Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — Baltimore, MD and Brattleboro, VT Postmasters' Provisionals
One of two recorded pairs of the provisional stamps issued by Baltimore postmaster James M. Buchanan, whose engraved signature appears in the distinctive design--both pairs are on white paper, and they are the only known multiples of this celebrated postmaster’s provisional issueDESCRIPTION
Baltimore, Maryland, 5¢ Black on White (3X1), Positions 3/5, vertical pair, trace of frameline at bottom left, tied by cross-hatched pen strokes, matching manuscript “10” rate, clear strike of blue “Baltimore Md. Mar. 21” (1847) circular datestamp and matching “PAID” handstamp on cover to Miss Mary Floyd in Port Tobacco, Maryland
PROVENANCE
All sales private until 2012 Frelinghuysen auction
* Frederick Wellington Ayer
* George H. Worthington
* Henry C. Gibson, Sr.
* Henry G. Lapham (and his son, Raymond)
* Warren H. Colson
* Sen. Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen (bought privately from Colson), Siegel Auction Galleries, 3/28/2012, Sale 1020, lot 4, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* USPCS census no. 20122
* https://www.uspcs.org/resource-center/censuses/postmasters-provisionals-cover-census/
* Hayes census no. 27
* New York International Philatelic Exhibition 1913 (Worthington)
* TIPEX 1936 (Lapham)
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (2011)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine appearance; the pair has a pre-use horizontal crease mostly along the frameline between stamps
* Worthington’s source code in pencil on back: “11/20/03 New Eng S. Co. ESS.SS” (New England Stamp Company, $900.00)
* Small “W.H.C.” handstamp at lower left (Warren H. Colson)
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/4.pdf
One of two recorded covers with the Brattleboro postmaster’s provisional stamp showing any part of the engraver’s imprint--in addition to its rarity as an imprint example, this cover with a sound stamp tied by the “Paid” handstamp is one of the finest knownDESCRIPTION
Brattleboro, Vermont, 5¢ Black on Buff (5X1), Position 8, three huge margins showing guidelines at sides and traces of “Engd. by Thos. Chubbuck, Bratto.” imprint at bottom, slightly into frameline at top left, beautiful deep shade and impression, tied by red “PAID” straightline handstamp with matching “Brattleboro Vt. Sep. 6” (1846) circular datestamp on folded letter to Lewis Woodruff at New York City
PROVENANCE
* Alfred H. Caspary, H. R. Harmer sale, 11/15/1955, lot 37
* Muriel B. Hayes
* Philip T. Wall (collection sold privately)
* Siegel Auction Galleries, 2000 Rarities of the World, 5/13/2000, Sale 824, lot 17, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* USPCS census no. 20203
* https://www.uspcs.org/resource-center/censuses/postmasters-provisionals-cover-census/
CERTIFICATION
* The Philatelic Foundation (1969)
CONDITION NOTES
* Very Fine stamp and cover; file fold clear of stamp
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/5.pdf