Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — 1869 Pictorial Issue and Re-Issue
3c Ultramarine (114). Horizontal pair and single, pair with small edge flaws and creasing from being folded over the edge of cover, used with 2c Proprietary, Perforated (R13c), tied by blue target cancels with matching “Arizona City Ariz. Aug. 21” (1870) circular datestamp on buff cover to Ures, Sonora, Mexico, stamps additionally cancelled by black small squares cancels applied in transit at Tucson, revenue stamp tied by “ALTAR” in fancy frame transit handstamp, manuscript “2” reales due for Mexican postage, slightly reduced at leftVERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND UNIQUE ARIZONA TERRITORY COVER TO MEXICO. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED ARIZONA USE OF A REVENUE STAMP TO PAY (OR OVERPAY) REGULAR POSTAGE.
This cover combines a number of fascinating and unique elements. The overland rate to Mexico was only 3c, which paid postage to the border. Mexican postage was due from the recipient. The postmaster of Arizona City (James Barney) was apparently unfamiliar with this rate and had the cover franked for the 10c ocean mail rate. He compounded that mistake by allowing a 2c revenue stamp to be used to make up the last 1c of the 10¢ rate (overpaid by 1c). Perhaps there were no 1c or 2c U.S. stamps available in Arizona City. In any event, this created a unique piece of Arizona Territory postal history.
Ex Knapp and Jarrett
10c Yellow (116). Horizontal pair and single, rich color, cancelled by quartered cork, "New Canaan Conn. Sep. 20" (1869) circular datestamp on cover to Yokohama, Japan, addressed to J. F. Bingham, Second Assistant Engineer of the U.S. Flagship Piscataqua, sender's directive "Overland to San Francisco", left stamp small tear, couple small edge tears at left VERY FINE. A RARE FRANKING PAYING THE TRIPLE 10-CENT RATE TO JAPAN. THIS IS THE ONLY TRIPLE-RATE 10-CENT 1869 FRANKING TO JAPAN RECORDED BY MICHAEL LAURENCE. A GREAT RARITY.
Michael Laurence's 10c 1869 book records a total of 13 10c 1869 Pictorial Issue from the U.S. to Japan (all to Yokohama). This is the only one with three stamps paying the triple 10c rate. It was carried by the PMSS China, departing San Francisco Oct. 4, 1869, and arriving Yokohama Oct. 30.
The background of the U.S. Flagship Piscataqua (later the U.S.S. Delaware) and the addressee, John F. Bingham, is summarized in an article by Richard B. Graham in the Chronicle 75 (August 1972), from which we quote (with minor edits and deletions): "The U.S.S. Piscataqua was launched on June 11, 1866, and first placed in commission on October 21, 1867. She was a screw steamer, 2400 tons, ship rigged, with 20 nine-inch smoothbore guns -- similar in appearance and armament to Civil War naval ships such as Admiral Farragut's Hartford. On December 16, 1867, the Piscataqua left New York for the Far East, arriving at Singapore on April 18, 1868. On May 15, 1869, her name was changed to U.S.S. Delaware, as one of several U. S. Navy ship name changes taking place on that date at the Navy Department in Washington... the Delaware left Singapore for home on August 23, 1870, reached New York on November 19, 1870, and was placed out of commission on December 5, 1870. This was the only voyage ever made by the Delaware, which was broken up in 1877. John F. Bingham was a 2nd Asst. Engineer, assigned to the Piscataqua on September 30, 1867, and detached from her, after she returned home, on November 26, 1870."
From the Magnolia collection. Ex Eubanks. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
24c Green & Violet (120). Block of four with right sheet selvage, original gum with very slight disturbance from hinge removal (accompanying certificate states "original gum" with no qualifiers), bright colors and very fresh paper, centered to top, few perf separations expertly and sensibly reinforced (not mentioned on certificate)FINE. ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED UNUSED BLOCKS OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL, AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH SHEET SELVAGE. A REMARKABLE SHOWPIECE.
Our records of 24c 1869 unused multiples include a block of nine (off-center), a block of six (Sale 1180, lot 176) and three blocks of four. Two of the blocks of four have perfs that do not touch the design, and at least one of them has faults. The ex Moody and Burrus block needs to be reexamined. It is doubtful that any other blocks exist.
Ex Walske, Wingate and Przybyl, and from our 1965 Rarities sale. With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott value $52,500.00
24c Green & Violet (120). Exceptionally well-centered with wide and balanced margins, detailed impressions, beautifully struck red cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, CANCELLED IN RED AND GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Surviving used examples of high value 1869s are almost always cancelled in black and often show the tendency of postal clerks to zealously cancel stamps that were typically used on mail to foreign countries or on heavy registered letters. This superb stamp, cancelled in red, is a wonderful exception and a striking example of the issue.
