Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 5c 1847 Issue, Cancellations: Grid and Fancy (Scott 1)

EXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE 5-CENT 1847 STAMP AND REMARKABLY SHARP AND COMPLETE STRIKE OF THE ST. JOHNSBURY "SCARAB" FANCY CANCELLATION.
Illustrated in Chronicle 217 (p. 27). Ex Saadi and Gross. With 1985, 1990 and 2013 P.F. certificates.

VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE WHEELING, VIRGINIA, RED GRID PRECANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE, WITH A COMPLETE STRIKE OF THE BLUE WHEELING CIRCULAR DATESTAMP TYING IT TO A PIECE. ONLY THREE FULL 5-CENT COVERS ARE RECORDED.
The post office in Wheeling, Virginia (later West Virginia), received its first supply of 1847 stamps on August 8, 1847--1,200 5c and 400 10c--and soon after applied a red 7-bar grid to the center of blocks of four before or at the time the stamps were sold. We do not know if the red grids were struck on all 25 blocks in a pane of 100 stamps, or if they were applied to smaller units, but all of the known examples have the red grid in one corner of the stamp. There are seven recorded covers with the Wheeling grid precancel, including three 5c and four 10c covers. In addition to the covers, a few off-cover 5c and 10c stamps are known with the red grid precancel. This piece is particularly desirable as it includes a complete strike of the blue Wheeling circular datestamp. Interestingly, all of the known covers have stamps tied by a blue grid, with the Wheeling datestamp struck away from the stamp. See lot 115 for the 10c 1847 with Wheeling grid.
With 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott value $25,000.00

VERY FINE STRIKES OF THE RED HUDSON RIVER MAIL 17-BAR GRID IN CIRCLE ON A 5-CENT 1847 PAIR WITH BRILLIANT COLOR.
With 2006 P.F. certificate.

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND STRIKE OF THE RARE OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, "WAFFLE" GRID CANCEL ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
Ottawa received a supply of 600 5c and 200 10c stamps on January 18, 1851. The small number of stamps delivered accounts for the rarity of this cancel. Power Search reveals only two other examples offered in our sales -- 5c and 10c off-cover stamps in our 2020 sale of the Gross collection. The USPCS census lists only three covers from Ottawa, each with a single 10c -- one is not pictured but of the other two only one has the "Waffle" grid.
With 1991 and 2013 P.F. certificates.









VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE AND DESIRABLE FANCY CANCELLATION ON THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate