9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 965 — The Alan Geisler Collection of Carriers and Locals
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 December, 2008
Category — 1844-45 Independent Mails (Hartford Mail Route thru Wyman)
Hartford Mail Route, (5c) Black on Yellow Glazed (80L1). Ample margins to slightly in, ms. "South" cancel, used on folded cover addressed in blue to New York City, red "Hale & Co.'s Worcester Mail" oval handstamp, matching "Collect Six Cents for Hale & Co." framed handstamp, receipt docketing dated Jun. 17, 1845, the last month of independent mails before ban on July 1, file foldEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE HARTFORD MAIL ROUTE STAMP USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH HALE OR ADAMS MARKINGS.
Although our records of Hartford Mail Route covers are somewhat incomplete, sources consulted reveal only four covers showing the Hartford Mail Route stamp used in conjunction with independent mail service provided by Hale or Adams. According to an article by Francis E. Stern (Collectors Club Philatelist, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 109-117), the Hartford Mail Route was operated by two principals, Parsons and Fuller. Parsons also served as superintendent of the Adams Express, and Fuller was the terminal agent for Thompson & Co. express. The Hartford Mail Route linked with Hale and Adams, evidenced by examples showing conjunctive use on mail between cities via Hartford. The manuscript markings on stamps coincide with the direction from Hartford; in this case, "South" to New York City. The use of the Hartford stamp on a Hale cover originating in Worcester is enigmatic, but one explanation is that the sender stamped it while travelling north and gave it to Hale's agent in Worcester.
With 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $11,000.00
Letter Express (Wells), 5c Black on Pink Glazed (96L1). Two, tied by ms. cancels on August 1844 folded cover to Buffalo N.Y., vertical file fold affects right stamp, otherwise Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
Letter Express (Wells), 5c Black on Green Glazed (96L2). Large margins, vertical crease at right, cancelled by ms. "X", added to a folded cover to New York City, red hotel handstamp at bottom left and with blue "Buffalo N.Y. 10 Mar. 12" integral-rate circular datestamp, the stamp appears Very Fine and is scarce, even off cover
Letter Express (Wells), 10c Black on Pink Glazed (96L3). Ample margins to in at right, ms. cancel, tied by file fold on June 28, 1844 folded letter from Detroit to Buffalo, from the Shepard correspondenceFINE APPEARANCE. A VERY RARE COVER BEARING THE WELLS' LETTER EXPRESS 10-CENT STAMP DEPICTING A MARINE CHARGING ASHORE WITH SWORD AND FLAG.
The stamps issued by Wells' Letter Express are remarkable both for the purpose they served and for their distinctive designs. The oval 96L1-96L2 stamps depict the Goddess of Commerce surrounded by bales and barrels with a merchant vessel in the background -- symbols of private enterprise and the robust economic growth of America during the 1840's. The circular 96L3-96L4 stamps depict an American marine charging ashore with sword raised and Union Flag waving, and a naval vessel in the background. This design, chosen for stamps that would be used in the Great Lakes region, has been described as a commemoration of the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812, which may or may not be accurate.
Ex Gordon N. John.
Letters Express (Wells), 10c Black, Half Used as 5c (96L3). Lower horizontal half, uncancelled, with red "Paid" straightline handstamp on greenish folded letter from Buffalo, Jul. 16, 1844, to Detroit Mich., sender's routing via "Wells & Co. Express", slightly toned and worn at bottomVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BISECTED USE OF THE LETTER EXPRESS 10-CENT STAMP FOR THE 5-CENT RATE FROM BUFFALO TO NEW YORK.
Signed Robson Lowe. At one time there was a manuscript tie added to this cover, but it was removed.
Overton & Co., (5c) Black on Greenish (113L1). Large margins, cancelled by ms. and red "Cd." handstamp applied at Overton's Albany N.Y. office on small folded Valentine poem to a student at Yale College in New Haven Conn., red "Overton & Co's City Mail, Office, 3 Broad Street" oval handstamp, put into the mails with red "New-York Feb. 15" (1845) circular datestamp, blue ms. "20" rateEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE USE OF THE OVERTON & CO. STAMP ON A VALENTINE COVER FROM ALBANY TO NEW HAVEN VIA NEW YORK CITY.
This is one of the most remarkable Independent Mail usages we have ever encountered. The red "Cd." cancel on the Overton stamp was applied at Albany. This cancelling device was originally used by Pomeroy's Albany office. After Pomeroy discontinued its letter-mail service, Overton inherited the "Cd." and "Paid" devices and used them at their Albany office, which was located in the same building. This letter was carried outside the mails to New York City, where Overton's City Mail Co. local post delivered it to the post office for transmission to New Haven. For an unknown reason, Overton did not use the services of another Independent Mail firm. The 20c rate is puzzling. Perhaps the New York City post office was wise to the letter's origin and charged full postage from Albany to New Haven.
