The Frelinghuysen Collection, Part One: United States Postmasters' Provisionals continued...

**New York, New York - RHM Initials (Scott 9X1d, 9X3a)**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
32		New York N.Y., 5c Black, "RHM" Initials (9X1d). Position 22, initials top to bottom, margins clear to just in at lower right, two neat blue pen strokes, fresh color and paper, Fine, an attractive example of this scarce New York Postmaster's Provisional, small "WHC" (Warren H. Colson) backstamp (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	3,500.00 SOLD for $1,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
33		New York N.Y., 5c Black, "RHM" Initials (9X1d). Position 36, initials top to bottom, large margins to just clear at top left, sheet margin at bottom, cancelled solely by two strikes of red "Paid" arc handstamp, without pen cancel, one "Paid" ties stamp at bottom and thru cover, third strike at top of cover, matching red "New-York 5 cts. 5 Mar." integral-rate circular datestamp on blue folded cover to J. B. Congdon in New Bedford Mass., central file fold well clear of stamp VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH "RHM" INITIALS ON COVER FROM NEW YORK -- ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE TIED BY THE RED "PAID" HANDSTAMP. The "RHM" initialed stamp is extremely rare on cover. Because of the New Hamburgh find, it is as rare used from New York City as used to New York City. Philip T. Wall recorded only six "RHM" covers used from New York in his Chronicle series, though he was not aware of this cover. Two of the covers recorded by Wall are addressed to the same recipient as this cover. They are dated March 13 (ex Caspary and Weill) and March 19 (ex Col. Green and Weill). Ex Lapham and Ackerman. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	5,500.00 SOLD for $4,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
34		New York N.Y., 5c Black, "RHM" Initials (9X1d). Two singles, initials top to bottom, right stamp Position 33, large margins three sides, close at left which is not evident since the left stamp slightly overlaps, completely sound, left stamp Position 25, neatly pressed vertical filing crease ties stamp to cover, both cancelled by single pen stroke, red "New-York 10 cts. 25 Jul." (1845) integral-rate circular datestamp with two matching strikes of "Paid" arc handstamp on folded letter datelined July 24, 1845, from A. Edmonds & Co. to Pease & Riley Esq. in Constantine Mich. VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE COVER WITH TWO COPIES OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK WITH "RHM" INITIALS. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE AND NOT SEEN PUBLICLY SINCE 1936. Shortly after the first day of issue, Postmaster Robert H. Morris decided to begin initialing the provisional stamps. July 17, 1845, is the earliest recorded date of use for a New York Postmaster's Provisional with validating initials (see Piller book, p. 61). The "RHM" initialed stamp is rare on cover, with fewer than 20 known, including the group from New Hamburgh. This is the only cover known bearing more than one stamp. There are no off-cover intact multiples known with the "RHM" signature, though there are two rejoined pairs, including one on Gray paper with "RHM" reading up. In his outstanding series of Chronicle articles on the New York Postmaster's Provisional, Philip T. Wall discussed three ex Lapham rarities, wondering if they still existed. Unknown to him at the time, they were residing in the Frelinghuysen collection. One of the items discussed in Chronicle 111 (pp. 152-154) is the cover offered here. It was owned by Henry C. Gibson prior to 1922 and was discussed by Philip H. Ward in the March 11, 1923, issue of Mekeel's. Most of Gibson's world-class Postmasters' Provisionals collection was sold privately in February 1922, and this cover went to Henry G. Lapham. Lapham exhibited the cover at the 1926 New York International Exhibition and again at the Collector's Club of New York in April 1928. Frelinghuysen acquired the cover through Warren H. Colson with the other ex-Lapham New York Provisionals. Ex Gibson and Lapham. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 10,000-15,000 SOLD for $7,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
35		New York N.Y., 5c Black on Gray, "RHM" Initials Reading Up (9X3a var). Position 30, initials bottom to top, full to huge margins, detailed impression, cancelled solely by light strike of red "Paid" arc handstamp without pen cancel EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY PAPER WITH "RHM" INITIALS READING UP. Philip T. Wall recorded only two examples of the "RHM" initials reading in an upward direction, both from the early 1847 delivery on Gray paper (the two originally formed a pair). This and the example offered in the following lot were unknown to Wall when he compiled his census. Ex Lapham. Scott Retail as normal 9X3a with "PAID" cancel. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	7,100.00 SOLD for $13,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
36		New York N.Y., 5c Black on Gray, "RHM" Initials Reading Up (9X3a var). Position 31 with double transfer of bottom frameline, clear initials reading from bottom to top, full to large margins, bright shade, cancelled solely by red "Paid" arc handstamp without pen cancel, tiny tear at top EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY PAPER WITH "RHM" INITIALS READING UP. Philip T. Wall recorded only two examples of the "RHM" initials reading in an upward direction, both from the early 1847 delivery on Gray paper (the two originally formed a pair). This and the example offered in previous lot were unknown to Wall when he compiled his census. Ex Lapham. Scott Retail as normal 9X3a with no premium for the plate position. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	7,100.00 SOLD for $6,000.00 Will close during Public Auction

Previous Page, Next Page or Return to Table of Contents

StampAuctionCentral and StampAuctionNetwork are
Copyright © 1994-2022 Droege Computing Services, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Mailing Address: 20 West Colony Place
Suite 120, Durham NC 27705 Back to Top of Page