386th Auction

1851/57, Washington 12 c. black, horizontal pair, with long pre-cut, almost parting the stamps, tied by cds. “BRISTOL R.I. JAN 12” to buff envelope with red tax mark "3" via London to Birmingham with arrival mark, stamps touched due to pre-cut, envelope with transportation wear including partially missing backflap, an interesting and attractive entire

1859, 10 cents green, type III, vertical strip of 3, tied by New Orleans cds. to letter sheet via "BOSTON Br. PKt.", England, Belgium and Aachen 1858 to Hamburg. Upper stamp with perforation cut at top and horizontal crease, otherwise fine.

1875 1c blue, 2 copies, tied by intaglio corks with adjacent “ST. THOMAS 12/2 1876” to entire letter to New York, datelined St. Thomas, 9th of February,  with oval Lamb & Co (Forwarding Agents) anchor handstamp. The franking  paying the 10c rate for carriage on the King Line, whose King Richard called at St. Thomas on its final northbound journey on February 12; postmarked on arrival in Baltimore with two “BALT / PAID ALL” c.d.s. Edge creasing and vertical filing folds, of trivial importance given the tremendous rarity of this cover, being the only recorded example carried on this final trip of the King Line. Certificate Philatelic Foundation (2025) (Scott 179)

1930, Zeppelin 65 c. – 2,60 $, mint never hinged, very fine; unsigned, each stamp certificate Philatelic Foundation (2007/2011)

1930, Zeppelin 2,60$, well centered, tied to Round flight cover

1938, 5 $ red brown & black, top plate no. 22168 F single, deeply rich color, mint never hinged. Very fine. Certificate APS (1990)(Scott 834a)

1984, Olympic Games Los Angeles Airmail 28 c., Zip block of 10, the lower 5 values  imperforated  at bottom, mint never hinged, very fine and scarce (Scott C101-04var)

1893, Colombus 1c.- 5 $ complete set, each as plate proof on thick card, most with some toning or small faults to some extent, 3$ small thins and faded colours, also a 8 c. on larger card (thinned and toned)

1919, Shanghai overprints 2 c. – 2 $ complete including two shades, also both values of 1922 issue, all mint never hinged, very fine.

"The inclosed letter was recovered from the wreck of the Steamer Metropolis, lost on Currituck Beach, North Carolina, January 31, 1878" printed on reverse of Postal Service entire with printed 'Division of Dead Letters' return address at left, cancelled by cork with adjacent "Philadelphia Pa. Feb. 12" circular datestamp, addressed to St. Thomas, Danish Westindies. Very Fine, a most unusual usage, the Metropolis was bound for Para, Brazil and was driven ashore during a gale near the Kitty Hawk Signal Station -- 102 lives were lost -- this official entire was used to transit pieces of mail recovered from the wreck (Scott UO16)

New York, Metropolitan Post Office, 1852, (2c) blue, cut to shape, tied by boxed "PAID / WH LAWS" to folded cover front wit adjacent “PAID …” at left, postmarked "Metropolian / P.O. / Mar / 20", to G. Robertson 135 Water Street. Stamp affected by strong filing crease, A rare franking. Philatelic Foundation certificate (2023) 
(Scott 108L3A)

 

Coast Line San Juan & Los Angeles, U.S. Mail Stage Company, via Paso Robles Hot Springs, San Luis Obispo, imprint in blue on 1868 cover to San Juan, California, franked with two 1867 3c. Grills, tied by geometric cork cancels, New York c.d.s. alongside, to the firm of Flint, Bixby & Co, with their blue handstamp (17 Jul), endorsed "per Steamer", cover fault at upper right, else remarkably fresh, an attractive example of this scarce stage company envelope. 

Provenance: Howard Mader Collection, Harmer-Schau Auctions, 2010.

Coast Line Stage Company, six horse drawn stagecoach design, on cover franked with 3c green Bank Note, tied by cork cancel, postmarked San Jose (1 Apr), with original enclosure on matching illutrated letterhead,  (aside from the removal of "Coast Line Stage Co / F.B. & C." on the coach), datelined "San Jose, Mch 31, 1874", written by William Buckley, Superintendent of the company, to Dr. Thomas Flint, one of the firm's owners, roughly opened at left, but a rare cover, particularly desirable with the enclosure sent between two principal figures in the firm.

Eagle City Post, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (2c) black on grayish paper,  without "WS" initials, cut to shape and affixed to cover, cancelled in manuscript, red handstamped "5" alongside, postmarked "Norristown Pa / Aug / 7" c.d.s., to Nathan R. Potts of Philadelphia, some wrinkling, small tear and ink stain affecting adhesive, the odd spot of discoloration, yet an immensely rare local stamp, one of only four examples recorded; with 2024 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

 

Provenance: Needham, Gibson, and Middendorf Collections, with Gibson's ownership mark on reverse. 

