Sale 862 — The D.K. Collection of U.S. Carriers & Locals
Sale Date — Saturday, 31 May, 2003
Category — Jefferson Market P.O. thru Jenkin
Jefferson Market P.O., New York N.Y., (2c) Black on Blue Glazed (88L2). Large margins to just touching, uncancelled as usual, some creasing and scuffed spots in enamel, used on back of folded letter (in German) to Reading Pa., two datelines incl. Mar. 27, 1851, red "New-York 5 Cts. Apr. 15" integral-rate circular datestamp, opened for display, some small tears along folds (reinforced with archival tape), faint toningFINE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE JEFFERSON MARKET POST OFFICE STAMP ON BLUE PAPER -- EACH USED ON COVER, OF WHICH TWO ARE TIED.
The Jefferson Market P.O. was not officially connected to the New York Post Office, but used the "Post Office" designation in its name, much like Swarts and other contemporaries. The post is believed to have been operated by Godfrey Schmidt, who was listed in the 1850-51 city directory as Godfrey Smith at 6 Greenwich Avenue (source: Elliott Perry). In addition to the stamps issued by the Jefferson Market P.O., a stampless cover was reported by Thomas C. Mazza in The Penny Post (Jan. 1995). The stampless folded letter is addressed to Sing Sing N.Y. and bears a clear strike of a large Eagle-type frame containing "Jefferson Market Post Office/BY G. SCHMIDT & CO." in two lines. It also has a red New York Jun. 30 datestamp, and the letter is year-dated 1850. This 88L2 cover is clearly postmarked Apr. 15 (1851), which establishes at least a ten-month existence for the post, corresponding to the city directory listing for Godfrey Schmidt (Smith).
Our records contain four examples of 88L1 (Pink paper), all uncancelled off cover, and five of 88L2 (Blue paper) used on separate covers. The stamps were not cancelled by the post, but in two cases they are coincidentally tied by a postal marking. The five 88L2 examples are listed here: 1) tied on Mar. 8, 1851 folded letter to Germany, ex Caspary, Boker; 2) uncancelled (scissors cut), New York Jan. 4 (1851) datestamp on cover to Baltimore, ex Caspary, Hall (realized $6,500) 3) tied by New York datestamp on cover to Julia Lampher, no other details, John A. Fox sale, Oct. 27, 1950, Sloane's notes; 4) uncancelled, used on back of 1851 folded letter to Louis Kremp Mercer, Reading Pa., "New-York 5cts. Apr. 15" datestamp, letter in German gives 208 Grand St. address for writer, ex Schwartz, the cover offered here; and 5) uncancelled on cover to Adrian Mich., New York Dec. 6 (ca. 1850) datestamp, ex Needham, Harmer Rooke sale Jul. 11, 1963, lot 358 (appreciation to Stephen Gronowski for this citation).
Ex Schwartz.
Jenkins' Camden Dispatch, Camden N.J., (unstated value) Black on Yellow, Typographed from Woodcut, Coarse Impression (89L2). Halstead Type 2, large margins all around, tiny tear at bottom left, tied by blue wavy-line pen cancel on small folded letter to Hudson Sheeve (engineer with West Jersey Ferry), content is a brief Jan. 1, 1854 statement of accountVERY FINE. ONE OF TWO GENUINE COVERS BEARING THE JENKINS' CAMDEN DISPATCH ON YELLOW PAPER (89L2) AND ONE OF THREE COVERS BEARING THE 1853 TYPOGRAPHED ISSUE. A GREAT RARITY IN SUPERB CONDITION.
An overview of Jenkins' Camden Dispatch and the different stamp printings is provided in our Golden sale catalogue (lot 1273) and at our website: www.siegelauctions.com/1999/817/yf817209.htm#222. The typographed stamps and envelopes were produced from the 1853 Scattergood & Telfer woodcut engraving. Our records and information kindly provided by John P. Halstead contain the following typographed examples: Yellow Paper (Type 2, Scott 89L2): 1) tied by wavy pen line on cover to A. Browning, Camden, ex Caspary, Middendorf, Golden (realized $11,000 hammer); 2) tied by blue wavy pen line on Jan. 1, 1854 folded letter to Hudson Sheeve, ex Caspary, Hall (realized $5,000), the cover offered here; 3) ms. cancel, affixed to a cover to Cuba, but did not originate, Sloane files; 4) off-cover stamp, pen cancel, Johnstone files (Penny Post, Jan. 1991); 5) off-cover stamp, numeral "2" cancel, Springer collection; 6) off cover, part original gum, ex Schwartz, 2000 Rarities sale (realized $2,600 hammer); and White Paper (Type 2, unlisted in Scott): 7) tied by red ms., used with 3c 1851 on small embossed envelope to Mrs. L. E. Scott, 20 Mile Stand, O., 3c tied by Camden Sep. 6? datestamp (1854?), sold in Robson Lowe Mar. 1, 1973 sale where photographed in color (white paper) and described as white paper. We have listed all seven examples of the typographed stamp in our records, but it should be noted that this cover with a typograph on Yellow paper is one of two complete covers with a stamp that meets the Scott definition of 89L2.
Ex Caspary and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $6,500.00.
Jenkins' Camden Dispatch, Camden N.J., (unstated value) Black, Fine Impression (89L1). Halstead Type 4, ample to large margins, pencil cancel, used on small cover addressed in pencil to Miss Eleanore H. Davis, part of backflap removed and small opening tear at top rightVERY FINE. ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE OF THE TEN RECORDED JENKINS' 89L1 COVERS.
An overview of the post and the different stamp printings is provided in our Golden sale (lot 1273) and at our website: www.siegelauctions.com/1999/817/yf817209.htm#222).
Ex Schwartz. Scott Retail $3,500.00.
Jenkins' Camden Despatch, Camden N.J., Important Archive of Documents. Six items: Aug. 3, 1853 invoice from Scattergood & Telfer to Jenkins for "Engraving Letter Stamp" (first woodcut typograph); Jun. 14, 1854 invoice from Wagner & McGuigan for "Printing 100,000 Dispatch Stamps" (lithograph); Jan. 20, 1857 invoice from Wagner & McGuigan for "10,000 Despatch Stamps" (lithograph); Oct. 9, 1859 invoice from Chas. R. Nichols for "Painting 19 Letter Boxes"; May 21, 1869 invoice from Wagner & McGuigan to Jenkins for 89L1 Reprint; and printed advertising billboard in black on pink card with woodcut typograph incorporated into design (ex Hollowbush); notes by George B. Sloane are included with this historically significant group