Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y., 1c Red (136L15). Three large margins, just touched at left, used with 3c Brownish Carmine, Ty. II (11A), large margin at left, touched or slightly in on other sides, very lightly oxidized, 1c tied by blue 5-point star cancel used by Swarts, both stamps tied by "New York Feb. 14" Valentine's Day circular datestamp (with three slugs between month and day -- probably 1852) on small cover to a Miss Frances Lowe in New Brunswick N.J., small skillfully sealed opening tear at upper right, lightened stain spot at lower left
VERY FINE. PROBABLY FEWER THAN A HALF-DOZEN COVERS EXIST WITH THE SWARTS "FOR THE MAILS" STAMP IN RED. AN OUTSTANDING LOCAL AND 1851 ISSUE COMBINATION.
The Red "For the Mails" stamps were issued by Swarts in 1851 when the 1c rate was introduced. The Red stamps are far rarer than the Blue stamps of the same design, which followed sometime later. Caspary had a small piece and a repaired example on cover, while Middendorf had none at all. We have offered five different covers in the past 13 years.
Scott Retail $3,500.00
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