Auction Detail

three full framelines, tied by two strikes of blue "Paid" and "10" in oval to January 5, 1846 folded letter to Annapolis, Maryland, red "Barnum's City Hotel" oval and light blue Baltimore postmark at left, stamp with a trivial vertical file crease at far right (mentioned for strict accuracy only), unique on cover with only one other known off cover, Hays census #1, USPCS census #20166 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott listed but not priced on cover)

Based on known dates of use, it appears that the Baltimore provisionals on bluish paper predated the printings on white paper by at least several months (stamps on white paper do not appear until January, 1846). Postmaster James M. Buchanan was one of the earliest adapters to the use of adhesive stamps, with Baltimore's stamps being issued mere weeks after the postal reforms of 1845 took effect. Any 10c adhesive on cover is exceptionally rare, with just five examples of the 10c on White recorded on cover (three of which are faulty).

This cover, with an immaculate 10c on Bluish tied by three handstamps, is one of the most important United States Provisional items in existence, and has not been offered publicly since a 1975 Robson-Lowe Geneva sale (where it sold for 250,000 Swiss francs). The red hotel handstamp perfectly contrasts the blue postal markings and enhances the appearance of an already spectacular item. When the item's stellar provenance (Hind to Caspary to Lilly to Boker to Haub) is taken into consideration, we feel no hesitation in calling this one of the greatest American philatelic gems. 

Provenance: Arthur Hind (Charles J. Phillips Sale 1, 1933)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 967, 1955)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 312, 1967)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

11X2, St. Louis, MO, 1845 10c Black on Greenish, vertical pair (positions 2, 4), margins all around, tied by red "St. Louis Mo. Jan 28" datestamp to 1846 folded letter to Philadelphia (Charnley & Whelan correspondence), manuscript "20" and red "Paid" handstamp at right, top stamp diagonal crease at top left and stamps lifted and re-affixed (not mentioned on certificate), extremely fine appearance, one of the most attractive St. Louis Bears multiples on cover in our opinion, USPCS Census #21147, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $22,500) Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 967, 1955) Rarities of the World (R.A. Siegel Sale 596, 1982)

12, 1856 5c Red brown, bottom margin single with center line at right, tied by "New Orleans La. Nov 16" datestamp on 1856 cover to Bordeaux, France, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Nov 26" credit handstamp, "13" decimes due handstamp, transit and arrival backstamps, cover with horizontal filefold, an extremely fine stamp with two full sheet margins, one of the most attractive 1856 5c uses we have ever seen, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $1,600)

17, 1851 12c Black, single used with 1857 2c Dull red (26) strip of four on 1859 cover to "Poynton near Stockport, Old England", stamps with neat pen cancels, blue "Barnsville O. Apr 13" datestamp ties left 3c, red "3" credit handstamp and red London Paid transit, backstamped Stockport May 3, left 3c with pulled perf at left and right 3c pulled perf at bottom, very fine and attractive cover, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate

26, 1857 3c Dull red, single with grid cancel on J. Valentine "God Hath Made of One Blood All Nations of Men" anti-slavery all-over envelope, addressed to Governor Henry Wise in Richmond, Virginia, red "Providence R.I. Nov 26 1859" datestamp, stamp with light horizontal file bend, very fine and attractive, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate Provenance: Mark Haas (R.A. Siegel Sale 561, 1980) Ryohei Ishikawa (Christie's Robson Lowe, 1993)