9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 1041 — The William H. Gross Collection: 1847 & 1851-56 Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 9 April, 2013
Category — On-Cover Domestic Uses by State: Alabama thru Delaware
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, huge margins including sheet margin at left, ample at bottom, tied by three neat strikes of blue "10" in fancy rectangular frame handstamp, matching "Huntsville Al. Jul. 24" circular datestamp on brown cover to Midway Ky., skillfully cleaned, small mended erosion spot at bottom edgeVERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THIS PRE-STAMP FRAMED "10" RATE HANDSTAMP ON A COVER WITH THE 1847 ISSUE.
Ex Gibson, Sampson, Rohloff, Haas, Kapiloff and Boker.
10c Black (2). Large even margins, deep shade, cancelled by sharp strike of blue grid with matching Negative "10" in Circle of Stars fancy rate handstamp, "Paid" straightline and "Huntsville Al. Feb. 19" circular datestamp on cover to Mobile, stamp has faint crease at top, has been lifted and reaffixed, minor wax seal spot, some edgewear and faint stain at upper left cornerVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED 1847 ISSUE COVERS WITH THE HUNTSVILLE PRE-STAMP "10" IN CIRCLE OF STARS FANCY RATE HANDSTAMP.
Huntsville is renowned among classic United States collectors for continuing to employ two ornate rate handstamps after the introduction of the 1847 Issue. The "5" in Star and "10" in Circle of Stars are found on covers with stamps, including the 1847 Issue and 1851 Issue. The 10c 1847 is exceedingly rare, with only two recorded. Huntsville received a supply of only 400 10c stamps.
Ex Boker. With 1988 and 1997 P.F. certificates
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, rich color, tied by vivid "paint" red grid cancel, matching "Mobile Ala. Feb. 1" circular datestamp, overstruck by blue "Mobile Ala. Feb. 2" circular datestamp on buff cover to Pensacola Fla., neatly docketed with 1851 yeardate, Extremely Fine, a most unusual combination of red and blue markings applied at the same post office on two consecutive days, ex Garrett and Boker
5c Red Brown (1). Vertical pair, large to huge margins, intense and sharp impression, tied by four clear strikes of "paint red" grid cancel, matching partly clear "Mobile Ala. Jun. 18" circular datestamp on cover to Clarissa Dayton in East Hampton N.Y., based on the correspondence this almost certainly originated in New Orleans and was handled at Mobile as unmarked way mail, tiny scissors-cut in margin at bottom left away from designEXTREMELY FINE GEM PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE WITH THE VIVID RED CANCELLATIONS OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.
Although there is no indication of origin, other covers to Clarissa Dayton with the same handwriting are known from New Orleans. Van Koppersmith refers to Mobile covers originating in New Orleans as unmarked way mail (Chronicle 215, pp. 196-198).
Ex Caspary, Garrett and Boker.
5c Red Brown (1). Vertical pair, large to huge margins showing trace of adjoining stamp above, beautiful rich color and detailed impression, tied by two clear strikes of "paint red" grid cancel, matching "Mobile Ala. May 12" circular datestamp on fresh blue folded letter to Whelen & Co. in Philadelphia, datelined at New Orleans, May 11, 1850, light horizontal foldEXTREMELY FINE GEM PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN A BRIGHT RED BROWN SHADE, USED ON UNMARKED WAY MAIL FROM NEW ORLEANS TO PHILADELPHIA VIA MOBILE.
Van Koppersmith refers to these Mobile covers as unmarked way mail (Chronicle 215, pp. 196-198).
Ex Boker.
5c Red Brown (1). Two singles, each with large even margins, gorgeous bright color with strong reddish hue, tied by clear strikes of "paint" red grid cancel, matching "Mobile Ala. May 16" circular datestamp on blue folded letter to New York City, datelined at New Orleans, May 15, 1850, Extremely Fine, two superb stamps on a way-mail cover from the 1847 period, Van Koppersmith refers to these Mobile covers as unmarked way mail (Chronicle 215, pp. 196-198), ex Caspary and Boker
10c Black (2). Positions 87-88R1, horizontal pair, large even margins all around, beautiful sharp impression on bright paper, cancelled by two strikes of "paint" red grid cancel, matching "Mobile Ala. Jul. 14" circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Whelen & Co. in Philadelphia datelined at New Orleans, Jul. 13, 1850, vertical file fold thru left 10c stamp, the crease is barely noticeable, otherwise Extremely Fine, Van Koppersmith refers to these Mobile covers as unmarked way mail (Chronicle 215, pp. 196-198), ex Newbury, Matthies and Boker
10c Black (2). Large margins to just barely touched at lower left, tied by one of two clear strikes of red "Montgomery Ala. Sep. 26" circular datestamp on 1849 folded letter on printed letterhead to New Orleans, Very Fine, ex Caspary, Matthies, Rust and Boker, with 1989 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Full margins to well clear at bottom, tied by perfect strike of blue "Montgomery Ala. Apr. 17" circular datestamp on 1850 folded letter on printed letterhead to New Orleans, trivial gum toning around stamp and faint stain in lettersheet, still Very Fine, ex Caspary and Boker
10c Black (2). Full margins, fine impression, tied by light blue grid cancel, matching "Tuscumbia Ala. Mar. 17" circular datestamp on folded cover to secretary of Masonic Lodge at Mobile Ala., manuscript "Valuable" with initials, which appears to be contemporary to mailing and might refer to enclosure, receipt docketing "Franklin 24 for instruction in work of order March 1849", lightly cleaned, Very Fine, a rare 10c 1847 cover from Tuscumbia (two recorded), a Power Search review for Scott 2 and Tuscumbia produced no other example, ex Sampson and Boker, with 1989 P.F. certificate
10c Black (2). Large margins all around, intense shade and detailed impression, tied by blue grid cancel, matching "Little Rock Ark. Sep. 3" circular datestamp on folded cover to Cincinnati O., 1850 docketing on back, light vertical file fold well clear of stampVERY FINE. THE EARLIEST AND THE FINEST OF THE FOUR REPORTED USES OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE FROM LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED 1847 ISSUE COVERS FROM ARKANSAS. A GREAT RARITY OF THE 1847 ISSUE.
