Auction Detail

Millbury, Massachuetts, 1846, 5c black on bluish paper, margins clear on three sides, barely touching at left, tied to 1846 folded letter by neatly-struck red PAID straight-line, red "5" rate handstamp, postmarked with crisp "Milbury Ms. / Sep / 6" c.d.s., to Boston, two small tears at left of adhesive, unobtrusive filing folds, an iconic rarity, offered at auction for the first time in over forty years. (USPCS Census 20235)
Provenance:
- Robert S. Emerson (reported acquired circa 1929), recorded as subsequently sold by Ezra Cole upon Emerson’s death. (The Judge Robert S. Emerson Sales, Stanley M. Biermann, The Chronicle, Vol 120, 1983).
- H.R. Harmer, New York (4 June, 1980)
Literature:
- Illustrated in the Stamp Specialist (Vol. I, Part 4)
- Illustrated in American Philatelic Miscellany, edited by Susan M McDonald, 1976.
- Illustrated in “The Millbury Postmaster's Provisional Stamp - The Unused Copy”, The Chronicle, Vol 121, 1984.
Distinctive for its omission of both the name of the issuing postmaster and the corresponding town, the stamp’s primitive yet charming depiction of George Washington has enthralled collectors since its discovery. Philip T. Wall, in an introduction to his analysis of the Millbury Provisional, recounts the early years of the professional career of the man who would become the town’s Postmaster, Asa Holman Waters.  Waters had a privileged upbringing, attending both Yale University and Harvard Law School, before embarking on ventures in law, politics, banking, and, eventually, overseeing the family’s armory business.  These diverse pursuits meant that, upon his appointment as Postmaster of Millbury on 18 January, 1836, he was kept preoccupied by his many other engagements. Wall notes that Henry Waterman, a local jeweller, ran the post office on Waters’ behalf, and was ultimately responsible for the issuing of the now renowned provisional.
The USPCS Census records nine covers, three singles on piece, and five single stamps.  Interestingly, the rate markings used on the various on-cover examples are quite diverse. The cover offered here is the unique example with a simple “5”, while others have varying types of “5” or “V” in circle. All are struck in red.
An exceptional opportunity to acquire an iconic treasure of United States philately.
 
 

New Haven Connecticut, 1874, 5c carmine on hard white paper, signed "E. Mitchell" in blue ink, reprint for Chief Clerk for Mitchell Cyrus B. Peets, trivial thin spot on lower margin, else very fine and scarce reprint, one of only thirty made, offered with 5c red and dull blue on hard white paper, two examples from the reprints of the New Haven Philatelic Society, with stamped signature of E. Mitchell and with "1932 FINAL RE-STRIKE" and numbered on reverse, 260 restrikes were made on this occasion before the handstamp was defaced, fresh and very fine, alongsisde a concocted cover purportedly with the 5c dull blue impression, to famed dealer Warren H. Colsen in Boston, a charming creation.

New York, New York, 5c black on bluish wove paper, signed ACM, AC connected, horizontal strip of four, positions 6-9, large margins on three sides, just clear at left, showing portion of three adjoining stamps at top, tied to cover by blue manuscript cancels, the left stamp further tied by red "New York / Mar / 17" c.d.s., "20" manuscript in blue and curved PAID handstamp in red, to Charles G. Folger in Geneva, New York, a few adhesive remnants on reverse, light stain to front, right stamp with diagonal wrinkle, yet a rare franking, one of four recorded; handstamped WHC (Warren H. Colson), ex Grunin, Zoellner, with 1998 Philatelic Foundation certificate.  
A rarity of exceptional quality, arguably the finest of the four recorded strips of four on cover. USPCS Census 20501.   Illustrated and discussed in USPCS Chronicle Volume 32, No. 3, page 3, "The Five Most Outstanding New York Postmaster's Provisional Covers" by Philip T. Wall)

New York, New York, 5c black, signed RHM, rejoined vertical pair, large balanced margins on all sides, cancelled with blue manuscript, partially hinge reinforced in margin between stamps, trace of uniform toning, yet a scarce multiple of fine appearance; with 1973 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Providence, Rhode Island, 5c gray black, four large to very large margins, cancelled in pen and tied to folded cover by neatly-struck "Providence R.I. / May / 29" c.d.s., handtamped "PAID" and "5c" in matching red, to New York, horizontal filing folds and two pressed vertical folds, all clear of adhesive, lightly cleaned at bottom, a rare tied example of this Postmasters’ Provisional, of which very few such are recorded; ex-Ferrary, with his trefoil at lower right, Caspary (H.R. Harmer, New York,November, 1955, lot 120).