Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — Carriers and Locals
(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Large margins to full, bright shade, attractive red star cancel and additionally cancelled by part of blue Philadelphia circular datestamp, tiny thin spot which is truly negligibleVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE FRANKLIN CARRIER ISSUE AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES WITH BOTH THE RED STAR AND BLUE PHILADELPHIA DATESTAMP.
When the 1851 stamps were issued in three denominations--1c, 3c and 12c--the Post Office also created a special “Carrier Stamp” with Franklin’s profile facing left, in contrast with the regular lc stamp with the profile facing right. The absence of a denomination was evidently intended to accommodate the 1c or 2c carrier fees permitted by law. The similarity between the Franklin Carrier and its regular postage counterpart raised concerns that the two would be confused. Official correspondence provides contemporary documentation of the problem and solution. On October 10, 1851, a replacement for the Franklin Carrier stamp--the distinctive Eagle Carrier--was approved by the postmaster general.
We record only two examples of the Franklin Carrier cancelled by both the red star and blue circular datestamp of Philadelphia. The other, ex "Golden Oak", does not have as distinctive a strike of the blue datestamp.
Ex Golden. With 1980 and 2013 P.F. certificates.
(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Large even margins all around, deep rich color on fresh paper, light strike of blue "Philadelphia Pa." circular datestamp, small faint corner crease at top right is very minor and not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE FRANKLIN CARRIER STAMP. VERY FEW EXIST WITH THE PHILADELPHIA DATESTAMP USED AS A CANCEL.
Ex Peyton ("Isleham") Meyersburg and Wall. With clear 1997 P.F. certificate.
1c Blue, Eagle Carrier (LO2). Large to huge margins showing nearly full framelines on three sides, deep rich color, cancelled by both red star and blue Philadelphia circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
Brown & McGill's U.S.P.O. Despatch, Louisville Ky., (2c) Blue (5LB2). Huge margins capturing complete framelines on all sides, bottom right frameline just touched, lightly cancelled in blue, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.F. certificate
U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (6LB1). Large margins all around, vivid orange red "U.S." in frame cancel of the U.S. City Despatch Post carrier serviceEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF GREIG'S 3-CENT STAMP USED FOR UNITED STATES CITY DESPATCH POST CARRIER SERVICE. ONE OF THE FINEST OFF-COVER EXAMPLES KNOWN.
In August 1842 the privately owned City Despatch Post was bought out and re-established as the carrier department of the New York City Post Office. Stamps sold by Greig for the City Despatch Post remained valid for prepayment of carrier fees and were used months after the buyout. The carrier stamp, 6LB1, can be distinguished from 40L1 only when cancelled with the "U.S."-designated cancel or postmark. Only nineteen 6LB1 covers are recorded in Lyons census, plus ten off-cover stamps. This is one of the two finest off-cover examples known and serves as the illustration of 6LB1 in the Scott Catalogue.
Ex Patton, Golden, Mirsky and from our 2005 Rarities sale. With 2005 P.F. certificate
Bentley's Dispatch, New York N.Y., (unstated value) Gold (10L2). Large margins, lightly inked but clearly impressed "Paid" cancel, small scuff in enamel surface at topEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE BENTLEY'S 10L2 STAMP WITH "PAID" CANCEL. ONLY SIX OF THE SEVEN RECORDED STAMPS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Ex Schwartz and Kuphal. With 2009 and 2012 P.F. certificates.
D. O. Blood & Co., Philadelphia Pa., (2c) Black (15L5). Large to full margins, manuscript cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
Bouton's City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Gray Blue, Dots in Corners (18L2). Large even margins, cancelled by red "Paid/Bouton" two-line handstamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. certificate
Bronson & Forbes' City Express Post, Chicago Ill., (unstated value) Black on Green (27L1). Enormous margins all around, cancelled by clear strike of "Bronson & Forbes City Express Post Dec. 19 10 AM" company circular datestamp, additional strikes partly showing around perimeter, the stamp is also cancelled by part of the "Chicago Ill." 1857 year-dated circular datestamp, which evidently was struck on an overlapping 3c 1851-57 stampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE BRONSON & FORBES STAMP EXTANT, AND ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF CANCELLED COPIES KNOWN.
Only three or four examples of the Bronson & Forbes stamp with a cancellation are known, including one on a cover (ex Gross).
Ex Caspary and Kuphal. With 2007 P.F. certificate
Clark & Co., New York N.Y., 1c Red on Yellow (48L1). Large margins to touching at bottom, tied on small piece by blue "PAID" in rectangle handstamp, slight crease and tiny surface scrape at upper right, otherwise Very Fine and very scarce, ex Hall, signed Sloane, with 2001 P.F. certificate
Floyd's Penny Post, Chicago Ill., (1c) Brown (68L2). Large to huge margins, cancelled by grid and by beautifully clear strike of circular sunburst company handstamp, Extremely Fine and very scarce, ex Golden and Kuphal (on a piece with 3c 1857), with 2007 P.F. certificate
Humboldt Express (Langton's), Nevada, 25c Brown (86L1). Full margins all around, rich color, manuscript cancel dated "Jan. 7/63", Very Fine and choice, very unusual with the year-dated cancel, with 2007 P.F. certificate
Jenkins' Camden Dispatch, Camden N.J., (unstated value) Black on Yellow, Typographed from Woodcut, Coarse Impression (89L2). Halstead Type 2, clear impression on fresh paper, large margins to full at top, pencil cancel, small thin spots and small corner creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE JENKIN'S CAMDEN DISPATCH STAMP ON YELLOW PAPER.
