The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History continued...

5¢ Red Brown (1), two, each has large margins to just touched at one point, rich colors, used with Boston, Massachusetts, 1¢ Blue on Pelure (3LB1), margins mostly clear all around, tied by multiple strikes of red grid cancels, matching "Boston 10 cts 2 May" (1849) integral-rate circular datestamp on envelope to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, negligible wrinkles around edges, carrier stamp and one 5¢ slightly overlapping edge, causing tiny corner creases, Very Fine and beautiful--the only recorded 10¢ rate 1847 cover with the Boston Carrier issue, the USPCS census records 28 covers with this combination of stamps, all are 5¢ rates except the cover offered here, ex Meyersburg, "Sevenoaks" and Hackmey, illustrated in Chronicle 151 (p. 161) (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), large margins to ample at left, tied by red grid cancels, used with Boston, Massachusetts, 1¢ Blue on Pelure (3LB1), full to large margins, cancelled by black handstamp and tied by red "Boston 5 cts 21 Aug." (1850) integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded letter to Windsor, Connecticut, carrier stamp with characteristic faint gum toning, Very Fine, a lovely 1847 Issue and Boston Carrier combination, ex Wenk (1985 Rarities of the World sale), Garrett and Boker (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), late impression, three large margins to in at top, black grid cancel (not tied), used with Boston, Massachusetts, 1¢ Blue (3LB2), large margins all around, tied by red crayon stroke, red "Boston 5 cts 18 Jun." (1851) integral-rate circular datestamp overstruck by matching "PAID" straightline handstamp on buff cover to Hallowell, Maine, sender's endorsement "Paid"

Very Fine--an exceedingly rare combination of the 1847 Issue and the second Boston "Penny Post Paid" carrier stamp.

According to notes by Elliott Perry, the second Boston Carrier Department stamp, Scott 3LB2, is known used as early as April 30, 1851. The 1847 Issue was demonetized after June 30, 1851. Therefore, the Boston 3LB2 stamp could be used with the 1847 Issue only for a very brief period of two months, possibly three. The USPCS census reflects this, with only four 1847 covers listed bearing 3LB2.

Ex Henry E. Abt, David Golden, Guido Craveri and Joseph Hackmey. With 2000 P.F. certificate calling the stamp Brown Orange, Scott No. 1b--it is now listed as Scott 1d, but in any case we do not think this is the true Brown Orange shade, even though it is used in the right time period. (Image)

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10¢ Black (2), with short transfer at top plate variety, two large margins, clear to ample at top and bottom, tied by red grid cancel, used with Honour's City Express, Charleston, South Carolina, 2¢ Black on Brown Rose (4LB1), distinctive bright pink shade of paper, cut to shape slightly impinging on oval frame, slight surface scrapes, tied by red crayon cross strokes, red "Charleston S.C. Jul. 14/10" 10¢ integral-rate circular datestamp on bluish gray folded cover to New York City, 1849 docketing on back

Fine; Honour's stamp has tiny scrapes, addressee's name crossed out, small tear at top of one file fold.

This is one of only two recorded covers with a combination of the 1847 Issue and Honour's oval carrier stamp, the other with 4LB2. A highly important rarity for both 1847 Issue and Carriers and Locals specialists alike.

Only five examples of Scott 4LB1 are recorded in any format, as follows:

1 Cut rectangular, in at top, used on 8/16/1849 cover, ex Hind, Golden, "D.K." collection

2 Cut to shape (brighter pink paper), used with 10¢ 1847 on 7/14/1849 cover, ex Ferrary, Waterhouse, Hessel, Golden and Boker, the cover offered in this sale

3 Cut rectangular, in at top, on piece dated 8/19/1849, ex Worthington, Caspary, Boker, Golden and Kuphal

4 Cut to shape, cancelled by red Charleston circular datestamp (June date, no year), ex Middendorf

5 Cut to shape, sealed tear, added to 1851 cover with January 24 datestamp, Siegel Sale 164 and ex Hall

The other Honour's 1849 oval stamp, printed on Yellow paper (Scott 4LB2), is just as rare with five recorded, including one used with the 10¢ 1847 Issue (ex Caspary and Middendorf).

