First day of through rate between US and Canada. 6 April 1851. Before this date, pre-paid mail could only be sent to the border with domestic postage.

Largest unused multiple of the 10¢ 1847 US stamp. Known as the Bible Block since being found in a family bible more than a century ago.

10¢ Black (2), Positions 71-73/81-83R. Block of six (three by two) from the first three columns of the eighth and ninth rows of the right pane. Original gum, mostly full to large margins except close or touching at left, deep shade on fresh bluish paper.

PROVENANCE
* Discovered circa 1909-11 in a bible belonging to the Rives of Virginia; 5¢ 1847 block of six and adjoining 10¢ block of four found in the same bible; sold privately to Scott Stamp and Coin Co. before 1912
* Philadelphia Stamp Co., Sale 48, 6/28/1912, lot 3, sold to Henry C. Gibson, Sr. (bought from Gibson by Ward in 1942-47)
* Philip H. Ward, Jr. (bought from Gibson, estate sold to Weills in 1963)
* Benjamin D. Phillips (bought from Weills out of Ward estate, 1964; collection sold privately to Weills, 1968)
* Ryohei Ishikawa (bought privately from Weills, circa 1977), Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/28-29/1993, lot 52, to William H. Gross

Source: Owner and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

One of two known covers with the 1c 1851 stamp canceled by the small red Boston PAID in Grid handstamp.

This unsealed printed circular was sent from Boston to Beverly, Mass., a Boston suburb, on July 14, 1851. Each circular was charged 1c per 1/2 oz. if sent less than 500 miles.

This is one of the very few (possibly unique) strips of 3 of the 5c 1856 imperforate issue cancelled with the iconic large Boston PAID in Grid cancels.

The 15c rate is for 0-1/2 oz. letter sent on Dec. 22, 1857 from Boston to La Rochelle, France, per the U.S. postal agreement with France of 1857. The GB 1F 60c marking indicated the bulk rate per 30g. Ex-Hackmey.

Patriotic sent from overseas are very scarce.   This cover was sent from Hong Kong on September 11, 1861 via various P&O steamers to Marseilles, and from there to Liverpool where it took the Cunard steamer Niagara to Boston.  It arrived on November 16, 1861 and was rated 45c as a 0-1/2 oz. letter sent by British Mail via Marseilles.  

This letter was sent from Marcus L. Woodard to his wife Maria in Stoneham, Mass. Woodard had traveled as both mate and master of several ships in the China trade.  He had reached China on the ship Surprise after stopping at Batavia with a cargo of ice.  The crew mutinied at that post.  Woodard made it to China where he described trade on the Yangtze, including problems with coastal pirates and the great profit to be made in smuggling up and down the river.