An overview of Jenkins' Camden Dispatch and the different stamp printings is provided in our Golden sale catalogue (Sale 817, lot 1273). We record only six examples of the Scott 89L2 stamp on yellow paper. This stamp is the illustrated example in the Scott Catalogue.
Ex Lyons. With 2000 P.F. certificate
Third Avenue Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Green (139L8). Cut to oval shape as always, cancelled by "PAID" straightline handstamp, tiny pinhole and faint stainsFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE THIRD AVENUE POST STAMP ON GREEN COLORED-THRU PAPER. THIS IS THE ONLY USED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 139L8.
Ex Boker and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
Union Square Post Office, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Rose (141L3). Large margins, tied by red Dunham's Union Square P.O. oval handstamp on pieceEXTREMELY FINE. THE ROSE UNION SQUARE POST OFFICE ISSUE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN USED CONDITION.
No used examples of the Rose 141L3 stamp were present in the Caspary, Boker, Middendorf, Golden or Hall collections. This is also the only example listed in Power Search.
Ex Schwartz and Twigg-Smith. Signed Sloane. With 2000 P.F. certificate
Whittelsey's Express, Chicago Ill., 2c Red (146L1). Ample to large margins, tied by very distinct blue "Whittelsey's Letter Express" oval on small piece, trivial small tear at upper leftVERY FINE DESPITE NEGLIGIBLE TEAR. ONE OF SIX RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF WHITTELSEY & CO.'S 2-CENT STAMP.
According to Henry E. Abt's series on Chicago local posts (American Philatelist, Aug. 1957), Whittelsey & Co. started its express in late 1857. The 1857-58 Cooke's directory lists Whittelsey & Co. at 194 Lake Street, but the following year the firm does not appear -- it evidently folded, and the Whittelseys moved west. The proprietors are identified as Edmund A. and Samuel M. Whittelsey, who were first cousins, according to Dr. D. E. F. Easton (Scott's Monthly Journal, May 1956). Apart from the ex-Hall block of twelve, only a few unused singles are known, as well as six used examples. No covers are known.
Ex Dr. Hennan and Golden. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
Carriers & Locals, Small Balance. Three stamps, including No. 1LB1, black numeral cancel, small thins, appears Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate, No. 20L18, tied by "PAID" handstamp on piece, Very Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate, No. 143L8, margins all around, blue oval cancel, Very Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate
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Wells Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Red (143L1). Large even margins all around including frameline of adjoining stamp at left, bright color, clearly struck portion of blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp, completely sound and Extremely Fine Gem quality, a very choice $2.00 Horse & Rider First Issue, with 2009 P.F. certificate
Wells Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Green (143L2). Position 6, full to large margins, cancelled by blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp with trace of manuscript, tiny thin spot and small tear at leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. FEWER THAN TEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE $4.00 GREEN HORSE & RIDER FIRST ISSUE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THIS IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE FINEST USED COPY EXTANT.
The $4.00 Green was used briefly during Rate Period 3 to pay the double $2.00 per half-ounce rate. Only one cover is recorded, offered in our 2019 sale of the George J. Kramer collection (Sale 1207, lot 16, realized $150,000 hammer). We have seen approximately seven genuinely cancelled stamps off cover.
Ex Twigg-Smith, “New Helvetia”, "Golden Oak" and Middendorf. With 2009 P.F. certificate.
Wells Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Red (143L3). Ample to clear margins, rich color, clear strike of blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestamp, fresh and Very Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
Wells Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $2.00 Green (143L4). Position 12, three large margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, full at top, rich color, blue San Francisco Running Pony oval datestampVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 HORSE & RIDER SECOND ISSUE.
The $2.00 Green Second Issue is RARE in used condition. Only two covers are recorded, and the census by Tom O'Rourke (The Penny Post, April 2020) lists 23 cancelled stamps.
Ex Twigg-Smith, "Golden Oak" and "New Helvetia". With 1996 and 2015 P.F. certificates.
Wells Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $4.00 Black (143L5). Large margins to clear at lower left, intense shade, cancelled by blue Wells Fargo & Co. oval datestamp, thin spot and small tear at bottom -- fairly negligible flaws which are not obviousVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE $4.00 BLACK PONY EXPRESS STAMP. THIS IS THE RAREST PONY EXPRESS STAMP IN GENUINELY USED CONDITION.
Only two covers with the $4.00 Black (Second Issue) are recorded, including one offered in our 2019 sale of the George J. Kramer collection (Sale 1207, lot 23). This is one of only five off-cover used examples recorded.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
Wells Fargo & Co. Pony Express, $1.00 Blue, Garter (143L6). Enormous margins all around, rich color, cancelled at lower right by rim of what appears to be the Pony Express oval in large circle datestamp applied at St. Joseph on westbound covers, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used $1.00 Garter, with 2011 P.F. certificate