Auction Detail
January 2023
Our January 2023 sales include the "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History Part VIII, as well as a general sale of United States and worldwide stamps, covers, and collections.
four large margins, tied by black "Crosby's Special Message Post, 19 Williams St., N.Y." to "Maine's Patent Portable Window Ventilators" illustrated advertising cover, locally-addressed, small faults along top edge, very fine and attractive (Scott $750)
single with mostly full margins, red boxed "Free" handstamp on 1848 folded letter from Boston to New York, red "U.S. Express Mail Boston Mass. Jun 27" datestamp with matching "5", cover eroded through at bottom center, very fine appearance, a late use of the Cummings' "letter and heart" stamp which is much rarer on rose paper than it is on green or yellow, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott unpriced untied, $5,000 for tied)
single with small manuscript "X" cancel, on embossed Valentine envelope to local street address, red "City Post" with "2" at center double circle handstamp at left, several small repair hinge remnants in the lacework, extremely fine and attractive, the unique example of the Cummings' "letter and heart" type with "Cummings" name erased, used once the firm was under the sole ownership of Robert Wright in 1847-48, described in the Caspary sale as "famous unique stamp and cover" which certainly still applies today, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott listed but unpriced)
Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 10, 1924)
Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1071, 1957)
John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction
single with margins all around except just in at bottom, used alongside US 1851 3c Brownish carmine (11A), tied together by "New-York Apl 27" datestamp to cover to Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut, certificate mentions "local with gum staining at the left edge" which is hardly of significance with such an important stamp and cover, the Caspary catalogue stated that this cover is "in exceptional condition for such a rarity and one of the outstanding local covers known", 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott listed but unpriced)
Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 10, 1924)
Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1071, 1957)
four margins, tied by red "New-York 5cts 2 Feb" datestamp to cover to Middletown, Connecticut, matching "Paid" in arc handstamp and manuscript "Paid 5c", light enamel wear as often, very fine (Scott $650)
three overlapping singles (the center stamp a distinctly lighter shade) tied by dateless "3cts Paid Hussey 50 Wm. St." circular handstamp on all-over Washington Fire Insurance Company illustrated advertising cover addressed to Brooklyn, 1862 printed notice enclosed, cover with repaired tear away from stamps, extremely fine appearance, the "Letter Box" type stamp with the 50 William Street address was issued primarily for collectors and very few were legitimately used, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate
margins large to just grazing framelines at sides, tied by "1ct. Paid Hussey 50 Wm. St. Nov 30" circular datestamp to waving flag patriotic cover to a local street address, cover small nick at bottom left, very fine, an extremely scarce use of a Hussey's stamp on a patriotic cover, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate
In the October 2007 Penny Post Clifford J. Alexander conducted a survey of patriotic covers bearing local post adhesives or handstamps. He identified only 59 such covers, the vast majority of which were carried by Blood's or Boyd's. This cover is the only recorded example of a patriotic cover carried by Hussey's in his census.
cut to tombstone shape, uncancelled on 1845 folded letter from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, forwarded with cut-to-shape American Letter Mail 5c Black on gray (5L2) pen-cancelled and tied by red "Forwarded by American Letter Mail Company, Office, 56 Wall St., N.Y." oval, red "Forwarded by American Mail Co. No. 101 Chestnut St. Philada." circular handstamp used as receiver, Jones' local with vertical crease at left, American Letter Mail stamp with crease at bottom, cover with toned spots between the stamps, still very fine appearance, one of just nine full covers bearing the rare Jones' City Express stamp and the only conjunctive use with an American Letter Mail adhesive, an extraordinary local post rarity, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate
horizontal pair with huge margins, each with manuscript "X", on 1844 folded letter to New York City, black "Wells & Co's Express Mail from Chicago" circular handstamp at upper left, cover with vertical file fold through left stamp, very fine, the small Wells Chicago handstamp is one of the rarest of all independent mail markings and its use on a cover with Wells adhesives is particularly remarkable, very fine appearance, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate
mostly large margins, pre-application crease, on cover to Homer, New York, red "New York 5cts Apr 9" datestamp, fine (Scott $500 if tied)
single cut square, large margins, tied by black "Paid" in oval to locally-addressed cover, second strike at left, stamp lightly toned, very fine, an attractive cover, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $600)
frame lines at top and right, just in at other sides, tied by blue "Paid" in oval with second strike alongside on locally-addressed cover, very fine and fresh, signed George B. Sloane (Scott $600)