9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 886 — The Dr. Robert LeBow Collection, Part 2: United States
Sale Date — Wednesday, 10 November, 2004
Category — 1847 Issue
5c Black, 1847 Issue, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (1TC1). 50 x 62mm with full die sinkage, intense impression, minor unevennness in paper as often found on this fragile paper, Very Fine
10c Blue, 1847 Issue, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (2TC1). 50 x 64mm with full die sinkage, bright color, tiny thin spot at top, otherwise Very Fine
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, tied by perfect strike of red "Burlington Vt. 5 18 Dec." integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Staatsburg N.Y., Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp and an immaculate cover with a perfect cancel, with 1981 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom, tied by perfect strike of blue "Troy N.Y. Jan. 21" circular datestamp on blue 1850 cover to South Easton N.Y., Extremely Fine, a beautiful cover in every respect
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamp at bottom, tied by red grid, matching "Boston 5cts. Dec. 8" integral-rate circular datestamp on 1847 folded letter to Providence R.I., faint vertical file fold at left, Extremely Fine, a beautiful cover
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear, bright color, tied by well-struck blue "5" in circle handstamp, matching "Baltimore Md. Sep. 13" circular datestamp on blue 1849 folded letter to Winchester Va., two vertical file folds well away from stamp, Very Fine
5c Dark Brown (1a). Huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, deep rich color, tied by blue grid, matching "Philada. Pa. 10 Nov. 5" integral-rate circular datestamp, used with D.O. Blood & Co., (2c) Bronze on Black (15L17), acid tied on 1850 folded letter to Lebanon O., endorsed "Paid 10cts" but changed to "Due 5", fresh and Very Fine, scarce and unusual short-paid usage, with 1983 Alcuri and 1990 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Horziontal pair, three large margins, ample to close at bottom, rich color, tied by two clear strikes of Waukegan red 6-bar grid in circle, matching "Waukegan Ill. May 7" circular datestamp on light blue 1850 folded letter to Buffalo N.Y., gently cleaned and pressedVERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND HANDSOME 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE COVER WITH THE DISTINCTIVE WAUKEGAN GRID CANCEL.
The Waukegan post office has earned philatelic fame for the celebrated "Matching Waukegan Pair" of 1847 covers, which realized $105,000 hammer in our 1998 sale of the Sevenoaks 1847-56 collection.
Ex Kapiloff
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear, small scissors-cut between stamps, tied by red grids, matching "Charleston S.C. 10 Dec. 12" integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Philadelphia, Ludlow Beebee correspondence, fresh and Very Fine, ex West
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins incl. part of adjoininig stamp at left, deep rich color, fine impression, tied by blue circular cancel, matching "Philada. Pa. 5 cts Feb. 4" integral-rate circular datestamp on 1850 folded letter to Amsterdam, Holland, sender's routing "Steamer from Boston to Liverpool", red Liverpool transit backstamp (Feb. 18), red Amsterdam receiving backstamp, ms. "110" Dutch cents due marking, ms. "1/4" debit for postage due to Great BriatinEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB STAMP AND COVER FROM THE ALSTORPHIUS & VON HEMERT CORRESPONDENCE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN 1847 ISSUE COVERS TO HOLLAND.
This letter was carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston on Feb. 6, 1850, and arriving in Liverpool on Feb. 18. Some covers from Philadelphia to Boston have a single 5c 1847 stamp for the under-300 miles rate, while others have a 5c pair or single 10c 1847 for the over-300 miles rate (the straight-line distance is 267 miles).
Ex Ackerman and Armitage.
5c Red Brown (1). Small to ample margins mostly clear of framelines, tied by vivid "paint red" grid, matching "New Orleans La. May 1" (1851) circular datestamp on envelope to Coblenz, Rhenish Prussia, sender's endorsement "Per Steamer of 14th May", red "Colonies/&cArt.13" framed accountancy handstamp also ties stamp, red Calais transit (May 27), red Liverpool receiving datestamp (May 26) and German transits on back, blue ms. "22" rate, last name of addressee erased from coverVERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE TO RHENISH PRUSSIA VIA ENGLAND AND FRANCE.
Coblenz is a historic city and fortress of Germany, capital of the Prussian Rhine Province, 57 miles southeast from Cologne by rail. It is located on the left bank of the Rhine at its confluence with the Mosel, from which its ancient name Confluentes was derived. This cover was carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston on May 14, arriving in Liverpool on May 25, 1851.
