US Stamps Price Scott 9X1 – 5c 1846 New York Postmasters Provisional. Page 17

New York N.Y., 5c Washington, Trial Color Plate Proofs on Bond (9X1TC5). All four of the Scott-listed colors plus an additional example in a slightly different shade of Brown, ample to large margins, fresh and Very Fine group

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 516

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Position 21 with sheet margin at left, slightly in at top, cancelled by blue manuscript “X” and tied by red “U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N. York Oct. 14” route agent’s circular datestamp with matching straightline “Paid” handstamp on 1846 folded letter to Boston, blue manuscript “5” rating, addressee chemically removed from the cover which also affects the postmark, Fine appearing and rare, with 1987 P.F. certificate, fewer than ten New York Provisional covers with this route agent handstamp are known

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 630

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Position 38, ample to full margins and deep shade, cancelled by small cross-hatch pen strokes, red ”RAIL R.” Long Island Railroad route agent’s handstamp with matching “5” and “Paid” straightline handstamps on blue folded letter from James Lenox sent via the Long Island Railroad to Boston, datelined “New York 7 Feb 1846” and signed by Lenox, stamp with some typical light wrinkling, file folds well away from stamp VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL WITH LONG ISLAND RAILROAD MARKINGS. The New York provisional is rare on covers with any type of railroad route agent marking, but this is the only recorded use of the stamp on a cover with Long Island Railroad (LIRR) route agent markings. It was sent in February 1846 by James Lenox to George Dexter in Boston and was carried from New York City through the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel, then by an eastbound LIRR train to Greenport, Long Island, and from there by LIRR steamboats connecting with railroad lines to Boston. A fascinating history of the short-lived Brooklyn-Boston LIRR route is found at http://www.brooklynrail.net/proj_aatunnel.html. This cover fits precisely with the chronology of the LIRR “through route” from New York to Boston via Long Island Sound steamships and feeder lines. Commodore Vanderbilt played a part in this route, which operated from 1844 until 1847. From August 1844 though February 1847 the LIRR owned and operated a small fleet of steamboats: the Cleopatra, the Worcester and the New Haven. These steamboats made the connection across the Long Island Sound between the eastern terminus of the LIRR at Greenport and the Connecticut rail terminals of the Norwich & Worcester Railroad at Allyn’s Point, and the New York, Providence & Boston Railroad at Stonington. In late 1845 the LIRR commissioned the construction of a fourth steamboat, the Atlantic, the fastest, largest and most luxurious steamboat ever built in the U.S. This steamboat was intended for the LIRR’s planned “through route” rail connection to Boston via the Fall River Railroad. However, it was sold to the N&W prior to its completion, as the LIRR’s Fall River link did not occur. The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel is officially the world’s oldest subway tunnel. It was built in 1844 beneath a busy street in the City of Brooklyn (Brooklyn did not become part of New York City until a half-century later). The half-mile long tunnel accommodated two standard gauge railroad tracks. It was constructed in only seven months, using the cut-and-cover method with hand tools and primitive equipment. The tunnel provided grade separation for the previously existing LIRR route on the surface of Atlantic Avenue and eliminated vehicular and pedestrian traffic conflicts and delays. Bob Diamond rediscovered the long forgotten Atlantic Avenue Tunnel in 1980. The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association was formed in 1982 to preserve, publicize and provide public access to the historic tunnel.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 631

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Large margins to just in, tied by red circular grid with matching “Boston 5 cts. 12 Aug.” integral-rate circular datestamp on large part of blue folded cover to New York, Howland & Aspinwall correspondence, manuscript “Post Paid” at lower left, address cut out and replaced as often seen with this correspondence, otherwise Very Fine, scarce use from Boston and desirable with the stamp tied by the red grid

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 632

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Position 13, large margins to just in at upper left, cancelled by red “Paid” in arc, second strike at right, red “Boston 5 cts. 18 Mar.” integral-rate circular datestamp on large part of blue folded cover to New York, Howland & Aspinwall correspondence, manuscript “Post Paid” at lower left, stamp with couple nicks in left margin, address cut out and replaced as often seen with this correspondence, otherwise Very Fine, scarce use from Boston, signed inside by Hiram E. Deats, with 1990 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 633

