386th Auction

1883, 10 Kreuzer im 3er-Block, mit EKr. "TRIEST 6 9 84" auf Briefkuvert nach Bangkok, geleitet über Udine (7.9.), Brindisi (8.9.), Neapel (11.9.), Brindisi (20.9.) und San Francisco (4.12.) mit nebengesetztem "MISSENT TO SAN FRANCISCO". Ein seltener Brief aus der bekannten Grassi-Korrespondenz.

 

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.

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

1861, Jackson 2C. schwarz, farbfrisch, sauber mit Korkstempel auf Drucksache mit Hinweis “open printed sheet” sowie großem Handstempel “½” von New York (angewendet infolge der Verhandlungen zwischen Deutschland und den USA Ende 1866/Anfang 1867, in denen die Tarife für Drucksachen über die GAPU hinaus festgelegt und die US-Gutschriften pro Sendung festgelegt wurden) nach Bremen mit blauem L3  “AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO”, die Marke unauffällig verkürzte Zähne, sonst tadellos, eine schöne und seltene Frankatur

1861, Jackson 2C. schwarz, farbfrisch, sauber L1 “PAID ALL” und zusätzlichem Korkstempel auf Drucksache mit Leitvermerk “pr Str. New York” nach Bremen mit blauem L3 “AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO”, die Marke unauffällig verkürzte Zähne, sonst tadellos, eine schöne und seltene Frankatur

1861, Washington 3c. rot (oxydiert), straight edge, sauber mit Korkstempel und nebengesetztem Aufgabestempel “LOCKPORT SEP 1 1864” auf Briefkuvert “Poste Restante” nach Berlin, dort nicht zustellbar und nachgesandt nach Breslau. Die US-Frankatur deckte nur das US-Porto ab, entsprechend in New York mit “15” und später in blau mit “6½” belastet, vorderseitig DKr. “Entlastet Berlin 20 9”, der Brief stärker gereinigt, dabei die Marke winzig replaziert, ein interessanter Brief, Befund Holcombe (1995)

1861, Washington 10C. grün, zwei Einzelwerte, je farbfrisch und meist gut gezähnt, sauber mit EKr. “NEW ORLEANS JUL 25” auf Faltbrief mit Leitvermerk “Via Bremen” mit rotem EKr. “N. YORK HAMBURG PAID AUG 3” nach Bern, die rechte Marke durch Randklebung etwas bestoßene Zähne, sonst in schöner und ursprünglicher Brief in guter Erhaltung

1867, Washington 10C. grün mit Waffeleinpressung, waagerechtes Paar, farbfrisch und meist gut gezähnt, sauber mit Korkstempel auf Briefkuvert, privat aus Havanna befördert mit rückseitigem Absenderstempel “L WILL & CO HAVANA.”, mit Leitvermerk “via New York per next Hamb. or Bremen Steamer” nach Jena, nebengesetzt roter EKr. “NEW YORK PAID ALL Br. TRANSIT APR 22” sowie roter L4 “VERVIERS . A  4.5. COELN FRANCO”, winzig fleckig, die linke obere Marke kleine Kerbe oben, sonst in schöner und ursprünglicher Brief in guter Erhaltung

1861, Washington 12C. schwarz, farbfrisch, mit Korkstempel und rotem L1 “PAID” als Zufrankatur auf Ganzsachenumschlag 3C. pink von Nebraska mit Leitvermerk “First Steamer via Bremen or Hamburg” mit blauem L3 “AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO” nach Großenenglis bei Borken, die Marke unauffällige Mängel, die rückseitige Klappe fehlt, sonst in guter und attraktiver Erhaltung

1869, Pictorial 10C. gelborange, farbfrisch und gut gezähnt, sauber mit Korkstempel auf Faltbriefhülle mit Leitvermerk “per Str. Rhein” via New York mit rotem EKr. “NEW YORK PAID ALL DIRECT JAN 1” und Bremen mit rotem Ra3 “BREMEN 12/1 70 FRANCO” nach Gotha mit Ankunftsstempel, gute Erhaltung (Scott 116)

1853, Swarts" City Dispatch Post New York 1C. rot, farbfrisch, teils gerissen statt geschnitten, sauber mit Korkstempel auf händisch gefaltetem, quadratischem Briefkuvert über Liverpool mit rückseitigem grünen Ra5 “LIVERPOOL SHIP AP 7 1852” sowie Bremen mit vorderseitig rotem L2 “9 4/12 ENGLAND ÜBER BREMEN” nach Lamstedt im Königreich Hannover, leichte Alters- und Beförderungsspuren, ein schöner und seltener Brief

Provenienz: David Golden (Robert A. Siegel, 1999)

1855, Boyd's City Express 2C. grün, links winzig berührt, sonst meist breitrandig, mit Abgangsstempel “NEW YORK U.S. PKT. 9 MAR 24” auf Briefkuvert mit Leitvermerk “Steamer Hermann” über Bremen mit rotem L3 “5 ⅓ ggr. AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN”, diese Taxe nochmals in Rötel vermerkt, nach Nordleda, Amt Otterndorf, Königreich Hannover, mit Ankunftsstempel von Otterndorf, die Marke kleiner Eckbug, das Kuvert gering unfrisch, ein insgesamt schöner und ungewöhnlicher Brief mit seltenem Stempel

Provenienz: 3. Till Neumann Auktion (2009)

1926: Erstflug US-Argentinien, Brief nach Buenos Aires mit USA Ausgabe und Mischfrankatur Argentinien, der Umschlag mit leichten Beförderungsspuren, sonst in guter Erhaltung, selten

1926: First flight US-Argentina, cover to Buenos Aires with USA issues and mixed franking Argentina, the envelope with light transportation traces, still fine, rare

1926/27: “FIRST PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT” Brief des Rundfluges mit 13 verschiedenen Länderfrankaturen für die einzelnen Stationen des gesamten ´Good Will´ Flug nach San Antonio, Texas, adressiert an “Capt. C. F. Woolsey”, ohne die Unterschriften der Piloten, der Umschlag mit senkrechter Bug. Dieser Beleg wurde mit dem zweiten Flugzeug des Fluges befördet, das mit dem Flugzeug des Piloten Dargue kollidierte, die meisten bekannten Belege stammen aus dem letzteren. Eine Rarität in sehr gute Gesamterhaltung, in dieser Art sehr selten (AAM-Nr. 568a)

1926/27: “FIRST PAN AMERICAN FLIGHT”, roundtrip flight with 13 adhesives from different countries for the different stops of the `Good Will´ flight, on the inside the signatures of the pilots and crew members as well as two different flight cachets. This cover travelled via the second plane of the flight which collided with pilot Dargue´s plane, most of the mail known comes from the latter. Only a few covers recorded, a rarity in very fine condition (AAM-Nr. 568a)