Overton & Co., (5c) Black on Greenish (113L1). Large margins to just touched, cancelled by "Paid" handstamp, red "Overton & Co's City Mail, Office, 3 Broad Street" oval handstamp on folded cover to local street address in New York City, some slight wear and stains, still Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper (117L1). Large margins, cancelled by red "Cd." handstamp on folded letter from Cayuga County to Geneva N.Y., stamp "tied" by horizontal file fold, otherwise Very Fine
Pomeroy's Letter Express, (5c) Black on Yellow Surface-Colored Paper, Value Incomplete (117L2). Large to huge margins, beautiful bright Lemon Yellow shade, cancelled by perfectly clear red "Cd." (impression ties thru paper) on Jul. 10, 1844 folded letter from New York City to Albany, stamp has trivial pre-use corner crease at bottom rightEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE EIGHTEEN REPORTED COVERS BEARING THE EXTREMELY RARE POMEROY FIRST ISSUE WITH BLANK VALUE TABLET.
This stamp comes from one of the positions on the plate with the value "20 for $1" incomplete ("$1" removed). This state of the plate was used only for printing stamps in Black on Yellow paper. The rarity of First Issue multiples currently makes it impossible to determine if the Value Incomplete positions co-existed with normal "$1" positions on the same plate.
Ex Gordon N. John. Scott Retail for a cover with stamp tied by ms. is $5,000.00
Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Blue on Thin Bond (117L3). Large margins to just in at bottom, tied by single penstroke on 1844 folded cover to New York City, probably originated in upstate New York where the Blue stamp was usedVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE POMEROY'S BLUE STAMP TIED ON COVER.
, Signed Meyersburg. Scott Retail for a cover with stamp not tied is $2,500.00
Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Black on Thin Bond (117L4). Large margins to touching, cancelled by ms. initials (minor acid cracks in ink), used on Aug. 8, 1844 folded letter to New York City, delivered by Boyd's with part strike of red "Boyd's City Express Post, Aug. 01 9 O'C" framed datestamp (digits of "10" transposed), a bit soiled, still a Fine and scarce conjunctive usage, Scott Retail $1,500.00
Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Lake on Thin Bond (117L6). Full to large margins, beautiful rich color and impression, cancelled by red "Paid" straightline (not tied), used on Aug. 6, 1844 folded letter from New York City to Albany, from the A. Flagg correspondenceEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE POMEROY LAKE STAMP CANCELLED BY A HANDSTAMP ON COVER. PROBABLY THE FINEST SINGLE FRANKING EXTANT.
Of the 15 or so Pomeroy 5c Lake covers known to us from our records and auction database, this is the only one with a handstamped cancellation instead of manuscript.
Ex Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate.
Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Lake on Thin Bond (117L6). Margins to in, cancelled by ms. "2 cts" on folded cover to New York, cover with few soiled spots, otherwise Fine, the octagonal-shaped gum stains at upper left indicate that two Hale stamps were removed from this cover, this was either a conjunctive use or the Pomeroy stamp did not originate
Pomeroy's Letter Express, 5c Orange-Red on Thin Bond (117L7). Vertical pair, large margins to ample at upper right, cancelled by ms. (not tied), used on undated blue folded cover with part of letter, probably originated in Albany N.Y., addressed to Milwaukee Wis.VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED MULTIPLES OF THE POMEROY RED 117L5 STAMP ON COVER.
The other recorded multiple is a strip of three on a folded letter from Albany to Norwich N.Y., dated August 16, 1844. It is also the Orange-Red shade.
W. Wyman, Boston Mass., 5c Black (149L1). Large to huge margins, cancelled by ms. "X" on folded cover docketed Oct. 28, 1844 from Boston to Geo. S. Robbins in New York City, red Wyman's handstamp, small faint gum stain on stampEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE RARE WYMAN'S LOCOMOTIVE STAMP USED ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER FROM THE ROBBINS CORRESPONDENCE.
Approximately 18 covers with Wyman's stamp can be counted in our photo records.
Scott Retail $2,000.00
W. Wyman, Boston Mass., 5c Black (149L1). Two, both have large margins and ms. "X" cancel, left stamp tied, on blue folded letter datelined "Boston January 28, 1845" to New York City, clear strike of red "Overton & Co's City Mail, Office, 3 Broad Street" oval handstamp, light vertical file fold does not affect stampsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE USE OF WYMAN'S STAMP AFTER TAKEOVER BY OVERTON & COMPANY AND ALSO THE ONLY RECORDED DOUBLE-RATE WYMAN FRANKING.
William Wyman established his "cheap postage" letter express on August 1, 1844, with service between New York and Boston. On December 14, 1844, Wyman sold the business to Overton & Co. and announced that his distinctive Locomotive stamps -- the first stamps in the world to depict a train -- could be redeemed or used on mail given to Overton (reference: Richard Schwartz, Opinions). Only two recorded covers show acceptance of Wyman's stamps by Overton: the cover offered here and the one with a single offered in the Golden Collection (Siegel Sale 817, lot 1607).
Signed Costales. With 1987 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for a single on cover with Overton handstamp is $10,000.00
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