Auction Detail
June 2023
"Erivan" Collection Part IX and Canal Zone Stamps and Covers
Our June sales include Part IX of the "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History and a catalogue of Canal Zone stamps and covers featuring the collections of James W. Crumpacker and Paul F. Ammons.
single tied by straightline transit to March 8, 1851 folded letter from New York City to Heppenheim, Germany, April 1 Le Havre transit and April 5 Heppenheim arrival backstamp, very fine, one of just five recorded examples of the Jefferson Market Post Office stamp on blue (all on cover), only two of which are tied, with this additionally being the only example addressed to a foreign country, an extraordinary local post rarity that has not been offered publicly since the Caspary sale (where it was purchased by George B. Sloane)
Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1072, 1957)
John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)
tied by magenta manuscript to embossed ladies rebacked cover front to 20 Mile Strand, Ohio, 3c Dull red (11) tied by "Camden N.J. Sep 6" datestamp, signed Sloane (who believed it to be an 1854 use based on the shade of the 3c), 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $3,000 for full cover)
single with manuscript cancel on folded letter datelined "Cleveland Sept 6 1844", endorsed "Contract from Buffalo to N.Y., E.S. Beach + Co.", framed red "Boyd's City Express Post Sep 11 2o'c" handstamp for delivery within the city, vertical crease through adhesive, otherwise fine and attractive conjunctive use
horizontal pair with manuscript cancel on folded lettersheet to New York City, used alongside Pomeroy's Letter Express 5c Black on yellow (117L1) also with pen cancel, July 24, 1844 docketing, very fine, a beautiful and rare conjunctive use between Wells and Pomeroy's, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate
two bisected left halves, each tied by manuscript cancel to July 1844 folded letter to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory, red straightline "Paid" handstamp and manuscript "Paid double", vertical filefolds, very fine and attractive use of two bisects to pay the double rate, "CEC" handstamp (C.E. Chapman), 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate
Provenance: Judge Robert S. Emerson (Private transaction)
single tied by manuscript "Richmond July 10/65" cancel to cover to Staunton, Virginia, endorsed "Magic Express" at top left, extremely fine, one of just two examples of this stamp on cover (the other of which had a United States 3c stamp removed from on top of the local), one of the greatest local post rarities in existence, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate
The Magic Letter Express operated for a short time (approximately two months) immediately after the close of the Civil War. The post, which operated both within the city of Richmond and illegally between Virginian cities, produced 1c, 2c, and 5c stamps. All are exceedingly rare: the 1c is unique (on cover), the 1c manuscript uprated to 2c is unique (off cover), the 2c is unique (off cover), and just four examples of the 5c are known (two on covers, one on advertising broadside, one off cover). For the most complete history of Magic Letter Express to date, we refer you to R.A. Siegel's catalogue for the David Golden Collection (Sale 817, Part 3, page 292).
Provenance: Henry Needham (Private transaction)
John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)
margins large to full, neat pen cancel, used on August 15, 1844 folded letter from New York City to Rochester, New York, very fine and choice, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $3,500)
four large margins, tied by black star, used alongside 3c Orange brown (10A) with both stamps tied by "New-York Aug 26" datestamp, addressed to Sherwood Corners, New York, very fine and attractive (Scott $850)
Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1072, 1957)
Bouton's stamp with red manuscript "Swarts" at top, uncancelled, red "New-York 5cts 21 Feb" datestamp on 1849 folded letter to Troy, New York, fine and scarce with only about 10 examples of this stamp on cover (Scott $600)
black oval handstamp on cover to Wilmington, Ohio, franked with 10c Green (35), black "Pony Express St. Joseph Jun 1" Running Pony handstamp, entered the mails with blue "Saint Joseph Mo. Jun 2 1860" datestamp, very fine and attractive, this cover was carried as part of the last eastbound Pony Express trip before depredations by the Paiute Indians in present day Nevada caused a disruption in service lasting from late May through late June, a rare combination of the San Francisco oval and St. Joseph Running Pony (FKW Census #E7)
blue Running Pony handstamp ties 10c Green (35, also tied by blue grid) to cover to Glasgow, Scotland, second strike at bottom, hand-colored "Overland via Los Angeles" stagecoach directive (with "via Los Angeles" crossed out), black "The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph Mo. Nov 7" oval, entered the mails with blue "Saint Joseph Mo Nov 20" double circle datestamp, black "N. York Am. Pkt. Nov 24" debit, carried on NGL's Bremen departing New York November 24 and arriving Southampton December 6, treated fully unpaid and charged "1/-" due, vertical crease, otherwise very fine, a spectacular transatlantic Pony Express use (one of just five) and the only Pony Express cover to Scotland, also the only Pony Express cover with an "Overland via Los Angeles" directive, in our opinion one of the most significant and attractive of all Pony Express covers, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (FKW Census #E38)
margins large to just in at left, tied by blue "Pony Express San Francisco Oct 2" Running Pony handstamp to 10c Green entire (U33) with red printed frank at top, entered the mails with "Atchison Kan Oct 16" double circle datestamp, addressed to New York City, small repairs along top edge, very fine and choice (FKW Census #E170)
Provenance: Louis H. Barkhausen (H.R. Harmer Sale 966, 1955)