386th Auction

1879, Turkey 1 Pia. yellow pair (1875 issue), one diagonally bisect tied by "POSTE EGIZIANE SUEZ 1/MAI/79" blue cds. to piece at arrival. J.v. Uexkull writes in his book "The postal history of Saudi Arabia" : "Sometimes mail from Jeddah was posted on board the steamer to Suez without going throuh the Jeddah Post Office. Such items were either cancelled in ink on board the steamer and then postmarked in Suez or left uncancelled" (page 37), fine and fresh, a unique bisect usage of an ottoman Duloz issue in Saudi Arabia!

1907, YANBO UL BAHR c.d.s. (Coles-Walker no.37) on Turkey 1 Piaster postal stationery envelope to Egypt with Suez transit mark on reverse, tiny shortened at right, otherwise fine, mounted on exhibition page, showpiece 

1917, MEDINA: bilingual "SAHRA POSTASI 28" cds. (Uexkull fig.85) on registered fieldpost envelope to Constantinople showing on front "MUAYENE EDILMISDIR MEDINE-I MÜNEVVERE ASKERI SANSÜRLÜGÜ" military censor (Uexkull fig.86), tiny spots and crease, this is one of three recorded fieldpost from Medina and the only registered usage, fine. Unquestionably one of the icons of classic Ottoman & Saudi Arabia postal history. Certificate Nakri (2014)

1902, “MEDINE-I MÜNEVVERE” bilingual cds. (Uexkull fig.78, 3.000) very scarce 5 pia. plus 1 pia. rate for registered envelope with return receipt to Constantinople, some spots and minor faults, this is the highest rate we have recorded in PROFI for this period from Saudi Arabia, still fine and very scarce.

Provenienz: Dr. Esmer Coll. (Köhler 2017)

1923, 5 c.- 1 p., each in strip of five, resp. 6 copies of 50 c. (one damaged) and 1 p., together with 5 p., 3 p. and 2 p., the later in strip of 3 , tied by red c.d.s. of 25.6.1923 to large package piece. Small faults but outstanding and unique. Certificate Moorhouse (2016)

1949, Surcharge on North East Province, 10 c. on $44 red, commercial cover with vertical strip of four clear cancelled (4.sep.1950) and with arrival mark on reverse, some crease, a very scarce franking of three star issue

1949, China North East Province 20 c. on $44 red, vertical strip of four, overprinted issue on commercial cover used registered, clear cancelled (15.apr.1950) and arrival mark, some crease, otherwise fine and very scarce

1949, China North East Province overprinted issue 30 c. on $44 red and 50 c. on $44 red, on registered commercial cover, both clear cancelled and with arrival mark on reverse, tiny border crease, otherwise fine, an extremely scarce mix franking of three star issue, showpiece!

1902, Battambang Provisional, 2a. on 3a. red/blue, fresh colour and very well centered, unused with full original gum, minimal thin spot, a rare and attractive stamp, certificate Siam Stamp Expert Committee (1995; for a pair) (SG 88)

1918, Victory 2 s. – 5 b., unused with o.g., fine and scarce

1859, 60 c. grey slate, wide to large balanced margins, deep shade, tied by mute Salto "scarab" to cover to Montevideo,"RENTA DE CORREOS SALTA 10/DCE/1859" c.d.s. alongside, light file fold, tiny border crease, otherwise fine and attractive, (Scott #7a) signed H. C. Gibson 

1860, Thick figures 60 c. dull grey lilac, three single examples with mostly large margins, tied by Montevideo cds. to entire letter to Buenos Ayres, endorsed ‘Par Mississippi’. Transported Of the River Plate Line. One stamp crossed by file fold, not affecting the fine appearance of this scarce cover. Certificate Hernandez Rocha (2009) (Scott 13a)

1861, Thick figures 120 c. blue, fresh color and wide margins all around, tied by oval cancel “MONTEVIDEO 24 ABRIL 1861” to folded lettersheet endorsed “pr. Constitucion” to Buenos Aires, lettersheet small reinforced tear at top, otherwise fine, signed Bolaffi and certificate Rocha (2016)

1845, Washington 5c. black, used with straight-line “PAID”, Sperati forgery, fine, certificate PF (2002)

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.