Everts, Wilson & Co's Express, Paid, 1861, ornamental printed frank on 3c. Nesbitt postal stationery cover, struck with large blue oval “Everts, Davis & Co's Express / Forbestown / Feb 27 1861”, with year in manuscript, alongside blue oval “Wells, Fargo & Co / Marysville / Feb 28” datestamp, or Oroville, California, slightly reduced at left, otherwise quite fresh, a rare Everts & Wells Fargo conjunctive use, illustrating the connection in Marysville, of which only a small number of examples are recorded.

Humboldt Express, 1863, 25c. blue, ample to large margins all around, affixed to legal-sized envelope from Star City to San Francisco, franked with pair of 1861 3c. Washington, cover struck with red PAID and choice strike of red oval “Langton's Pioneer Express / Star City”, reverse with yellow “LANGTON'S / PIONEER EXPRESS / FROM / Star City NT” label with city in manuscript, some small edge flaws, the Humboldt Express stamp not original to this cover, yet the stamp itself is quite scarce, this example being very fine and particularly attractive given its generous margins and fresh appearance, as is the cover with such a fine strike of the Pioneer Express oval, thus a nevertheless desirable piece of Western Express and Nevada postal history.

 

Note:

Samuel W. Langton established the Humboldt Express to connect the Humboldt mines of northern Nevada with the capital Carson City. As this was a difficult route, Langton added a 25c surcharge to the rate of $2 per letter; to facilitate pre-payment of this fee, the 25c. brown stamps were produced. Owing to the overwhelming similarities between the Humboldt Express stamp and the concurrent Pony Express stamps, it is thought that Langton's stamps were also printed by Britton & Rey in San Francisco. 

1865, Langton's Pioneer Express, Paid, ornate printed frank on 3c. Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, struck with "Lamping & Co's / Express / Downieville" oval, alongside double-oval "Wells, Fargo & Co / Marysville" datestamp in blue (15 Feb), opening tear to back flap, a fine and scarce conjunctive usage, from the period following the purchase of the company by P.A. Lamping after the death of Samuel Langton, but prior to his subsequent sale to Wells, Fargo.

Pacific Express Paid, printed frank on 3 c. red postal stationery entire, struck with light “Pacific Express / San Francisco” double-circle in blue (9 Jan), unusual near-complete offset on frank on reverse, a fine cover from this successor to Adams & Co, founded in 1855 by a group of former Adams employees.

Swift & Co Express, Paid, printed frank in black on 3c. Nesbitt postal stationery entire to San Francisco, struck with fair oval "Wells, Fargo & Co / Petaluma" handstamp in blue, repaired tears to flap, else a fine conjunctive use. 

"VIA PANAMA" directive with illustrated sidewheel steamship design, 1860 (April 5), with imprint of Geo H. Bell, stationer, franked with 1859 10c green, tied by neatly-struck San Francisco c.d.s., to New York, reduced at top and sides and repaired in places, a few small edge tears, but a scarce illustrated route directive, with 1979 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Wells, Fargo & Co, Virginia City Pony Express, 1862-4, 20c red, margins mostly ample to large on all sides, barely touched at top right, affixed to 3c pink postal stationery entire, with printed address of the Mexican Silver Mining Co., Virginia City, struck with clear oval “Wells, Fargo & Co / Carson City” in blue, hinge remnants on reverse, the adhesive not originating on this cover, fine.

Whiting & Co's Feather River Express, Paid, 1866 (July 11), banner frank in black on 3c. Nesbitt postal stationery cover to Quincy, struck with faint blue double-circle Marysville c.d.s., likely of Wells Fargo, with which Whiting & Co's met in Marysville, reverse with sender's datestamp of the tobacco & dry goods importers M. Marcuse & Co. slightly reduced at right and repaired, some overall discolouration, but scarce.

1867, folded letter with c.d.s  “LA GUAYRA 4.JUIN67”, endorsed “via St. Nazaire” and handstruck “20” (decimés) plus French ship c.d.s. “LIGNE-A PAQ.FR. No. 1 9.JUIN.67” on reverse to Bordeaux with arrival mark, fine

“Aus Westindien über New York” Rahmenstempel vom Stadtpostamt klar auf komplettem Faltbrief mit Absenderstempel “BÜSING & Co. HAVANA FEB 8.1873” und Leitvermerk “per first steamer” via “NEW YORK FEB 15” mit Tax-Stempel “14” (Cents) und handschriftlicher Änderung in “16” (Cents) via “BREMEN 2.3.73” nach Oldenburg. Der Brief wurde ab New York mit dem NDL-Dampfer “Hansa” nach Bremen befördert. Ein interessanter Brief aus Kuba mit seltenem Anlandestempel von Bremen in guter Gesamterhaltung

1927, USA George Washington 2 Cents und Eilmarke 10 Cents violett je mit Dublex-Stempel “NEW YORK G.P.O. AUG.26” auf Vordruckbrief “OCEAN-LETTER” komplett mit Telegramm vom Dampfer "RESOLUTE" als Express-Ortsbrief. Der Umschlag mit Beförderungsspuren und rückseitig mit Öffnungsfehlern, ansonsten in guter Gesamterhaltung

