Sale 846 — 2002 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 18 May, 2002
Category — Local Posts and Independent Mails
Adams & Co., American & European Express, Melbourne, N.S.W. Blue cameo card on backflap of buff cover to Sydney N.S.W., "Melbourne * Victoria * Oc 27 1853" oval datestamp, backstamped "Ship Letter=Sydney=No 6, 1853", ms. "8" pence due rate, pencil receipt docketing on back indicating arrival in Sydney on Nov. 7, minor edge wear and sealed flap tear, Very Fine, rare transpacific express usage -- see Collectors Club Philatelist, May 1982, for article on Adams & Co.'s Australasian express
American Express Co., New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green (4L1). Cancelled by "Paid" in oval, large margins, minor white spots in surface coloring, vertical crease and thinsONE 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, but we are confident that this example is genuine, although it is a typographic variation with 15 fleur ornaments (instead of 14). This is the only recorded example with the "Paid" cancel.
Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (unstated value) Black on Pale Green (15L11). Large to huge margins, cancelled by 5-bar grid, impression ties thru paper, used on folded letter to Elizabethtown N.J., blue "Philada. Pa. 5 cts Aug. 13" (1848) integral-rate circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, extremely scarce use of the oval Bird & Letter stamp, ex Hollowbush, with 2000 P.F. certificate
D. O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Pa., (unstated value) Albino Embossed Stamp on Buff entire (Unlisted). Embossing with 28 South 6th Street address at upper right of buff entire to local street address, "Blood's Despatch 28 So. Sixth" handstamp, opening faults including sealed tear at upper left and torn corner at upper right, sealed with archival tape to improve appearanceONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE EARLIEST BLOOD'S EMBOSSED ENTIRE, ISSUED SOMETIME IN LATE AND EARLY 1849.
A recent article in the Penny Post (Jan. 2002) reported two examples of the Blood's albino entire, including one on buff, which is also addressed to Master Leighton Coleman and cancelled with the "28 So. Sixth" handstamp The existence of this example was not known at the time, because the owner believed it was an albino impression of the Scott-listed embossed stamps. As the photo detail shows, the design is completely different, and the "28 So. 6th" address indicates that it pre-dates the 15LU2-4 entires and probably was issued briefly before the Red entire (15LU1) was produced.
Broadway Post Office, New York N.Y., (1c) Black (26L2). Block of four, original gum, top pair small h.r., light horizontal crease, bottom pair Mint N.H., large margins to close at bottom right, small scissors cut between bottom pair, Very Fine and scarce block
California Penny Post Co., San Francisco, 7c Black on 3c Red on Buff Entire (34LU11B). Instructions for mailing and list of towns on back, "Pleasant Springs Cal. Jun. 2" double-line circular datestamp and ms. "X" cancel, to local San Francisco firm, vertical crease, Extremely Fine and very rare
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Top left corner margin block of six with stitch watermark, original gum, four stamps Mint N.H., Extremely Fine, a superb corner-margin block of the first adhesive stamp issued in the Western hemisphere, ex Hind and Knapp
Frazer & Co., Cincinnati O., 2c Black on Green (69L3). Unused (no gum), large margins to close at top and left, slight crease, Very Fine appearance, one of the rarest of local-post issues
Frazer's City Express Post, Cincinnati O., 2c Black on Yellow (69L8). Ample margins, very pale yellowish paper (possibly gray), ms. "X" cancel, used on front only to local addressee, Very Fine stamp and attractive piece, the Frazer Horse & Rider issue is known on Rose, Blue and Yellow papers (in common with the Eagle issue), but there is no reported Gray paper -- this might be a previously uncatalogued Gray paper -- accompanying 1979 A.P.S. certificate states "scarce yellow paper variety faded", but we so no evidence of fading -- in any case a stamp of great rarity
Moody's Penny Dispatch, Chicago Ill., (1c) Black on Red Glazed (110L1). Type Ic with Comma, Position 7 according to our plating analysis, huge margins with sheet margin at left, tied by blue "Moody's Despatch Nov. 4, 5 - M. 1856" circular datestamp, used with 3c Dull Red (11), ample margins to slightly in, tied by "Chicago Ill. Nov. 5, 1856" circular datestamp on light buff cover to Neillsburg Pa., cover slightly creased at bottomEXTREMELY FINE. A NEW FIND AND ONE OF THE FINEST OF FIVE RECORDED COVERS WITH THE MOODY'S PENNY DISPATCH STAMP TIED. A DESIRABLE AND COLORFUL LOCAL POST USAGE.
What little is known about Moody's Penny Dispatch comes from original research by Dr. Clarence Hennan and Henry E. Abt, with additional information provided by Elliott Perry. Abt's series on Chicago locals was published in the American Philatelist (June 1957-January 1958), and the discovery of the "Henny Dispatch" error with a plating analysis was published by Scott R. Trepel in Chronicle 164 (November 1994). City directories point to Robert J. Moody as the proprietor. Gager's directory for 1856-57 lists Moody at 30 Dearborn, at the corner of Lake Street. Dated examples establish a brief period of operation from September through December 1856 and possibly into January 1857.