With 2023 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,250.00 as normal black cancel). We have offered only two other Scott 120s in the grade of 95 with a red cancel. Scott premium for a red cancel is $500.00.
24c Green & Violet (120). Rich colors, tiny tear at upper right and small corner crease at bottom right, tied by well-struck circle of V's, "New Orleans La. Jul. 20" (1869) circular datestamp on blue cover front only to London, England, stamp also tied by red "New York Jul. 28" transit circular datestamp, carried on the Cunarder Cuba, departing New York Jul. 28, 1869, arriving Queenstown Aug. 6VERY FINE. A SCARCE USE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE TO ENGLAND. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
The PRA census lists seven covers to England. This cover front is not among those listed. The last cover we offered to England was in our 1997 Rose sale. With 2023 P.F. certificate
30c Ultramarine & Carmine (121). Well-centered, rich colors and proof-like impression, used with 12c Green (117), tied by quartered cork cancels on folded letter datelined "New York, 2 July, 1869" from Weston & Wolf to Charles Thorel & Company in Yokohama, Japan, sender's directive "p C. Antwerp via Marseille", bold red "New York Paid All Jul. 3" (1869) circular datestamp on back, matching red "32" credit handstamp -- carried on Inman New York, departing New York July 3, 1869, arriving Queenstown July 13 – red "London Paid 15 JY 69" circular datestamp, red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, carried on Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. steamers from Southampton to Alexandria (Egypt), then overland to Suez, and from there to Hong Kong via Galle (Ceylon), "Hong-Kong C AU 25 69" and "Yokohama A AU 31 69" British P.O. circular datestamps on backFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENALLY RARE USE OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ON COVER TO YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, FROM THE FAMOUS THOREL CORRESPONDENCE. ONLY THREE SUCH COVERS ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVERS EXTANT.
The U.S. rate to Japan via England and Marseilles prior to January 1, 1870, was 42c. The U.S. share of postage was 10c; therefore, 42c rate covers show a 32c credit to England, which includes 8c to France for expedited transit.
There are three 30c covers to Japan, all addressed to Thorel & Company: 1) June 4, 1869, to Thorel & Co., 42c rate with 32c credit, Sale 1090, lot 2249; 2) July 3, 1869, to Thorel & Co., 42c rate with 32c credit, 1984 Rarities (Sale 632, lot 291), the cover offered here; and 3) Dec. 3, 1869, to Thorel & Co., prepaid for 42c rate but incorrectly credited 26c, marked "Insufficiently Stamped via Marseilles" due to short-paid credit, ex Gibson, Ishikawa, Rose and Gross (Sale 1188, lot 90).
Charles (or Karl) Thorel was one of many western merchants doing business in Japan after the 1858 Harris Treaty formalized commercial relations between the United States and Japan. Thorel partnered with a Swiss-born merchant named Karl Ziegler in the silk-trading firm of Thorel, Ziegler & Company. The company was based in Yokohama and operated from 1865 to 1868, at which point the partnership dissolved. Thorel continued in business under the name Charles Thorel & Company. Were it not for the Thorel correspondence, collectors would have no 24c or 30c 1869 covers to Japan. In addition, there are quite a few Thorel covers with stamps of earlier issues or other 1869 values. The more recent discovery of Thorel letters was sold through Dr. Wilhelm Derichs auction house in Germany (August 29, 2014).
The cover offered here has been known to philatelists since the 1930s, having been part of the collection formed by Judge Robert S. Emerson, a prominent collector, active in the 1920s and 30s, who died January 23, 1937. The first portion of the Emerson collection to be sold after his death was offered in Kelleher's 394th Sale (October 19, 1937). This cover (lot 236) was sold to Edward S. Knapp for $80, according to Stanley B. Ashbrook’s personal copy of the sale catalogue. The cover next appeared in the second part of the 1941 Knapp sales after his death. It was later offered in the 1984 Siegel Rarities of the World sale (lot 291).
Ex Emerson and Knapp. From our 1984 Rarities of the World sale.
Illustrated in Chronicle 246 (p. 163). From the Magnolia collection.
10c Yellow, Re-Issue (127). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, superb centering, brilliant color on fresh paper, couple nibbed perfs and tiny sealed tears in bottom margin of bottom left stamp and at bottom of top left stampONE OF FOUR RECORDED BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED AND RARE BLOCK.
Ex Caspary, Lilly, Bechtel, Zoellner and Gross. With 1968 and 2019 P.F. certificates