1856 as American Express Co. (no relation to the well-known firm by the name name) by proprietors Smith and Dobson, and was changed to Smith's City Express Post after Dobson departed. Several excellent forgeries of this stamp exist (the example in the Golden sale is evidently one of the forgeries).
Ex Ferrary.









VERY FINE. ONE OF SEVEN OR EIGHT REPORTED EXAMPLES OF BOUTON'S MANHATTAN EXPRESS STAMP. ONLY FOUR COVERS ARE KNOWN.
The Manhattan Express was operated by William V. Barr as early as October 1845 until sometime soon after Valentine's Day 1847, when Barr sold out to John R. Bouton. The first stamp issued under Bouton's ownership is the 2c on Pink (17L1). Approximately seven or eight examples are known, uncancelled, including four used on covers.
With 2000 P.F. certificate that describes the "Paid Bouton" pencil notation as "non-contemporary" (an opinion with which we disagree).







VERY FINE. ONE OF THE CHOICEST EXAMPLES OF THE BROADWAY LOCOMOTIVE STAMP KNOWN ON COVER.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.












EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE SIDEWAYS "C" VARIETY ON BUFF PAPER (SCOTT 40L8b).
Ex Caspary.


VERY FINE. ONLY SEVEN EXAMPLES OF THE NEWARK CITY LETTER EXPRESS ONE-CENT STAMP ARE KNOWN ON COVERS. ONE OF THE RAREST LOCALS.
The Newark Daily Advertiser carried daily advertisements for Peck & Company's City Letter Express from June 12 through September 29, 1856. Augustus L. Peck's partner in the City News Office was R. Jaques, and their office was located at 324 Broad Street. The City Letter Express provided letter delivery to the mails (1c) and within the city (2c). Their competitor, Rogers' Penny Post, only carried letters to the post office. Peck's advertisements also solicited package-express business, which may have been on behalf of the New Jersey Express Company, which had its business in Newark during the same period (reference: Elliott Perry, Pat Paragraphs, reprint, pp. 405-408).
Our records contain just seven examples of the 45L1 stamp on cover, including six dated in late 1856 or this February 1857 cover. The City Letter Express stamps were usually left uncancelled, but three covers have Newark datestamps tying the local. One of the tied examples realized $15,500 hammer in our November 1999 Golden sale.