As a side note, the paper of this stamp is decidedly brighter and more pink than the paper of the four other 4LB1 examples. Given the great rarity of the Honour's oval stamp and the basic differentiation between Brown Rose and Yellow papers, it is only an academic point to separate this Pink shade from the others. However, among other more abundant Carrier Department issues, the paper color would certainly be grounds for a separate catalogue listing.

Ex Philipp von Ferrary (small trefoil handstamp at lower right), Sir Nicholas Waterhouse, Sydney A. Hessel, David Golden and John R. Boker, Jr. Illustrated in Chronicle 151 (p. 162). With 1975 and 1999 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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5¢ Brown (1), large margins to just in at two places along frameline, tied by lightly inked red "Schenectady N.Y. Aug. 13" circular datestamp, two additional strikes of datestamp, one at lower left and another at upper left tying U.S. Mail, New York, N.Y., 1¢ Black on Rose (6LB9), large margins to just touching at bottom, on folded cover addressed to Rev. John F. Schermerhorn at Day Street address in New York City, receipt docketing "Rev. J. A. Yates DD, Aug 13th 1849"

Very Fine; a few pinholes at top of lettersheet not affecting stamps, carrier stamp with surface scrape at top and small crease.

This is the only recorded cover showing use of the New York Carrier Department stamp from a post office outside of New York City. An extraordinary use in combination with the 5¢ 1847 Issue.

This cover was included in the "Cleveland Album," a collection of United States covers formed during the 1890s, and it had not been previously recorded by students of carrier mails before it was sold in a 1994 Siegel sale. Reverend Schermerhorn was an active correspondent in New York City during the 1849 period, and, based on other known covers, he used local posts to carry his letters to the post office. In this instance, it is a reasonable hypothesis that the sender (a Reverend Yates, as docketed) used the carrier stamp, intending to prepay the fee for delivery from the New York post office to the Day Street address. Whether Reverend Yates removed the stamp from a cover sent to him, or Reverend Schermerhorn sent the stamp with instructions, cannot be determined.

Ex "Cleveland Album" (a cover collection formed in the 1890s, which was offered for the first time in Sale 764; this was lot 1698), Guido Craveri and Joseph Hackmey. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), ample to large margins, used with U.S. Mail, New York, N.Y., 1¢ Black on Rose (6LB9), tied together and to cover by red square grid cancels, carrier stamp additionally cancelled by pen and tied by part of blue manuscript "Due 5", blurry strike of red New York circular datestamp on mostly complete blue folded cover to Farmington, Maine, missing one flap at bottom, Very Fine, a choice combination with the stamps tied together, ex Wenk (1985 Rarities of the World sale) and Boker, with 1983 and 1997 P.F. certificates (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), large margins to full at right, rich color and clear impression, used with U.S. Mail, New York, N.Y., 1¢ Black on Yellow Glazed (6LB10), large margins to touched at bottom, tied together and to cover by red circular grid cancels, carrier additionally cancelled by manuscript, red "New-York Oct. 20" circular datestamp on small black-bordered mourning envelope neatly addressed to Middletown, Connecticut, fresh and Extremely Fine, wonderful quality, there are approximately 16 recorded 1847 and 6LB10 combination covers in the USPCS census--this is arguably the finest, ex Dick and Boker (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), huge margins to clear with portion of adjoining stamp at bottom, deep rich color and detailed impression, used with U.S.P.O., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1¢ Black on Rose, "H" (7LB3), large margins to just into framelines, both stamps tied by blue "Philada. Pa. 5 Aug. 10" (1849) integral-rate circular datestamp on small envelope to Lake George, New York, the datestamp tying the carrier stamp is particularly well-struck

Extremely Fine--a choice and extremely rare combination. Only three covers with the Philadelphia 7LB3 carrier stamp and the 5¢ 1847 Issue are recorded. This is the only one of the three which is clearly tied by the Philadelphia circular datestamp.

According to the census information reported by Larry Lyons in The Penny Post (July 2006) and the USPCS census, there are only three combinations of the 1847 Issue and this Philadelphia Carrier Department issue. The second was offered in our sale of the Harvey Mirsky collection (and is ex Kuphal), but the carrier stamp is not tied. The third listed in the USPCS census has no description or image so its configuration is unknown.

Ex Sir Nicholas Waterhouse, Marc Haas, Duane B. Garrett and John R. Boker, Jr. Illustrated in Bakers' U.S. Classics (p. 124). (Image)

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