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Two covers, first Positions 31-32, horizontal pair, showing double-line recut at bottom of left stamp, large margins to slightly in, two bold strikes of red “Paid” arc cancel the stamps, third strike at right, matching “New-York 10 cts. 1 Jan.” integral-rate circular datestamp on folded cover to Fayetteville N.C., minor cover wear and tiny tear does not affect the stamps, second cover also Position 31 with double-line recut at bottom, blue pen cancel ties the stamp, same New York markings but postmarked Apr. 6 on folded cover to Providence R.I., file fold thru stamp, overall Very Fine appearing pair of covers with the prominent double recut from Position 31

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 627

New York N.Y., 5c Black, Large Die Proof on India (Scott 9X1P1). Affixed to 52 x 77mm card, without the scar on the neck and the dot in “P”, albino imprint of half the medallion at bottom, small India paper tear at lower right, still Very Fine and scarce large die proof from the 1845 state of the die

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 506

New York N.Y., 5c Washington, Plate Proofs on Bluish and White Bond (Scott 9X1P). Ten of the Bluish Bond, seven plated and mounted in a part reconstruction of the sheet of nine, three extras (we plated them and they do not fill in the two missing positions), also Positions 4 and 6 on White Bond, large margins, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 507

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Position 13, ample to large margins, cancelled by penstrokes and tied by red “U.S. Express Mail N.Y. N. York Oct. 13” route agent’s circular datestamp with matching straightline “Paid” and “5” rate handstamps on 1846 blue folded letter to Albany N.Y., vertical file fold does not affect the stamp, Extremely Fine and a rare use, fewer than ten New York Provisional covers with this route agent handstamp are known, this example is particularly choice with the clear handstamps and the stamp tied

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 629

New York N.Y., 5c Washington, Small Die Trial Color Proofs on India Paper (Scott 9X1TC2). Two, Deep Blue and Dull Dark Violet, affixed to 38 x 45mm and 38 x 51mm cards, from the 1845 first state of the die with incomplete shading in the forehead and without the scar on the neck and dot in “P”, Very Fine and choice

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 508

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Positions 29-30, horizontal pair, torn from the sheet but with margins just clear all around and with part of adjoining stamp at left, cancelled by blue manuscript pen strokes, “New-York 10 cts. 5 Oct.” integral-rate circular datestamp and matching “Paid” arc handstamp on 1846 folded letter to Mount Vernon O., file fold thru left stamp slightly breaks the paper, otherwise Fine and attractive over-300 miles use

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 623

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Horizontal pair, huge margins and choice centering, particularly bold “ACM” initials, tied by blue manuscript pen stroke, light strikes of “New-York 10 cts. ? Sep.” integral-rate circular datestamp and matching “Paid” arc handstamp on cover to Zanesville O., cover with small corner repairs, left stamp with couple tiny corner nicks from placement near edge, Extremely Fine appearing pair and an attractive cover, ex Seybold with his backstamp

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 624

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Positions 21-22, horizontal pair, just in at lower right, otherwise clear to large margins all around, tied by blue manuscript pen strokes and by “Paid” arc handstamp, matching “New-York 10 cts. 25 Apr.” integral-rate circular datestamp on 1846 folded letter to Richmond, cover with bleaching spots, otherwise Fine, attractive over-300 miles use

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 625

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (9X1). Positions 31/36, vertical pair, showing double-line recuts at bottom and top respectively, cancelled by heavy strokes of blue pen, red “New-York 10 cts. 22 Mar.” integral-rate circular datestamp on folded letter to Macon Ga., file fold thru both stamps causes slight paper split, overall cover wear and non-contemporary pen writing, still a Fine appearing and rare vertical pair of these two distinctive recut positions, vertical pairs are also considerably scarcer than horizontal pairs, with 1987 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as normal pair on cover

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 626

New York N.Y., 5c Black, “ACM” Initials (Scott 9X1). Horizontal pair, large margins to in, cancelled by red “Paid” in arc, matching “New-York 10 cts. 28 Jul.” integral-rate circular datestamp on green 1845 folded letter to Detroit Mich., stamp with small repair at right, appears Very Fine, attractive over-300 miles use, with 1989 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 999, Lot 620