Auction Detail

approximately 40 covers with a wide variety of advertised markings, including AD-2, AD-3, AD-4 shield in black and blue, AD-5, and subsequent markings, also station advertised markings including Northwest, Cottage Grove, Hyde Park, and Englewood, generally fine to very fine, an extraordinary group with a good deal of potential further research for the dedicated postal historian

black handstamp with matching "3" in circle on cover to Watertown, New York, 1857 3c Dull red tied by "Chicago Ill Aug 16 1858" datestamp, slightly reduced at left, very fine, the only recorded example of Chicago's first postage due handstamp, illustrated in Piszkiewicz (page 415)

binder with approximately 170 covers ranging from about 1893 through 1964, enormous variety of different handstamps and postage due adhesives, additionally nice advertising covers, airmail and special delivery, etc., significant number of incoming foreign covers resulting in some very colorful and attractive frankings, generally fine to very fine, a wonderful collection that is ideal for the 20th Century postal historian, when studied in conjunction with the Piszkiewicz book this group could prove very rewarding

approximately 50 covers and cards bearing various "Held for Postage" handstamps, begins in 1883 with several examples of HP-3 (including the earliest recorded use) used in conjunction with SN-1 and PS-1, continues through the 1950s with "This is the Mail for Which You Sent Postage" handstamps, interesting items throughout including a 1933 "World's Fair in a Nutshell" parcel tag originally attached to a walnut, generally fine to very fine, an extraordinary and comprehensive collection, see discussion in Piszkiewicz (pages 434-44)

black circular handstamp on ca. 1867 3c Pink stamped envelope mailed without an address, November 25 Chicago backstamp, forwarded to Washington, DC where a blue Dead Letter Office datestamp was applied, manuscript "$5" probably refers to a banknote contained within the envelope, very fine, the only recorded example of the earliest "returned for better direction" handstamp used in Chicago, illustrated in Piszkiewicz (page 447)