Developed & Supported by Mark Scheuer. Based on the work of Thomas J. Alexander. Dedicated to the memory of Creighton Hart and Susan McDonald. Feedback, additions, and corrections most welcome. Please send to: mscheue1@rochester.rr.com
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| Scott Number | 2 |
|---|---|
| Date | May 23, 18xx |
| From City | Ottawa |
| From State | IL |
| To City | Philadelphia |
| To State | PA |
| Addressee | Morris Patterson |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 220517 |
| Fake | NG |
| Quantity 1 | 0 |
| Quantity 2 | 1 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
PF 220517
ON FRONT FANCY BLUE WAFFLE GRID CANCEL MATCHING OTTAWA, ILL. PMK.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
The Stamp Did Not Originate On This Cover And The Tying Cancellations Are Counterfeit
Alexander listed as 5/23/xx
Lot 122 10c Black (2). Position 85L1 with short transfer at top, large margins, tied by two separate strikes of blue 6-bar cross-hatched grid -- this distinctive grid differs from criss-crossing strikes of an ordinary grid from other post offices -- matching "Ottawa Ill. May 23" circular datestamp on blue folded cover-front only to Philadelphia, Extremely Fine, Ottawa received 1847 stamps on Jan. 18, 1851, so this must be a May 1851 use, ex Gibson, Sampson and Boker
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 1041 realized 1800
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1167 lot 2209 realized 1400 dates the cover to 1851
Robert A. Siegel sale 1338 lot 497 realized 850 (image)
Daniel F. Kelleher sale 826 lot 888 offers the stamp, now off cover, with the damaged remaining cover front and a PSAG certificate for the stamp. (stamp and bare cover front images)
PSAG cert 602193 (4/17/2025) - it (the stamp) is genuinely used with an Ottawa, Ill. fancy blue grid cancel.
PSAG is taking the position that the stamp was genuinely used in Ottawa but a 5/23/xx stampless cover was obtained, the stamp was affixed, and the rest of the grid cancel was added to the letter sheet.
The cover is not year dated in the census because of the PF opinion that the stamp did not originate. Therefore, the stampless cover may have been mailed on any 5/23 in the stampless period.
Morris Patterson & Co were grocers at 237 High Street (1850 McElroy's)
ON FRONT FANCY BLUE WAFFLE GRID CANCEL MATCHING OTTAWA, ILL. PMK.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
The Stamp Did Not Originate On This Cover And The Tying Cancellations Are Counterfeit
Alexander listed as 5/23/xx
Lot 122 10c Black (2). Position 85L1 with short transfer at top, large margins, tied by two separate strikes of blue 6-bar cross-hatched grid -- this distinctive grid differs from criss-crossing strikes of an ordinary grid from other post offices -- matching "Ottawa Ill. May 23" circular datestamp on blue folded cover-front only to Philadelphia, Extremely Fine, Ottawa received 1847 stamps on Jan. 18, 1851, so this must be a May 1851 use, ex Gibson, Sampson and Boker
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. sale 1041 realized 1800
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1167 lot 2209 realized 1400 dates the cover to 1851
Robert A. Siegel sale 1338 lot 497 realized 850 (image)
Daniel F. Kelleher sale 826 lot 888 offers the stamp, now off cover, with the damaged remaining cover front and a PSAG certificate for the stamp. (stamp and bare cover front images)
PSAG cert 602193 (4/17/2025) - it (the stamp) is genuinely used with an Ottawa, Ill. fancy blue grid cancel.
PSAG is taking the position that the stamp was genuinely used in Ottawa but a 5/23/xx stampless cover was obtained, the stamp was affixed, and the rest of the grid cancel was added to the letter sheet.
The cover is not year dated in the census because of the PF opinion that the stamp did not originate. Therefore, the stampless cover may have been mailed on any 5/23 in the stampless period.
Morris Patterson & Co were grocers at 237 High Street (1850 McElroy's)
