Price of US Stamp Scott 2: 1847 10c George Washington. Page 44

10c Black (Scott 2). Position 23L1, large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at top, tied by bold red grid cancels, with blue “Baltimore Md. Jul. 10” circular datestamp on cover to Boston, forwarded to Concord N.H., red “Boston 5 cts. 13 Jul.” integral-rate circular datestamp, inky fingerprint on cover from forwarding and some soiling from wax seal, Extremely Fine, rare combination of 10c over-300 and 5c under-300 miles rates, ex Sweet

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2357

10c Black (Scott 2). Horizontal pair, large margins to clear including right sheet margin, right stamp pre-printing paper fold at lower left, lightly struck by red grid cancels, right stamp tiny tear at top left, left stamp small thin spot not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine-Very Fine appearance, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2115

10c Black (Scott 2). Large margins to just clear at bottom, tied by blurry strike of red St. Louis integral-rate circular datestamp on small blue piece, unopened natural pre-printing paper folds, Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2114

10c Black (Scott 2). Large even margins, tied by red square grid cancel, matching “New-York Oct. 7” circular datestamp on blue 1847 folded letter to Gainesville Ala., missent and forwarded to Mobile with orange-red “Mobile Ala. Oct. 16” circular datestamp, manuscript “Missent” and also “Paid” to indicate that no additional postage was due, docketing indicates received at Gainesville on Oct. 28, light vertical file folds including one affecting stamp, otherwise Very Fine, attractive missent use

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2361

10c Black (Scott 2). Full to large margins, cancelled by blurry but discernible strike of red Scarab fancy cancel, matching “St. Johnsbury Vt. Aug. 28” circular datestamp on blue 1849 folded letter to Rochester N.Y., minor waterstaining at bottom VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS ST. JOHNSBURY SCARAB FANCY CANCEL ON THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE. Fancy “killer” cancels are extremely rare in the 1847-51 period. The term “killer” to describe the cancel was actually used by New York Postmaster Robert H. Morris. Although fancy rate markings from the pre-stamp era were used to cancel 1847 stamps, fancy cancels created for the specific purpose of “killing” stamps did not become popular until the 1850’s. The more distinctive designs are the St. Johnsbury Vt. Scarab, Trenton N.J. Star and Binghamton N.Y. Herringbone. Only eight or nine 10c covers are known with the Scarab fancy cancel. A note on back states this was offered in a 1947 Mozian auction with three others cancelled by the Scarab. Ex Boker and Hart. With 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2308

10c Black (Scott 2). Large even margins, detailed impression, tied by bold strike of black grid cancel, matching “Louisville Ky. Sep. 10” circular datestamp on cover to Cambridge Mass., some slight overall wear, stamp with faint age spot at upper right, still Extremely Fine, a desirable example of a black cancel used on a black stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2304

10c Black (Scott 2). Position 61L1, large margins to full, tied by red 7-bar grid in circle cancel, matching “Montgomery Ala. Oct. 8” circular datestamp on blue 1849 folded banking house letter to New Orleans, horizontal file fold well away from stamp, small cover tear at top, Very Fine, ex Sampson, Rose and Wall

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2302

10c Black (Scott 2). Large margins to full, detailed impression, tied by red 9-bar open grid cancel, matching “Montgomery Ala. Sep. 25” circular datestamp on blue 1849 folded banking house letter to New Orleans, horizontal file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine, scarce cancel that apparently was replaced by the standard grid in circle (see following lot), ex Boker

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2301

10c Black (Scott 2). Large margins all around, intense shade, tied by paint-red grid cancel, matching “Mobile Ala. Jun. 2” circular datestamp on blue 1850 folded letter to Philadelphia, horizontal file fold well away from stamp, Extremely Fine and desirable with this distinct cancel, ex Haas, Hart and Boker, with 1985 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2300

10c Black (Scott 2). Large margins to clear, tied by blue grid cancel, matching “Buffalo N.Y. 10 Aug. 23” integral-rate circular datestamp on 1849 folded cover to New York City, blue “Pratt & Co., Importers, Hardware, Buffalo” company handstamp, light file fold well away from stamp, stamp with some slight toning at edges, otherwise Very Fine, ex Ackerman, signed Ashbrook, with 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2329

