Auction Detail
3070 – ERIVAN X
Shield, Nine Bars, Solid Top, Rohloff Q-5, superbly-struck on 3c ultramarine, alongside equally crisp "Waterbury CT / Dec / 13" c.d.s., on cover with C.H. Gilbert Hardware corner card to Watertown, Connecticut, some adhesive remnants on reverse, adhesive with barest trace of the odd toned perf, a remarkably fresh and appealing strike, one of the rarities of the Waterbury fancy cancels, very fine.
Skull & Crossbones, Type 3, Rohloff R-3, choice strike ties 3c ultramarine to cover to Washington, Connecticut, "Waterbury CT / Feb / 10" c.d.s. alongside, docketing dated 1870 at upper left, not detracting from the incredible appeal of this exceptional and detailed strike, a superb cover; with 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
Skulls & Crossbones, Type 3, Rohloff R-3, fine strike ties 3c ultramarine to cover to New Haven, Connecticut, postmarked "Waterbury CT / Feb / 10", cover opened at right affecting some perforations, traces of extraneous red ink at right of stamp, not detracting from the appeal of this scarce and iconic fancy cancel, illustrated in Rohloff (fig. 265); , ex Rohloff, Eubanks.
Six Point Star, Type 2, Waterbury, Connecticut, Rohloff S-5A, very fine strike on 3c rose, tied to cover front, adjacent "Waterbury Con / Feb / 20" double-circle c.d.s., to New York, next-day receiver docketing at left, horizontal fold, some light soiling, all clear of this fresh and attractive cancellation, only three covers reported by Crowe, illustrated in Rohloff (fig. 273); ex Rohloff, Eubanks.
“34 in Star”, Hatfield, Massachusetts, centrally-struck on 3c brown red, on cover to New York, postmarked with Hatfield MASS c.d.s. (Jun 11), the odd spot of soiling not detracting from this rare fancy cancel; ex Grunin. (Skinner-Eno ST-C5)
All Seeing Eye, New York, New York, ties 1861 3c rose to cover to Morris Island, South Carolina, New York c.d.s. (30 Mar) alongside, corner card of Leonard Scott & Co / Republishers of the / British Reviews / and / Blackwood’s Magazine”, light edge wrinkles, a pleasing example of this eye-catching cancellation, fine; with clear 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
Locomotive, South Hanson, Massachusetts, full strike ties 1883 2c red brown to piece, with “South Hanson” c.d.s. alongside (14 May), staining and a few shorter perfs at top, nevertheless a remarkable example of this intricate fancy cancel, and one of the only recorded complete strikes. (Cole Pi-67)
Donald Barany, in his May, 2003 article “The South Hanson Locomotive Cancel” (Chronicle, 198), records nineteen strikes of this cancel, including one entire and a 3c War Department cut square. These two items, along with the example offered here, are the only three complete strikes which also include a South Hanson datestamp, making this one of the most desirable examples extant.
Locomotive, South Hanson, Massachusetts, struck on two 2c red brown, overlapped to show the complete strike, the primary adhesive particularly nicely-centered and with fresh bright color, showing part of additional strike at bottom, a lovely illustration of this rare and desirable fancy cancel; with 1993 and 1994 Philatelic Foundation certificates.
Man in Derby, Vicksburgh, Mississippi, struck on 1869 3c ultramarine, tied to cover postmarked Vicksburgh (12 Mar), to Lexington, Kentucky, slightly reduced at left, a scarce and charming fancy cancel, unrecorded in Skinner-Eno; ex Foote, Boker.
Mask in Segmented Circle, Corry, Pennsylvania, ties 3c rose to cover to Erie, neatly-struck "Corry PA / Jul / 27" c.d.s. beside, a choice example of this rare strike, of which only a small number on cover are recorded. (Skinner-Eno PH-M12)
Negative Crescent & Stars, Tarborough, North Carolina, choice strike on 3c pink on buff entire (U59), adjacent Tarborough c.d.s., date unclear, to Raleigh, some light edge stains, repair to back flap tear, but desirable strike of this rare fancy cancel; ex Robertson, Boker.
This visually appealing fancy cancel is unlisted in Skinner-Eno, but a comparable strike on a 3c 1869 Issue is noted in the “North Carolina Postal Historian,” Vol. 34, No. 4, 2015, and was earlier illustrated in Vol. 15, No. 1.
Negative “XX”, Greenwood Depot, Virginia, bold strike of boxed negative “XX” Masonic design, struck on 3c rose, tied to cover to Petersburg, adjacent Greenwood Depot c.d.s. (11 Aug), a desirable example of this scarce cancellation. (FR-M3c 22).