Cummings' City Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Rose Glazed (55L1). Framelines show on all four sides, ms. cancel with splashes of ink tying stamp, red oval "Cumming's Express 2 Ct." locomotive handstamp and red "New-York 5 cts. 14 Nov." integral-rate circular datestamp on 1846 folded letter to Catskill N.Y.

VERY FINE. THE CUMMINGS' "LETTER & HEART" STAMP ON ROSE PAPER IS FAR RARER THAN THE GREEN OR YELLOW -- PROBABLY NO MORE THAN FOUR OR FIVE GENUINE COVERS EXIST.

Alfred H. Cummings operated Cummings' City Post as early as December 1845 (earliest reported cover) through 1847. Alfred H. Cummings and Robert Wright joined to take over the City Despatch Post Office from Abraham Mead by March 1847. The distinctive stamps picturing Cupid (55L4-55L5) and a letter sealed by a heart (55L1-55L3) tie the post's activities to the Valentine season. All are very scarce, but the Rose 55L1 is the rarest of the Cummings "Letter & Heart" series -- Caspary had only one; Middendorf the same. The Rose covers we have located have November 1846 dates. At a later date, the "Cummings" name was erased from the plate, as evidenced by the one recorded 55L8 stamp (ex Ferrary, Caspary and Boker).

Ex Chapman, Hollowbush, Golden and Kuphal. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $5,750.00

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