Cost of US Stamps Scott Catalog # 1: 5c 1847 Benjamin Franklin. Page 109

5c Deep Brown, Dot in “S” (1 var). Large margins to full, unusual shade, additional dot in margin above “T” of “POST”, tied by face-free strike of blue circular datestamp, second strike of blue “Philada Pa. 5cts. Nov. 27” integral-rate circular datestamp on buff cover to Saucon Valley P.O. Pa., slight edgewear, Very Fine example of this scarce shade, this plate variety is known to occur in the ninth vertical row of the left pane and varies in intensity from top to bottom with the top positions more pronounced, ex Brown, with 1991 note from Dr. Amonette on back confirming shade

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 187

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Large to full margins, bright color and early impression, tied by red square grid, matching “New-York 5cts. 15 Jul.” (1847) circular datestamp on front only with full bottom flap to Ballymena, Ireland, blue “Gracehill/Ballymena” two-line handstamp, red London and blue “Ballymena JY 30, 1847” year-dated backstamps, “1/-” shilling due handstamp, piece out at top, expertly silked VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS REMARKABLE ITEM IS THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE TRANSATLANTIC USE OF THE 1847 ISSUE, AND IT IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 1847 STAMPS USED TO IRELAND. The 5c and 10c 1847 Issue stamps were issued on July 1, 1847. The earliest documented use is a domestic cover dated July 2 at New York City. At this time, the Cunard sailings were twice monthly. The first July 1847 sailing was the Cambria from Boston on the first day of the month. It was not possible for any 1847 Issue stamps to be used on that voyage, because Boston did not receive their supply of 1847 stamps until the following day. The next Cunarder to sail was the Caledonia, which left Boston on July 16. The cover offered here was posted in New York on July 15 and made it to Boston in time for the sailing the next day. Only two others are known carried on this voyage — one bearing a single 5c used from New York to Liverpool which lacks a town mark and is dated from the contents and one bearing a 10c stamp used from Philadelphia on July 14 to Liverpool (offered in this sale as lot 176). Accompanied by Mekeels article from 1996 by Jerome S. Wagshal describing the use. With 1990 P.F. certificate stating that “it is a genuine usage on a part outer address sheet and the earliest possible trans-atlantic usage of this stamp.”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 177

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at bottom, full margin at top, tied by pencil “X” on folded printed Prices Current datelined “Charleston, Saturday, November 30, 1850” to Greenock, Scotland, manuscript “p Br. Steamer 4th Dec.” and carried aboard the Cunarder Niagara, Liverpool and receiving backstamps, manuscript “2” and “printed sheet” at lower left, stamp with faint creasing not mentioned on accompanying certificate VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY REPORTED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE USED TO PAY THE 2-CENT PRINTED MATTER RATE TO GREAT BRITAIN. Following the Retaliatory Rate period, the United States and Great Britain signed a treaty on December 15, 1848 (effective Feb. 15, 1849) providing for charges for carriage and delivery. The circular rate was set at 2c for U.S., so this cover represents an overpayment of 3c of the rate. The manuscript “2” on the cover represents 2 pence due for the British circular rate. Ex Hart. With 1991 P.F. certificate stating that this is “overpaying the 2c circular rate set by the US-GB treaty of 12/15/48”.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 178

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Large margins to full, tied by blue “Philada Pa. 5cts. Dec. 6” integral-rate circular datestamp, second strike at right on buff cover to “Miss Benjaline French, North 7th St. above Poplar, Westside, Philadelphia”, light stain from wax seal VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1847 ISSUE ON A COVER OSTENSIBLY MAILED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF PHILADELPHIA, BUT ADDRESSED OUTSIDE THE OLD CITY BOUNDARY PRIOR TO THE CONSOLIDATION OF 1854. FOUR SUCH COVERS ARE KNOWN, ALL ADDRESSED TO MISS BENJALINE FRENCH. In a two-part Chronicle article by Dr. Vernon R. Morris, Jr. (Nos. 199-200), he presents a convincing theory that the covers addressed to Benjaline French were not overpaid drop letters, as previously thought, but were addressed beyond the limits of the old city of Philadelphia, prior to the Consolidation Act of 1854. Therefore, the 5c inter-city rate was required. Ex Ashbrook and Rust. With 1992 P.F. certificate declining opinion as to whether the stamp also prepaid the carrier fee

