Price of US Stamps Scott 11X6: 1846 20c St Louis Postmasters Provisional. Page 1

St. Louis, Missouri, 20c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X6). Type II, Position 3, full margins to just into framelines at left, manuscript cancel, filled thin spots FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT GRAY LILAC ST. LOUIS “BEARS” POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL. Our census of St. Louis 20c on Gray Lilac (11X6) contains approximately 50 examples on or off cover (including multiples). With 1986 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2014, Sale 1082, Lot 318

St. Louis, Missouri, 20c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X6). Type I, Position 1, large margins to full, detailed impression, unobtrusive manuscript cancel, tiny scissors cut in top right margin well clear of frameline (could be trimmed to leave a full margin) EXTREMELY FINE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 20-CENT GRAY LILAC ST. LOUIS “BEARS” POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL IN EXISTENCE. THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN WITH FOUR MARGINS AND IN SOUND CONDITION. Our census of St. Louis 20c on Gray Lilac (11X6) contains approximately 50 examples on or off cover (including multiples). Of the 30 or so off-cover stamps, only seven have four full margins. There are probably four or five four-margin sound stamps, such as the one offered here. Ex Caspary, B. D. Phillips, Weill Stock and Dr. Maffeo. Colson’s small “W.H.C.” backstamp. With 1984 P.F. certificate (does not mention scissors-cut).

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2013, Sale 1062, Lot 23

St. Louis Mo., 20c Black on Gray Lilac (11X6). Type I, Position 1, large margins to touched at left, bright shade and detailed impression, cancelled solely by red circular datestamp FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED SOUND OFF-COVER EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT GRAY LILAC ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL WHICH IS CANCELLED SOLELY BY THE CIRCULAR DATESTAMP. A PHENOMENAL RARITY. The census of 20c St. Louis Bears published in the Faiman catalogue (Bennett, Oct. 31, 2003) contains twelve off-cover singles. Of these, one in uncancelled and five have the red circular datestamp (three of which also have pen cancels). Of the two cancelled solely by the red circular datestamp, this is the only sound copy. Ex Hind. 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 50

St. Louis Mo., 20c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X6). Type II, Position 3, large margins to just into frameline at left where margin slightly uneven, detailed impression, neat pen cancel leaves entire design clearly visible FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT GRAY LILAC ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL. The census of 20c St. Louis Bears published in the Faiman catalogue (Bennett, Oct. 31, 2003) contains twelve off-cover singles. Ex Earl of Crawford and Hind.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 51

St. Louis Mo., 20c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X6). Type I, Position 1, three large to clear margins including left sheet margin, just into frameline at top, bright shade, single neat penstroke cancel, light creases FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON GRAY LILAC PAPER. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED SINGLE OFF COVER WITH THE SHEET MARGIN. The census of 20c St. Louis Bears published in the Faiman catalogue (Bennett, Oct. 31, 2003) contains twelve off-cover singles. No others show the sheet margin, which is unusual since all come from sheet margin positions. Ex T. Cullen Davis (“Texas Collector”, Siegel Sale 278). Blue backstamp

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 52

o St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 20¢ black on gray lilac (11X6), type I, position 3, three large margins but cut into at top, light manuscript cancel; fresh and completely sound, V.G. Scott price $50,000 A REASONABLY ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 20¢ ON GRAY LILAC, OF WHICH LESS THAN TWO DOZEN OFF COVER SINGLES HAVE BEEN RECORDED. Expertization: 2007 PF Certificate. Matthew Bennett census 11X6-I-7.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 17

St. Louis Mo., 20c Black on Gray Lilac (Scott 11X6). Type I, Position 1, three large margins, clear to just touched at top, neat ms. cancel, tied by red “St. Louis Mo. Jun. 26” circular datestamp on blue 1846 folded letter to Philadelphia, matching “Paid” handstamp, ms. “20” rating, light horizontal file fold at bottom well clear of stamp FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GRAY LILAC PAPER, USED ON A COVER FROM THE FAMOUS CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE. Ex J. King Horner and Faiman. With 1981 and 2003 P.F. certificates, the former describing this as 11X3 in error.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 12

St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 20¢ black on gray lilac (11X6), type I, position 1, large margins to ample at top, cancelled by pen squiggle on 1846 folded cover to Mess. Tyler & Rutherford in Louisville Ky., red “St. Louis Mo. Jul 25” c.d.s. and matching “Paid” handstamp with manuscript “20” for the quadruple rate for under 300 miles, endorsed “Pr. Mail” at lower right; stamp lifted and file fold neatly pressed out with no evidence of broken paper fibers, a Very Fine usage. Scott $55,000 Expertization: “W.H.C.” (Colson) handstamp, 1988 P.F. Certificate. Provenance: Faiman. This cover was part of the “Louisville Find” of 1895 and one of the first 20¢ Bear covers documented by Mekeel. Illustrated in Colson of Boston – his Stamps, 1926, p. 25 Census No. 105 from the Bennett listing of St. Louis Bears used on cover in the Faiman catalog.

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2007, Sale 324, Lot 1022