The Classic Cancel

Item #	Description	Price
c342	#10A, fine, bright 3+ margin copy, just in at top left, sound, tied by VF strike of "WAY 5" rate marking used as killer on VF intact FLS New York to Baltimore, MD with commercial letter datelined September 4, 1851. The letter mentions the use of telegraph to communicate between correspondents. Scarce marking on this stamp (Scott premium for this, $150).	SOLD
c343	#10A, two fine, sound copies, each tied by strike of red circled grid killer and strikes of black "WAY" transit mark (plus one additional off-stamp strike) on VF external FLS (no content) to Georgetown, D.C. A wonderful early usage of the 3 cent 1851 issue stamps.	SOLD
c344	#11, sound 4 margin copy with "X" manuscript cancel plus postmaster's Washington portrait doodling on VF intact envelope with manuscript Andover, VT postmark (DPO Windsor County 1823-1937). Scarce and unusual.	SOLD
c345	#24, F+ fresh copy, tiny fault, tied by an XF strike of red BRIDGEWATER, Ms. JUL 14 1858 postmark (Plymouth County 1831-) on XF intact envelope to Templeton, Mass. A cover with exceptional eye appeal!	$100
c346	#26, fine, faults, bearing a superb SOTN strike of circled screw head fancy killer with XF WEST GLOUCESTER Mass JAN 3 postmark on unreduced cover to Lee, MA, a very early use from this town (DPO Essex County 1858-1903, R5 scarcity). Cancel is listed and illustrated on p. 138-9 of Alexander.	$50
c347	#26, F+ copy with manuscript cancel including outlining of Washington's profile on intact small lady's cover, small tear at top, stamp not tied, manuscript W. Sutton, Mass. Sep 13 postmark (DPO Worcester County, 1828-1901, R5 scarcity), sent to Danvers, MA. Unusual artistic cancellation scribbling by the postmaster, scarce town.	SOLD
c305	#7, F+, sound type II plate one early impression, bright stamp with great color, tied by VF strike of scarce "NEW-YORK 1 ct JAN 2" postmark on XF FLS. This commercial note datelined "Manchester [England] 19th December 1851" was carried outside the mails, traveling on Cunard steamer "Africa" departing Liverpool 20 DEC 51, arriving New York 2 JAN 52, where it was then delivered to the post office. Although there are no other markings, I suspect that the drop rate postage was applied and paid out of the recipient's account with the post office. An exceptionally attractive and unusual usage.	SOLD
c325	#11A, plate margin copy, minor faults, tied by NEW YORK SHIP 7 cts APR 12 [1853] ship letter postmark on intact cover (small fault at upper left) from Greece to Union Springs, N.Y. Cover front bears a black 27 January (Greek calendar, i.e., February 8) postmark from Syros, a Greek island 78 nautical miles southeast of Athens. Cover departed February 11, 1853 aboard the French Line Du Levant steamer Caire, arriving Marseilles 19 February. Letter arrived at Paris 21 February (red 21 FEV 53 Greece Marseilles entry marking, and red boxed PD, indicating that the letter was accepted fully paid to its destination). The reverse bears a red BUREAU MARITIME HAVRE 22 FEV 53 receiver. Cover departs Havre 27 February on sailing packet St. Denis, arriving in New York 11 April 1853 (evening). The preceding itinerary information and the following additional observations are from a notable postal historian in 2005: (1) no mail from Greece this early had previously been seen, making this a very scarce item; (2) the NY post office ignored the 3¢ adhesive, apparently applied when mailed, charging 7¢ (2¢ ship fee plus 5¢ unpaid inland postage); (3) this was the latest known use of this ship letter marking. The cover has a 2023 PFC. A wonderful and rare inbound transatlantic cover with 1851 issue adhesive and a great exhibit item.	SOLD
c316	#10A, F+ sound copy, SOTN metal circular grid 7-bar killer just ties to VF intact embossed lady's cover, LEOMINSTER Ms. DEC 29 postmark and matching "PAID" vertically positioned to left of the adhesive. The stamp is the extremely scarce copperish orange brown variety (Scott catalog $1100 on cover) as verified by its 73R2E position, this variety only occurring on plate 2E. 2023 PFC, "GENUINE USE". Terrific.	~~$650~~ $550