“SS ALTENBURG”, violetter L1 als Entwerter und nebengesetzt auf 1903 Sinnbild der Rebublik 6C. schwarz auf Ansichtskarte “Rosario de Santa Fe” nach Rostock mit Ankunftsstempel, leichte Beförderungsspuren, gute Erhaltung

1848, kompletter Faltbrief (datiert Bahia 5.Mai.1848) mit Leitvermerk “per Canal” via London mit rotem L1 “SHIPP LETTER” und geändertem Taxvermerk “1 / 4” (1 Shulling 4 Pence) via Aachen mit Rahmenstempel “AMERICA per ENGLAND” in Schwarz nach Herrnhut, in guter Erhaltung

1877, Kaiser Pedro II. 50 Centavos im waagerechten Paar mit stummen Stern-Stempel auf Briefkuvert mit schwarzerm Rahmenstempel “Aus Braslilien” nach Berlin mit Ankunftsstempel. Der Umschlag mit Randspuren, sonst in guter Erhaltung. Ein interessanter Brief mit im Feuer-Handbuch nicht gelisteten Stempel

“ADIRONDACK.”, violetter L1 sowie schwarzer L2 “PAQUEBOT (N.Y. 2 D DIV.)” als Entwerter auf 1902 Wappen 20C. blau auf sämisch, geschnitten, auf Briefkuvert mit gedruckter Absenderangabe “HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE. ATLAS LINE SERVICE” nach New York mit rückseitigem Ankunftsstempel, gute Erhaltung

“MARKOMANNIA”, violetter L1 mit handschriftlichem Aufgabevermerk “Sabanilla 31.I.98” auf Ganzsachenkarte 2 C. schwarz auf gelblich, nebengesetzt EKr. “AUS WESTINDIEN P. HAMBURGER DAMPFER ÜBER CÖLN” nach Hamburg mit Ankunftsstempel, gute Erhaltung

“S/S ATHOS.”, violetter L1, rückseitig als Entwerter auf 1891 Wappen 1C. rot auf gelb, mit vorderseitiger Frankatur 4C. blau auf grünlich, geschnitten, Einzelwert und senkrechtes Paar sowie 20C. blau auf sämisch, geschnitten, im senkrechten Paar, diese mit violettem Ovalstempel “SANTA MARTHA FRANCA” bzw. L2 “PAQUEBOT CN. Y 2D DIV” auf dreiseitig geöffnetem Brief mit gedrucktem Absendervermerk “HAMBURG-AMERICAN LINE ATLAS LIVE SERVICE” nach New York, dekorativer Brief in guter Erhaltung

“ASCONA” violetter L1 mit handschriftlichem Zusatz “Santa Cruz del Sur 2/10.92” auf Ganzsachenkarte 3 Pesos mit viel Text nach Hamburg mit Bahnpoststempel “CÖLN (RHEIN)-VERVIERS 26.10.92” und Ankunftsstempel auf der Vorderseite. Die Karte links oben mit einem Fleck und unten mit kleinem Einriss, ansonsten in guter Erhaltung

“pr. Alsatia”, handschriftlicher Leitvermerk sowie Aufgabevermerk “Porto Plate St. Domingo 1874” auf gelbem Briefkuvert, frankiert mit fehlerhafter, unentwerteter 1873 UN Real auf lila, mit rückseitigem EKr. “AUS WESTINDIEN P. HAMBURGER DAMPFER ÜBER CÖLN 2.8. 74” nach Hamburg, bei Ankunft mit “3” (Gr.) belastet. Ein seltener Brief der einzigen Reise des Damperfs “ALSATIA” von St. Thomas nach Haiti, da das Schiff nach dieser Reise strandete und verloren ging,  leichte senkrechte Faltung, sonst in guter und attraktiver Erhaltung

“HAMBURG-AMERIKAN PACKET-Co. S.S. CYCLOP”, violetter, ovaler Stempel auf Dominikanische Republik Ganzsachenkarte 2C. rot mit Zufrankatur und rotem Datumsvermerk “5/11”, datiert “Monte Chruz 5/11 88”, nach Eulau in Böhmen mit vorderseitigem Ankunftsstempel, gute Erhaltung

Provenienz: 310. Heinrich Köhler-Auktion (2000)

“HERCYNIA”, violetter L1 mit handschriftlicher Datumsaufgabe “Pto Plata 19.XI.98" auf Dominikanische Republik Ganzsachenkarte 3 C. blau nach Hamburg, winziger Eckbug, sonst gute Erhaltung

“Seepost D. Präsident 10. Dec. 08.”, violetter L3 auf Briefkuvert mit zwei Einzelwerten 1901 Wappen 5C. rotbraun/lila, diese mit Federkreuz bzw. Ra1 “PAQUEBOT” entwertet, via “KINGSTON JAMAICA DE 16 08” nach Basel, ein attraktiver und seltener Brief, leichte Beförderungsspuren sonst gute Erhaltung