US Stamp Prices Scott 11X5: 1846 10c St Louis Postmasters Provisional. Page 1

St. Louis, Missouri, 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type III, Position 6, full margins, intense shade, cancelled solely by neat strike of red circular datestamp VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS “BEARS” POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER. With 1976 and 2003 P.F. certificates. Scott value is for a normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover (footnote states: “Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp-cancelled copies sell for much more.”)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2015, Sale 1106, Lot 3011

St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ black on gray lilac (Scott 11X5), two penstroke lightened manuscript cancellations, lovely example of this incredibly popular St. Louis Bear, Position #6 with nice margins on three sides, just touching frame line at left; one of the more pleasing examples available to collectors and dealers alike; faint diagonal crease at upper left, otherwise Fine, 2013 A.P.S. certificate. Scott $10,000. Estimate value $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2015, Sale 669, Lot 2335

St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ black on gray lilac (Scott 11X5), lightly pen canceled, type II. position 4; small faults, Fine appearance, 2014 P.S.E. certificate. Scott $10,000. Estimate value $2,000 – 3,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jan 2015, Sale 663, Lot 1200

St. Louis, Missouri, 10c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X5). Type 2, Position 4, full to large margins, cancelled solely by light strike of red circular datestamp, slightly toned, thin spot and tiny tear VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN APPEALING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON GREENISH PAPER, CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED TOWN DATESTAMP. Examples of the St. Louis Postmaster Provisionals without pen cancellation are extremely desirable.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2014, Sale 1067, Lot 843

St. Louis, Missouri, 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type I, Position 2, large even margins all around, cancelled solely by red St. Louis circular datestamp, bright and fresh EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS “BEARS” POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST EXAMPLE IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT. With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $8,000.00 for normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover (footnote states: “Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp cancelled copies sell for much more.”)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2013, Sale 1062, Lot 22

o U.S.; Postmasters’ Provisionals St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ Black on Gray Lilac, #11X5. Very light ms. cancel, 3 margins, scarce item, Fine, PF (1961) cert. Scott $8,000. Estimate $2,500-2,800.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2012, Sale 94, Lot 958

St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type III, Position 6, large margins all around, cancelled solely by light strike of red circular datestamp, two thin spots, some overall toning, small fault at top EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER. Last offered to the market in a 1970’s Siegel sale. Scott value is for a normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover (footnote states: “Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp cancelled copies sell for much more.”)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 48

St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X5). Type III, Position 6, large margins to clear at lower right, tied by manuscript cancel on 1846 folded letter to Galena Ill., red “St. Louis Mo. Oct. 20” circular datestamp and matching “PAID” handstamp, faint vertical file fold well away from stamp VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COVER WITH THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC. Approximately two dozen covers are known with No. 11X5, including seven multiples or used with other stamps, leaving about 17 single frankings. Galena was more than 300 miles from St. Louis, so this 10c stamp pays the over-300 miles rate between midwestern post offices. With 1966 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 49

St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type III, Position 6, large margins to full, cancelled solely by unobtrusive strike of red circular datestamp at lower right VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPL E OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER. DESIRABLE WITHOUT THE USUAL PEN CANCELLATION. Scott value is for a normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover (footnote states: “Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp cancelled copies sell for much more.”)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 46

St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (11X5). Type II, Position 4, clear margins all around, intense shade and impression, cancelled solely by red St. Louis circular datestamp, tiny scissors-cut mostly in margin at lower left not mentioned on accompanying certificate VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE RED CIRCULAR DATESTAMP. With 1961 P.F. certificate. Scott value is for a normally pen-cancelled stamp off cover (footnote states: “Values for used off-cover stamps are for pen-cancelled copies. Handstamp cancelled copies sell for much more.”)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 47

o St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ black on gray lilac (11X5), type I, position 3, small margins to just touching, neatly canceled soley by red St. Louis c.d.s.; miniscule corner crease at lower right (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Fine and quite attractive. Scott $8,000 A MOST ATTRACTIVE, VIRTUALLY SOUND USED EXAMPLE WITHOUT THE USUAL PEN CANCEL. Expertization: clear 1985 PF Certificate. Provenance: Maffeo.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 16

