Cost of US Stamps Scott Cat. #116: 1869 10c Pictorial Shield and Eagle. Page 13

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Horizontal strip of four, used with four 2c Brown (113) and tied by cork cancels, light strike of “Newark N.J. Apr. 26” circular datestamp on 1870 cover with printed address to Beirut, Syria, from the Reverend Dennis correspondence with printed route instructions “Via North German Union Closed Mail” at lower left, red “New York Paid All Direct Apr. 30” and Trieste backstamps, red boxed “Bremen Franco 13/5 70” datestamp, clear strike of receiving datestamp (Jun. 6) at lower left, some minor expert repairs at top including part of top flap added VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TEN RECORDED COVERS TO SYRIA BEARING THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN COVER FRANKED FOR THE TRIPLE RATE VIA NORTH GERMAN UNION DIRECT MAIL. ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE 1869 PICTORIAL FRANKINGS EXTANT. ONLY ONE OTHER COVER HAS A 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL STRIP OF FOUR, THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE ON COVER. In his book on the 10c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Michael Laurence notes that the addressee was a Christian evangelist who for many years was part of the American Presbyterian Mission at Beirut. This mission attempted to bring Christianity to the Arab world. In the 1860’s it launched the highly-regarded American University at Beirut. Dennis served as librarian for the mission and corresponded with other missionaries around the world. Of the ten recorded 10c 1869 covers to Syria, two were sent via French Mail and the other eight via German Mail. Five of these eight bear two singles to pay the 20c rate by North German Union Closed Mail. Another bears three singles, and the latest bears one single used with three 10c Bank Note stamps. This is the only cover to Syria with a 10c strip of four. The 48c postage apparently was intended to prepay a quadruple 12c rate, which did not go into effect until three weeks later. Carried aboard the NGL’s America, which departed New York on April 30 and arrived in Bremen on May 13, 1870. With 1994 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 132

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Horizontal pair, used with 2c Brown (113) and tied by cork cancels, “Janesville Wis. Aug. 1” circular datestamp on small 1870 lady’s narrow cover to Jaffna, Ceylon, addressed in purple, red “18” credit handstamp, red “1d” British Colonial credit handstamp, London transit, red “New York Aug. 4” and receiving backstamps, 10c stamps slightly affected from placement near edge of cover incl. left stamp tiny tear VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ON COVER TO CEYLON. The franking pays the 22c rate to Ceylon by British Open Mail via Southampton. It was carried aboard the Cunarder Siberia, which departed New York on Aug. 4, 1870. Illustrated in Laurence 10c 1869 book (p. 113). Ex Juhring and Rose (where it realized $6,500 hammer in our 1997 auction). With 1997 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 131

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Brilliant color, cancelled solely by French Anchor in Diamond of Dots, Very Fine and choice, rare use of this French maritime cancellation on a 10c 1869, probably used on a cover sent by French transatlantic packet between the U.S. and France, ex Saadi, with 1994 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 112

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Vibrant color, cancelled by well-struck crossroads in dashed circle fancy cancel, Very Fine and choice, an unusual cancel

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 111

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Radiant color, cancelled by clear strike of “Hiogo, Japan” double-circle handstamp, Very Fine and choice example of this scarce cancel, the U.S. Post Office opened in Hiogo in 1868, one year after those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, and was in operation until December 1874, the rate was 10c to the U.S., 3c or 6c between Treaty Ports and additional rates to Europe, with 1986 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 114

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Vibrant color, cancelled by sharp and mostly complete strike of “Steamer Costa Rica P.M.S.S.Co.” handstamp, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine and extremely rare, according to Michael Laurence’s book, the Costa Rica carried mails between Yokohama and Shanghai in China, this handstamp is not known used on cover and perhaps three or four are known on the 10c, this is the only sound example we have ever encountered, illustrated in the Laurence 10c 1869 book (p. 294) and Frajola-Scamp-Perlman book (p. 74), ex Saadi, with 1987, 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 113

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Intense shade and impression, cancelled by bold strike of “W” fancy cancel of New Britain Conn., Very Fine and choice, the postmaster of New Britain was Walter Gladden, with 1991 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 110

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Vibrant color, tied by bold strike of quartered cork cancel and “San Francisco Cal. Jul. 30” circular datestamp, second strike at top right on blue 1870 folded letter to St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, neat “New York Aug. 23” circular datestamp, receiving backstamp, light horizontal file fold well away from stamp, fresh and Very Fine, carried on the American and Brazil Steamship Line’s South America, which departed New York on Aug. 23 and arrived in St. Thomas on Aug. 30, with 1999 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 119

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Vibrant color, small corner crease at bottom left, tied by neat strike of unusual cork cancel, “Paterson N.J. May 23” circular datestamp on cover to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, endorsed “By Brazil & N. American Mail Steam Packet” at upper left, receiving backstamp, slightly reduced at right, missing part of top flap, slight overall wear, still Very Fine use of 10c to pay the 10c rate to Brazil by American Packet, carried aboard the South America, which departed New York on May 23 and arrived in Rio de Janeiro on June 19, the steamship line directive is unusual and very desirable, with 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 116