The Alexander book records a total of five covers with the 1847 Issue, including one with the 5c and four with the 10c. One of the four 10c covers has apparently not been seen for many years. This is probably the finest example of the 1847 Issue used in Arkansas.
Ex Sampson, Kapiloff and Boker.
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins, dark "Chocolate" shade and sharp early impression, tied by one of two strikes of dark bluish-black large "5" pre-stamp rate handstamp with matching "Hartford Ct. Sep. 12" circular datestamp and "Paid" Pointing Hand handstamp on 1847 bluish folded letter to Norwich Conn., accompanied by unpaid stampless folded letter with the same "5" marking but no "Paid"EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EARLY1847 ISSUE COVER SHOWING IN SPECTACULAR STYLE THE TRANSITION FROM HANDSTAMPED MARKINGS OF THE PRE-STAMP ERA TO THE USE OF ADHESIVE STAMPS FOR PREPAYMENT.
A similar cover was offered in our 1969 sale of the Matthies collection. Ex Kapiloff and Boker. With 1974 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Full even margins, tied by magenta grid cancel, matching "Hartford Ct. 5 21 Mar." integral-rate circular datestamp and "Paid" Pointing Hand handstamp on 1849 blue folded cover to New York City, receipt docketing, Very Fine, a choice example of the Hartford Pointing Hand, ex Boker, with 1979 P.F. certificate (as Brown shade)
5c Red Brown (1). Horizontal pair, full even margins including left sheet margin, crisp color and impression, cancelled by two strikes of magenta grid with matching "Hartford Ct. Jun. 25" circular datestamp, "Paid" Pointing Hand handstamp and large red "10" numeral rate handstamp on buff cover to Avon Springs N.Y.EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON COVER PREPAYING THE OVER-300 MILES RATE AND HANDSTAMPED WITH THE PRE-STAMP ERA MARKINGS OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.
Ex Boker
5c Red Brown (1). Large margins to clear at upper right, beautiful dark shade and early impression, tied by two strikes of blue Rectangle of Tiny Diamonds fancy cancel and matching "Middletown Con. Feb. 10" circular datestamp, additional matching "5" in circle rate handstamp on blue 1848 folded letter to New London Conn., very freshVERY FINE. A REMARKABLY ATTRACTIVE COVER WITH THE DISTINCTIVE MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, RECTANGLE OF TINY DIAMONDS CANCEL -- ONE OF THE FEW "FANCY" CANCELLATIONS OF THE 1847 ISSUE PERIOD.
A similar cover was offered in our 1969 sale of the Matthies collection. Ex Lehman, Hart and Boker.
5c Grayish Brown (1a). Huge margins all around including sheet margin at bottom, bright shade, crisp impression, tied by red grid cancel, matching "New London Ct. Sep. 17" datestamp and "5" handstamp on blue folded cover to Troy N.Y., stamp lifted (probably to determine condition--it is sound) and hinged in placeEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BOTTOM SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE IN THE GRAYISH BROWN SHADE.
Ex Boker. With 1982 P.F. certificate.
5c Red Brown (1). Ample to large margins, bright shade, tied by orange-red 5-bar grid cancel, matching "Norwich Ct. Nov. 16" circular datestamp on 1849 greenish folded letter to Taunton Mass., printed Merchant's Bank letterhead, Very Fine, beautiful markings in orange-red, signed Ashbrook, ex Garrett and Boker, with 1976 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown (1). Full to large margins, cancelled by perfect strike of orange-red grid cancel, matching "Rockville Ct. Mar. 29" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp on bluish gray envelope to Norfolk Conn., wax seal (slight toning), Very Fine, ex Boker
5c Red Brown (1). Three huge margins to full at left, gorgeous bright shade with strong reddish hue (almost enough to qualify as Orange Brown), cancelled by perfectly struck blue grid, matching "Willimantic Ct. May 1" circular datestamp on bluish folded cover to secretary of the missionary society at New York City street address, files folds clear of stamp, Very Fine, ex Boker
5c Red Brown (1). Large to huge margins including bit of adjoining stamp at bottom, bright shade, cancelled by perfect strike of green "5" numeral with matching "Newcastle Del. Mar. 31" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Philadelphia street address, manuscript "32", extreme edge of large left margin of stamp slightly overlaps edge of letterEXTREMELY FINE. A STRIKING EXAMPLE OF THE 1847 ISSUE CANCELLED BY A PRE-STAMP ERA RATE MARKING IN TRUE GREEN.
Ex Rust and Boker
5c Dark Brown (1a). Large to full margins at top left, beautiful dark shade and early impression, tied by dark greenish-blue grid cancel, matching "Wilmington Del. Aug. 13" (1847) circular datestamp on light blue folded cover to Philadelphia street address, Extremely Fine, an early use just two weeks after Wilmington received its first supply of 1847 stamps, ex Hart and Boker
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