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 179

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). With recut left frameline, huge margins including part of two adjoining stamps, tied by blue grid and matching “Philada. Pa. 5cts. Jun. 20” integral-rate circular datestamp on folded cover to New York, used with Blood’s City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., 1c Bronze on Black Glazed (15L13), not tied, 5c insignificant corner crease at bottom right, Extremely Fine appearance, a beautiful use of the recut frameline variety with a Blood’s local stamp, the recipient is listed in the city directory as an auctioneer

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 150

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). With recut left frameline, full margins to clear at bottom, pretty shade, neat strike of blue grid cancel, light age spotting at top, faint diagonal crease, Fine appearing example of this variety

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 155

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). With recut left frameline, three large margins, clear to just in at bottom, tied by blue grid, matching “Utica N.Y. JU 12” oval datestamp on blue 1848 folded cover to New York, unusual mark at right where possibly second stamp was placed, Fine example of the recut frameline variety

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 151

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). With recut left frameline, ample margins, tied by blue “5” in oval handstamp, matching “Baltimore Md. Sep. 3” circular datestamp on front only to Bel Air Md., minor age spotting barely affects stamp, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 152

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). With recut left frameline and extension of bottom frameline,, large margins to clear, bright shade, tied by blue “5” in oval, matching “Baltimore Md. Jan. 19” circular datestamp on cover to Frederick Md., some slight soiling, otherwise Fine, a fascinating plate variety, ex Rust

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 153

5c Orange Brown (Scott 1b). With recut left frameline, large margins, brilliant color, neat strike of blue grid cancel, accompanying certificate notes “tiny stain removed at bottom right” which we do not detect, Extremely Fine, a rare example of the Orange Brown with recut frameline, with 1985 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 154

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Horizontal pair, right stamp has recut left frameline, large margins including part of adjoining stamp at top left, rich color, bold strikes of red grid cancel, left (normal) stamp vertical crease ending in small tear at bottom, the righthand stamp (the recut variety) is Very Fine, a handsome example of the recut variety in pair with normal, the presence of part of the adjoining stamp at top rules out this position coming from the top row of the plate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 148

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Horizontal pair, right stamp recut left frameline, large margins to ample at bottom right, tied by single manuscript “X” and blue “Chestertown Md.” circular datestamp on small piece, tiny toned spot at top right, otherwise Fine-Very Fine example of the recut frameline variety

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 149

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Full margins to clear, cancelled by black grid handstamp struck four times, matching “Alexandria D.C. Nov. 10” circular datestamp on folded letter to Staunton Va., dated 1847 in contents and 1848 on docketing (one would think that by November there wouldn’t be a question as to the year), vertical file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine, scarce with the Alexandria D.C. designation and cancelled in black, the Alexander book records only five with the “D.C. before the marking was changed to reflect Virginia and only three are confirmed as cancelled in black, illustrated in Alexander book on p. 787

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 191

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Large margins to clear, tied by blue “Philada. Pa. 10cts. Oct. 16” integral-rate circular datestamp, second strike at left, on 1848 folded letter to Northampton Mass., small central stain from wax seal, Very Fine, unusual with the 10c integral-rate marking on a cover bearing a single 5c stamp, Northampton is less than 300 miles from Philadelphia and only required the 5c for postage

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 192

5c Red Brown (Scott 1). Huge margins to clear including sheet margin at left, tied by neat manuscript “X”, black “Indiana Pa. Jan. 17” circular datestamp on 1849 folded letter to Huntingdon Pa., fresh and Very Fine, this cover is unlisted in the Alexander book and becomes the only recorded usage of the 1847 Issue from Indiana Pa.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 193