Cummings' City Post, New York N.Y., 2c Black on Yellow Glazed (55L3). Large margins to just in, cancelled by "Free" in frame, second strike to right of stamp, used on folded letter to local street address, red "City Despatch Post P.O. Mar. 25 4 O'Clock" circular datestamp, stamp with surface rubs

VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS SHOWING USE OF THE CUMMINGS' CITY POST STAMP IN CONJUNCTION WITH POST OFFICE CITY DESPATCH MARKINGS, WHICH OCCURRED AFTER CUMMINGS AND WRIGHT TOOK OVER THE CITY DESPATCH FROM ABRAHAM MEAD.

Abraham Mead operated the "Post Office City Despatch" only briefly after buying it from the New York carrier department on November 30, 1846. A "P.O. City Despatch" receipt dated May 15, 1847, is signed by "Cummings & Wright, Proprietors", so we know for certain that Alfred H. Cummings and Robert Wright bought out Mead by that date. The two covers offered in this sale with Cummings' City Post stamps used with Post Office City Despatch markings dated in March 1847 are evidence that Cummings and Wright took over by then.

Illustrated in The City Despatch Post 1842-1852 Issues, Figure 12.

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