A total of 19 stamps are recorded, including a strip of 3 and 16 singles on and off cover. Our records contain seven Moody's Penny Dispatch covers with stamps: 1) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, repaired, Nov. 15, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Deerfield Mass., ex Hennan, Golden (unsold); 2) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 7, Nov. 14, 1856 datestamp, tied with three 1c 1851's on cover to Middletown R.I., ex Caspary, also Siegel Sale 773; 3) 110L1b Ty. III "Henny Dispatch" error, Pos. 8, Sep. 18, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Voluntown Conn., ex Rohloff, Siegel Sale 773; 4) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, Sep. 29, 1856 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Dover N.H., ex Brown, Knapp, Hall, Siegel Sale 830, lot 724; 5) reported 110L1 uncancelled on Oct. 9, 1856 cover, ex J. W. Kline, Abt article, no further details; 6) 110L1 Ty. Ic with Comma, Pos. 4, blue Moody's datestamp, not tied, with 3c 1851 tied by Chicago Jan. 5 datestamp, 1856 receipt docketing, uncertain usage; and 7) 110L1 Ty. Ic, Pos. 7, Nov. 4, 1846 datestamp, tied with 3c 1851 on cover to Neillsburg Pa., the cover offered here. Reviewing the list, it is obvious that there are only three 110L1 covers with the stamps tied in combination with the 3c 1851. Two of the four remaining covers are not tied, one is a combination with the 1c 1851, and the last is the 110L1b "Henny" error, which is in a class of its own.
This cover was recently discovered in family correspondence and is offered to the market for the first time. The census list above reflects this new find.
Smith & Stephens City Delivery, St. Louis Mo., 1c Black on Pale Rose (158L1). Huge top margin -- evidently a top row position -- large margin at right and clear on other sides, tied by ms. cancel (two penstrokes that have smeared) on 9-1/2 x 8 inch embossed Valentine cover to "Miss Laura Scott, St. Louis, Mo., No. 81 South 7 Street between St. Charles & Locust"EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE SMITH & STEPHENS CITY DELIVERY STAMP, ON OR OFF COVER. ONE OF THE MOST ELUSIVE OF ALL CARRIERS AND LOCALS -- OFFERED AT AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ITS DISCOVERY IN THE LAURA SCOTT CORRESPONDENCE.
The Smith & Stephens City Delivery post and this cover were included in an article on St. Louis locals published by S. M. Arnold in The American Philatelist (August 1956). Although no information on the post has been located in the St. Louis city directories, the addressee's South 7th Street location indicates that the year of mailing was probably 1858 or later. The 8LB3 Valentine cover offered in this sale (lot 2403) is addressed to Laura Scott at 6th and Morgan, and it is dated February 13, 1857. According to the Arnold article, the 1857 city directory lists the Scott family at South 7th Street, which indicates they moved sometime in 1857. The South 7th Street address on the Smith & Stephens Valentine points to the Valentine season in 1858 or possibly 1859.
Ex Bulger
Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Pink (139L7). Cut to oval shape as always, clear impression, uncancelled, affixed with characteristic mucilage to lower left corner of lady's small embossed cover to Nevada City Cal., no postal markings, but pencil "Paid 10" at top and receipt docketing on back ("Rec March 16/56, Answered March 17") indicate that transcontinental postage was paid -- the P.F. opinion is that the stamp did not originate, but we disagree for the reasons stated belowVERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED THIRD AVENUE POST STAMPS ON PINK PAPER.
Since our November 2000 Hall sale, this example of the Third Avenue Post Office stamp has come to light. It becomes the third recorded example on Pink paper (139L7).
The Third Avenue Post Office was operated by S. Rothenheim in 1855 and 1856. Rothenheim was at one time a carrier for Boyd's post. In our opinion, the fact that this stamp is used on a cover with March 1856 receipt docketing is powerful evidence in its favor. We also believe that the excess mucilage on the stamp and on the cover surrounding the stamp are positive features. We can find no record of this stamp off cover.
The absence of postal markings is also significant. Our analysis is that the lack of postal markings, the "Box 471" notation at lower right and the pencil "Paid 10", combine to indicate that the cover was given to Rothenheim, then placed by him inside a government stamped envelope and sent either by regular mail or express, to be delivered to Box 471 in Nevada City. Boyd's was connected to Western expresses operating during the 1855-56 period, and it is very likely that Rothenheim, a Boyd's carrier, was familiar with the express firms and how to coordinate local delivery with their service to win business.
With 2002 P.F. certificate stating that the stamp did not originate, but the buyer of this cover has compelling reasons to disregard the P.F. opinion.