Ex Ring
10c Black (2). Large margins, crisp impression, tied by red grid, matching "Cincinnati O. May 10 10" integral rate circular datestamp on 1850 folded letter to Philadelphia, Extremely Fine, a beautiful cover
10c Black (2). Full margins, intense color, tied by red grid and also by matching "Pittsburgh Pa. Dec. 19" circular datestamp on blue 1849 folded letter to Philadelphia, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Krug and Haas
10c Black (2). Large margins all around incl. right sheet margin, used with D. O. Blood & Co., 1c Bronze on Black Glazed (15L13), usual acid tie with some erosion thru stamp, 10c tied by vivid "paint red" "New York 10cts Dec. 7" integral-rate circular datestamp, matching second strike and equally bold "PHILADA. RAIL-ROAD"%$ straightline handstamp on buff cover to Wilton N.H., forwarded to New Market with ms. "Wilton N.H. Dec. 23" postmark and 1850 year date, Blood's stamp faintly creased, 10c appears to have some lightened stainsVERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE AND BLOOD'S LOCAL-POST STAMP ON A RAILROAD COVER.
Ex Gibson and Kapiloff. Weill insignia on back. With 1974 P.F. certificate.
10c Black (2). Position 29R, large margins to clear, tied by ms. "X" and red "U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N.York May 8" circular datestamp on blue 1850 folded letter to St. John, New Brunswick, endorsed "pr. Mail via Robbinstown", transit and receiving backstamps, Very Fine, scarce usage
10c Black (2). Ample margins all around, deep shade and beautiful proof-like impression, tied by blue "Paid" in oval, matching "Philada. Pa. 10cts Jan. 13" integral-rate circular datestamp on 1848 folded letter to Amsterdam, Holland, sender's routing endorsement "Liverpool Steamer Caledonia from Boston, Jan. 15", red Liverpool backstamp (Jan. 29), red straightline Dutch transit and Amsterdam receiving datestamp on back, ms. "120" Dutch cents due marking, "1/8" debit for postage due to Great Britain, addressee's last name crossed out in penVERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED GENUINE 10-CENT 1847 COVER TO HOLLAND IN THE ALEXANDER CENSUS. ONE OF THE "KEYS" TO A COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF 1847 ISSUE COVERS TO FOREIGN DESTINATIONS.
The Cunarder Caledonia departed Boston on Jan. 15, 1848, and arrived in Liverpool on Jan. 29. Some covers from Philadelphia to Boston have a single 5c 1847 stamp for the under-300 miles rate, while others have a 5c pair or single 10c 1847 for the over-300 miles rate (the straight-line distance is 267 miles).
Illustrated in the Alexander book (p. 936). With 1981 P.F. certificate.
10c Black (2). Horizontal strip of three, huge top margin with parts of three adjoining stamps, large to clear at sides, slightly irregular bottom margin just barely in at places, deep shade and fine impression, tied by several strikes of red grid, matching "U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N.York Oct. 31" (1848) route agent's circular datestamp on blue folded cover originating in New York City and addressed to Sheffield, England, sender's routing "P. R.S. Steam Ship Niagara" and docketing on back confirms Niagara sailing, "1/-" shilling due handstamp applied at Liverpool, "America/Liverpool NO 13 1848" and Sheffield receiving backstamps, addressee's last name (Jeffrey) has been concealed with pen squiggle linesVERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE FRANKING AND EXTREMELY RARE 1847 ISSUE COVER MAILED TO ENGLAND DURING THE RETALIATORY-RATE PERIOD.
The so-called Retaliatory Period resulted from Great Britain's effort to maintain its monopoly on transatlantic mail carriage through the subsidized Cunard steamship line, which operated without competition from 1840 through 1846. In response to the emergence of subsidized American packets in 1847, the British issued an order (effective June 9, 1847) authorizing its receiving offices to collect the usual British packet postage on letters carried to England by American subsidized steamers. This effectively allowed England to collect 24c packet charges for every inbound letter, whether or not any service had been performed.
The United States vehemently protested the British order through diplomatic channels, but efforts to persuade the government to rescind the anti-American postal tariff were unsuccessful. In December 1847, U.S. Postmaster General Cave Johnson petitioned Congress for power to levy like charges on mail carried by British steamers to or from the United States, but he was not authorized to do so until June 1848. On all Cunard sailings from June 24, 1848 (the Caledonia from Liverpool) through December 31, 1848 (the Europa arriving at New York), American packet postage was required on all inbound and outbound mail to England whether or not one of the American vessels was used, creating the so-called Retaliatory Rate. Beginning with the departure of the Europa from New York on January 10, 1849, earlier rates were restored, and soon after the new U.S.-British treaty rate was effected.
This cover to England reflects the dispute between Great Britain and the United States. The sender paid 5c for U.S. postage from New York City to Boston (postmarked by the railroad route agent) and prepaid the 24c Retaliatory Rate (1c overpayment). The letter was carried on board the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston on Nov. 1, 1848, and arriving in Liverpool on Nov. 13. At the Liverpool foreign-mail office, the 24c prepayment was ignored and the "1/-" due handstamp was applied, indicating the amount owed by the addressee to the British Post Office for sea postage. Only seven or eight 1847 Issue covers are known with retaliatory-rate charges.
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