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Three singles, vivid color, tied on small blue piece by “N. York Steamship Jan. 20” circular datestamps, right stamp also tied by part of red transit marking, center stamp faint vertical crease, Extremely Fine strikes of this desirable steamship marking, which was applied to mail entering New York, primarily from South and Central America and the Caribbean, multiple frankings such as this are exceedingly scarce, with 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 115

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Uncancelled, but with some toned perfs effectively tying the stamp to the cover, used with Great Britain 6p Violet (51) and Peru 1d Green (14), latter two tied by bold “C38” in grid, “Callao OC 22, 1871” backstamp on small cover to Nashville Tenn., “Panama OC 30, 1870” transit datestamp and “N.Y. Steamship 10 Nov. 12” integral 10c due datestamp, the G.B. and Peru stamps have slight creases, the 10c small inclusion, small perf tear at top left and small scuff, cover slightly reduced at left VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE THREE-COUNTRY FRANKING, COMBINING THE STAMPS OF PERU, GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES ON AN INBOUND COVER TO NASHVILLE. A PHENOMENAL RARITY. ONLY THREE SUCH COMBINATION COVERS ARE RECORDED. According to Michael Laurence, the Peruvian government required one dinero postage on all letters leaving Peru through foreign post offices. This could be construed as a tax or as a response to losing business to foreign post offices. The 6p British postage paid for its passage from Peru to Panama. The 10c 1869 stamp paid for carriage from Panama to the United States. There are four triple-combination franking covers known with the 1869 Pictorial Issue, all from Peru. One other with the same franking is known (Smithsonian National Postal Museum collection), on which the 10c stamp was cancelled on arrival in New York. Another triple-combination franking with the 30c 1869 is part of the Hirzel Collection in the Swiss Museum in Berne. The third triple-combination franking (with a 10c 1869) realized $70,000 hammer in our 1997 Rarities of the World auction. There is disagreement among experts as to whether the 10c stamp originated on this cover or replaced a missing stamp. According to the Laurence 10c book, several other triple-combination covers with Bank Note stamps are known from this same correspondence. However, the New York Steamship marking incorporates the 10c due marking, and the stamp was not cancelled on arrival. Mr. Laurence surmises that the original 10c may have fallen off during transit, the U.S. postage portion was marked unpaid, and the 10c stamp was added at a later date. However, the physical evidence indicates that the 10c stamp might have originated. The toning around the 10c perforations effectively tie it to the cover, and the inside shows similar gum toning from the three stamps. Ex Hughes and Krug. This item received a negative P.F. certificate many years ago. However, it is signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook, who considered it to be genuine in every respect, and it is accompanied by a 1991 P.S.E. certificate indicating that noted postal historians Richard Frajola and Calvet M. Hahn had examined the cover and also considered it genuine. Our estimate acknowledges this past controversy, and the cover is offered with full disclosure.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 118

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Vertical pair, deep rich color, tied by bold strikes of circle of wedges cancels and “New-York Sep. 30 (1869)” circular datestamp on cover to U.S. Steamer Seminole in Aspinwall, Panama, additional strike of “New York Oct. 1” circular datestamp below stamps, fresh and Fine, carried on PMSC Arizona

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 117

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Vibrant color, well-proportioned margins, tied by clear strike of quartered cork cancel, “San Francisco Cal. Feb. 22” circular datestamp on 1870 folded letter to Bordeaux, France, red “New York Mar. 3” and Havre transit handstamps, bold “8” decimes due handstamp, Paris and receiving backstamps, light horizontal file fold well away from stamp, fresh and Very Fine, prepaid 10c to the French border and 8 decimes due from addressee, a rare Ruger America Line cover carried on the Ocean Queen, which departed New York on March 3 and arrived in Havre on March 19, ex Gibson

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 123

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Horizontal strip of three, bright color, tied by neat strikes of unusual segmented cork cancel, magenta “Philadelphia Paid 12 Aug. 10” credit datestamp on 1869 cover to Dinard, France, small blue boxed “PD” handstamp and Calais transit, Paris and receiving backstamps, some soiling around perf tips from gum, right stamp small corner crease at top right, slightly reduced at left where small tear, still attractive and Very Fine double-rate franking, carried aboard the Cunarder Russia, which departed New York Aug. 11, especially desirable with the magenta Philadelphia exchange office marking

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 122

10c Yellow (Scott 116). Deep rich color, tied by blue negative Flower Petals cancel, matching “Cannelton In. Jul. 25” circular datestamp on buff 1870 cover to Frankfurt, Germany, unusual as this was missent to Frankfort Ky., neat strike of blue “Frankfort Ky. Jul. 27” circular datestamp, red “New York Paid All Br. Transit Jul. 30” transit circular datestamp, receiving backstamp VERY FINE. THE BLUE FLOWER PETALS FANCY CANCEL AND UNUSUAL MISSENT USE COMBINE TO FORM A REMARKABLE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL COVER. The franking pays the 10c rate via North German Union Closed Mail, which was effective starting July 1870. Carried on the Inman’s City of Paris, which departed New York on July 30. With 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 1004, Lot 125