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| Scott Number | 01X1 |
|---|---|
| Date | July 10, 1846 |
| From City | Alexandria |
| From State | DC |
| To City | Columbia |
| To State | PA |
| Addressee | Bartholomew Cranston |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 584479 |
| Fake | |
| No. of Stamps | 1 |
| Plate Position | 0 |
| Initials | |
| Others |
Notes
The Tiffany Copy
(John Murray Bartles CCP Vol 2, No. 1 Jan 1923 p 17)
PF 216457
1X1 1846 5¢ black on buff
ON FRONT ADDRESSED TO COLUMBIA, PA. BLACK ALEXANDRIA, VA. PMK BELOW WITH MATCHING S/L "PAID" AND BOXED "5" AT RIGHT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage With THE STAMP BEING THE LUFF TYPE I, SHOWING 40 STARS
Lot 603 5c black type I on buff (1X1), cut to circular shape, ample margins except at lower left where slightly into four surrounding ornaments, a fresh clean copy, uncancelled on address panel to Bartholomew Cranston, Columbia, Pa., black Alexandria DC July 10 datestamp, matching Paid and 5 in rectangular frame handstamp, lightly creased at top right corner, the stamp has been lifted and replaced to remove wax seal.
This copy was the first Alexandria stamp discovered. It was found in 1872 by John K. Tiffany, an early authority of United States stamps, among correspondence addressed to his uncle. the discovery of the Alexandria provisional was announced in Le Timbre Post of February 1873. Tiffany held this copy until he died. His estate sold the Alexandria sometime around 1910, and it next appeared in Dudley L. Pickman's exhibit at the 1913 International Philatelic Exhibition in New York City. When J. Murray Bartels published a comprehensive survey of the Alexandria provisionals in 1923, he stated that Pickman still owned the Tiffany copy. This example has never been sold publicly, but passed into the stock of the late Warren H. Colson and, later, the collection formed by Emory Coolidge.
Very fine condition for this important Postmaster Provisional rarity, Illustrated in William's Stamps of Fame (p 107, pl 17), Chronicle (Feb 1983), ex Tiffany, Pickman, Colson. Coolidge.
Est. $40,000-50,000
Christie's Weill Sale Oct 12, 1989 realized $77,000
H R Harmer sale 3055 (Erivan VI) lot 1 realized 120,000 - images.
Christie's Sep 25, 1991 sale lot 60 realized $49,500
PF 584479 IT IS A GENUINE USAGE
Alexandria's Postmaster Daniel Bryan issued provisionals, but few survived because patrons often affixed them with wax. There are six known on buff paper. Daniel Bryan served as postmaster of Alexandria for thirty-three years. Alexandria was part of the District of Columbia until it ceded back to Virginia in 1847.
(John Murray Bartles CCP Vol 2, No. 1 Jan 1923 p 17)
PF 216457
1X1 1846 5¢ black on buff
ON FRONT ADDRESSED TO COLUMBIA, PA. BLACK ALEXANDRIA, VA. PMK BELOW WITH MATCHING S/L "PAID" AND BOXED "5" AT RIGHT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage With THE STAMP BEING THE LUFF TYPE I, SHOWING 40 STARS
Lot 603 5c black type I on buff (1X1), cut to circular shape, ample margins except at lower left where slightly into four surrounding ornaments, a fresh clean copy, uncancelled on address panel to Bartholomew Cranston, Columbia, Pa., black Alexandria DC July 10 datestamp, matching Paid and 5 in rectangular frame handstamp, lightly creased at top right corner, the stamp has been lifted and replaced to remove wax seal.
This copy was the first Alexandria stamp discovered. It was found in 1872 by John K. Tiffany, an early authority of United States stamps, among correspondence addressed to his uncle. the discovery of the Alexandria provisional was announced in Le Timbre Post of February 1873. Tiffany held this copy until he died. His estate sold the Alexandria sometime around 1910, and it next appeared in Dudley L. Pickman's exhibit at the 1913 International Philatelic Exhibition in New York City. When J. Murray Bartels published a comprehensive survey of the Alexandria provisionals in 1923, he stated that Pickman still owned the Tiffany copy. This example has never been sold publicly, but passed into the stock of the late Warren H. Colson and, later, the collection formed by Emory Coolidge.
Very fine condition for this important Postmaster Provisional rarity, Illustrated in William's Stamps of Fame (p 107, pl 17), Chronicle (Feb 1983), ex Tiffany, Pickman, Colson. Coolidge.
Est. $40,000-50,000
Christie's Weill Sale Oct 12, 1989 realized $77,000
H R Harmer sale 3055 (Erivan VI) lot 1 realized 120,000 - images.
Christie's Sep 25, 1991 sale lot 60 realized $49,500
PF 584479 IT IS A GENUINE USAGE
Alexandria's Postmaster Daniel Bryan issued provisionals, but few survived because patrons often affixed them with wax. There are six known on buff paper. Daniel Bryan served as postmaster of Alexandria for thirty-three years. Alexandria was part of the District of Columbia until it ceded back to Virginia in 1847.