St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X5). Type II, Position 4, three full margins, clear to slightly in at right, without pen cancellation and tied by the red “St. Louis Mo. Feb. 27” (1846) circular datestamp with matching “Paid” handstamp and manuscript “10” rate on light greenish folded letter datelined “Saint Louis Feb. 26, 1846” from Loker Renick & Co. to Charnley & Whelen in Philadelphia, light file fold at bottom VERY FINE. THIS FEBRUARY 27, 1846, POSTMARK DATE IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED ON A FULL COVER BEARING ANY OF THE ST. LOUIS “BEARS” STAMPS PRINTED FROM THE ALTERED PLATE ON GRAY LILAC PAPER. AN IMPORTANT POSTMASTERS’ PROVISIONAL COVER IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION. The original plate of six subjects used to print the St. Louis “Bears” provisional stamps comprised three 5c and three 10c stamps. The first printing from this plate was made exclusively on Greenish paper and issued in early November 1845. Shortly after, two of the 5c subjects (Positions 1 and 3) were altered by burnishing out the “5” numeral on each and engraving a “20” in its place. Impressions from the altered plate containing two 20c subjects was made almost exclusively on Gray Lilac paper. The cover offered here is the earliest cover bearing a St. Louis “Bears” stamp on Gray Lilac paper (and from the altered plate), clearly postmarked February 27 (1846). There are a few stamps off cover with slightly earlier February dates, which could be 1846 or 1847. Signed Ashbrook. Illustrated and described in Opinions IV, “An Important Change in Philatelic Foundation Policy: Certification of Earliest Known Date of Use”, Jerome S. Wagshal (pages 42-60). Ex “Charnley & Whelen Find” (H. R. Harmer sale, Dec. 13, 1948, lot 28) and John D. Pope III (John A. Fox sale, Dec. 1, 1984, lot 56). With 1985 P.F. certificate stating “It is genuine. The earliest recorded use of the Gray Lilac paper known to date.”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2010, Sale 993, Lot 10

St. Louis Mo., 10c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X5). Type II, Position 4, large even margins, two neat penstroke cancels, distinctive slip print showing doubling of portions of the design, tiny margin tear at right is really insignificant EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL SHOWING A DISTINCTIVE SLIP PRINT. Ex Pope (where acquired by the present owner more than 20 years ago). With 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4066

St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ black on gray lilac (11X5), vertical strip of three, types I-II-III, positions 2/4/6 constituting the right half of the sheet, mostly enormous margins all around, except just touching the outer frameline at top left corner, barely perceptible crease at bottom right of bottom stamp, top stamp tied by two pen strokes, bottom pair tied by well struck red “St. Louis Mo. Mar 7” c.d.s. on 1846 Charnley & Whelan correspondence folded letter to Philadelphia Pa., bold matching “Paid” handstamp and manuscript “30” (cents) triple rating, Very Fine and rare. Scott price $42,500 ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED USAGES BEARING A ST. LOUIS 10¢ GRAY LILAC PAPER VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE. Expertization: “W.H.C.” (Weill) handstamp, 1989 P.F. Certificate. Provenance: Consul Klep, “Texas Collection”, Weill Brothers, J.R. Hill Jr. Census No. 75 from the Bennett listing of St. Louis Bears used on cover in the Faiman catalog.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2007, Sale 324, Lot 1020

o St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ black on gray lilac (11X5), type III, position 6, margins to just in at lower right. Lightened ms cancel. Small thins, tiny abrasion, tiny manuscript pinhole. Fine appearance. Scott $6,000

Matthew Bennett International, Jun 2007, Sale 319, Lot 1017