10c Black, Vertical Half Used as 5c (2b). Right vertical half, large margins, tied across the cut by red grid cancels, matching “New Haven Ct. 28 Jun.” circular datestamp on blue 1851 folded letter to Chelsea Mass., some slight splitting along folds, light vertical file folds including one affecting stamp VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE VERTICAL BISECT OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, USED TO PAY THE 5-CENT UNDER-300 MILES RATE. THIS WAS USED JUST THREE DAYS PRIOR TO DEMONETIZATION OF THE 1847 ISSUE. Effective July 1, 1851, the basic letter rate was reduced to 3c for domestic letters sent up to 3,000 miles. New stamps were issued to accommodate the new rates, and the old stamps were demonetized and invalid for postage after June 30 of 1851. This letter was sent June 28, 1851, just three days before demonetization. Ex Seybold, Schenck, Garrett and Boker. 1963 P.F. certificate no. 18391 no longer accompanies. Scott Retail $35,000.00

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2332

10c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 5c (2a). Lower left diagonal half, large margins, tied across the cut by blue “5” numeral handstamp, matching “Concord N.H. Sep. 20” (1850) circular datestamp on cover addressed to “Miss Mary Stilphin, Manchester N.H.”, trivial cover toning EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BISECTED USE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, TIED ACROSS THE BISECT CUT BY THE BLUE NUMERAL “5” HANDSTAMP OF CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. The fascinating history of the discovery of the Stilphin correspondence is detailed in a six-page article by Susan M. McDonald (Chronicle 115). An elderly lady in Syracuse N.Y., the last of her family, decided to destroy her family’s correspondence, which was in several trunks in her attic. When all but one trunkful was destroyed, she stopped to rest and noticed an advertisement to buy old stamps in a magazine. She eventually sold the contents of the trunk to a collector, Wallace MacLaren, who had placed the ad. The correspondence included several stampless and 1851 Issue covers, and also seven 5c 1847 covers and five 10c bisects. She almost destroyed the bisects, fearing the torn stamps were valueless. She later discovered another four bisects, and three others have subsequently been found, for a total of twelve from the Stilphin correspondence. Most were sent to Mary Stilphin by her future husband, Rev. John B. Foote. Ex Alvin Good and Dr. Graves. 1980 P.F. certificate no. 87064 no longer accompanies. Signed Ashbrook. Accompanied by Chronicle article. Scott Retail $13,000.00

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2331

10c Black (Scott 2). Large even margins, remarkable proof-like impression, a superb stamp cancelled by perfect strike of red rectangular 9-bar open grid with matching “Aurora Ill. Dec. 12” circular datestamp on 1850 blue folded letter to Buffalo EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED 1847 ISSUE COVERS FROM AURORA, ILLINOIS, AND AN OUTSTANDING STRIKE OF THIS UNUSUAL NON-STANDARD RECTANGULAR GRID CANCEL. Ex Rohloff, Grunin, Garrett, Kapiloff and Sevenoaks. With 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2319

10c Black (Scott 2). Full even margins, intense shade, tied by red grid cancel with contrasting blue “Buffalo N.Y. Jan. 15” fancy double-oval datestamp on blue 1848 folded letter to New York, vertical file fold well away from stamp VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP AND COVER, WITH THE STAMP TIED BY A RED GRID AND THE TOWN MARKING STRUCK IN BLUE. WONDERFUL EYE APPEAL. With 1999 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2315

10c Black (Scott 2). Three large margins, full to in at top, tied by blue “Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 28” circular datestamp and three criss-crossing strikes of matching “Free” handstamp on blue 1849 Office of the Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette folded letter to “Hon. O. Cole M.C., Washington D.C.”, two-page autograph letter signed by Rufus King, content discusses incoming Presidential administration (Zachary Taylor) and how quickly new appointments should be made, faint vertical file fold VERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL USE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, CANCELLED BY MULTIPLE STRIKES OF A BLUE “FREE” HANDSTAMP. THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE MILWAUKEE “FREE” HANDSTAMP ON AN 1847 COVER. This cover could have been sent free of charge to a member of Congress, so the 10c 1847 stamp was not necessary. It may have been affixed by the sender to ensure that the letter, with its important message, would not be treated as unpaid by the post office. Ex Dr. Robertson

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2012, Sale 1023, Lot 2322