c306	#11A, fine sound copy, tied by an XF strike of circular 6x6 blue grid killer with XF matching blue NORWICH & WORCESTER-R-R APR 27 [1854] postmark (Remele N23, Towle & Meyer 81-A-1) on XF, fresh FLS to Springfield, Mass. A beautiful example of this early railroad marking.	SOLD
c324	#11A, fair sound copy, tied by balloon WATERBURY CT. OCT 15 postmark with second smaller WATERBURY Ct. OCT 15 postmark on VF intact cover to Wolcott, CT. Very unusual to find more than a single, same-dated, same town postmark on a cover.	SOLD
c317	#24, F-VF, sound, tied by VF-XF strike of "NEW PAID YORK SEP 2" circular mail postmark on intact hand made wrapper made from embossed stationery, sent to Franklin, NH. Scarce usage.	~~$50~~ $45
c320	#26, VF+ sound copy, tied by a superb SOTN strike of double ring geometric killer with POLAND O. NOV 12 postmark (DPO Mahoning, Ohio 1804-1955) on XF fresh small cover to Kinsman, OH. Killer unlisted in major references. An absolutely exquisite 3¢ 1857 issue fancy cancellation cover.	SOLD
c309	#26, VF-XF sound stamp tied by unusual circular screw-head killer (unlisted in major references) on XF fresh small cover with VF strike of PULTNEYVILLE, NY postmark. Great item.	~~$60~~ $50
c292	#11A, VF, sound brownish carmine color stamp tied by blue PHILADELPHIA PA. MAR 10 [1852] postmark on VF FLS (commercial letter to Trenton, NJ) with F+, sound #L02 U.S. P.O. DESPATCH local. Notably both the local and the 3¢ stamp are canceled by the red star killer, most frequently only struck on the local. FLS has vertical file fold not affecting adhesives. A very attractive use of the L02 local.	SOLD
c221	#19, 1¢ type 1a 1857 issue, fine, fresh, bright color, tied by an XF strike of large Boston PAID in grid killer with red BOSTON MASS 9 NOV (1857) postmark on VF intact folded Faneuil Hall Bank cashier form. 2021 PFC: "Single, plate 4 relief F, with flaw below the "U" of "U.S." on bank form, tied by large "PAID" in grid, red Boston Mass. 9 NOV Pmk. It is a genuine usage, the stamp with a small facial scuff at bottom center." The scuff is just below the "E" of "CENT" (enlarged stamp scan) and is barely visible when the cover is viewed as a whole. A beautiful example of a rare cover, Scott 2022 catalog $10,500, and a real bargain for the collector who can accept a small flaw. (See recent major auction realizations for comparable covers and stamps.)	SOLD
c199	#11A, VF, close at top, small corner crease at upper left, tied by bold manuscript cancel on VF intact cover with "East Berlin, May 23d" postmark. Additionally, the postmaster has comically outlined Washington's face and eye on the stamp, creating an impressive image. Finding covers with this artistic treatment is very difficult. I could locate in auction only a single example (Siegel Auction 783, 10/29/96, lot 272, Scott #10 postmarked Suffolk C.H., NY, part of the Dr. W. F. Amonette Collection, realizing $300 + commission). The offered example has particular eye appeal. A very exhibitable cover. (Owners note: "The 1876 Postal Guide lists East Berlin PO in Hartford Co., CT as well as one in Adams Co., PA. Curiously, Helbock only lists the PO in PA.")	SOLD
c025	#11A, fine, tied by an XF strike of blue "PAID" in rectangular frame with integral square grid/shield killer (Skinner-Eno SD-G 108), VF matching BUCKSPORT Me. JUN 7 (1852) circular dates tamp on clean FLS to Rockland, ME. FLS has mild vertical bend in middle affecting nothing. Letter is datelined June 6 from a student to his father requesting money to pay bills. Also discusses a fire on Orphan's Island that has burned for 4-5 days, consuming much wood and two houses. A terrific example of this scarce and popular fancy PAID killer.	SOLD

Off Cover Stamps

Early Issues

1861-67 and 1869 Issues

Banknote Issues

Stationery, Cards, Other

Postage Due