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| Scott Number | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date | October 28, 1847 |
| From City | New York |
| From State | NY |
| To City | Utica |
| To State | NY |
| Addressee | Miss M. Green |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 431857 |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 1 |
| Quantity 2 | 0 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
5c Red Brown (1). Ample to large margins, tied by blue pen strokes and blue grid on 1847 folded letter to Governor's Island N.Y. and forwarded to Utica N.Y., matching blue "5", red "New-York Oct. 25" 2 cts" integral drop-rate cds, ms. "Gone to Mexico", red "FORWARDED" and matching "New-York Oct. 28" cds, some very slight overall wear
VERY FINE AND VERY UNUSUAL USAGE. CARRIED OUTSIDE OF THE MAILS TO NEW YORK AND FORWARDED BACK TO SENDER.
The letter was carried outside of the mails to New York, where the 2c datestamp was applied to collect the drop-letter rate. The addressee's regiment had already left for the Mexican War, so the 5c stamp was applied to pay return postage to the sender. The blue grid was likely applied on receipt in Utica.
Ex Pope
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale 814 Lot 2034 realized 5250
Alexander listed as 10/28/47
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1211 (William H Gross) lot 67 realized 2100 (image)
PF 431857
1 1847 5¢ Brown
SINGLE, BLUE PEN CANCEL, ON FORWARDED 1847 DATED FOLDED LETTER TO UTICA NY VIA GOVERNOR'S ISLAND,TWO DIFFERENT RED NY PMKS WITH S/L "FORWARDED" HDSTP. & MS "5" AT TOP.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
IT IS A GENUINE SCOTT 1, BROWN SHADE, WITH A SMALL HORIZONTAL CREASE AT RIGHT CENTER, AND GENUINELY USED ON THIS COVER
Fox sale 424 (Pope, May 4, 1985) lot 115 realized 900
Matthew Bennett International sale 243 lot 6 realized 9000
5c Brown (1) four margins, attractive pale shade and very fine impression, tied by grayish blue grid, no town mark, on Oct 17, 1847 folded letter from Utica NY to a Mr. Henry Green Jr., Governor’s Island, New York, from his father, red New York 2 cts Oct 23 cds for intra-city forwarding (possibly to his sister referred to in the contents as living in Manhattan), clear red New York Oct 28 cds at left with matching straingtline FORWARDED and readdressed back to Miss M. Green, Utica, NY, with blue ms 5, stamp compulsively canceled in the same blue ink in addition to postage due totaled up (7). Miss Green may be the Manhattan sister mentioned above, and this would lead credence to the forwarding explanation put forth here, since the letter is addressed to her in Utica, rather than the than Henry Sr, the sender. The ms note at top, in the same hand as the forwarding address, explains Henry’s absence: “Gone to Mexico”, with the contents shedding light on this in detail.
[Note this would indicate that the 5c stamp paid the postage from Utica to Governor’s Island in NYC and that the forwarding postage to New York and then to Utica was stampless. Alexander’s listing of this cover, from New York to Utica on Oct 28 takes the opposing view that the original postage and forwarding from Governor’s Island to Manhattan was stampless, presumably paid in cash, and then the stamp paid the postage back to Utica. The blue markings, including the cancel on the stamp, were applied in Manhattan.]
They also provide a glimpse into New York City life in 1847:
As soon as you reach your Regiment, I think you ought to explain to Col. Temple the reason you did not go on with it is that you were arrested for leaving the Island . . Aunt Mary has heard that you have been induced to visit at very improper Houses in the City, and we are both very much grieved about it – you will know what I mean; intercourse with abandoned women is ruinous to both body and soul… Your Cousin John must, I think, have led you astray & introduced you to those Haunts of Iniquity . . . consult the Army physician & follow his prescriptions - do not suffer any false modesty to prevent you from doing it at once ,,, If you go into the city to make any purchases or to bid goodbye to your sister & friends, to beware of yielding to temptations or laying out your money improperly & return to your duty at the Island as soon as possible …avoid ardent spirits as you would poison” etc.
Stamp with tiny crease at right center, otherwise very fine, a fascinating and unique usage; both the New York 2 cts and FORWARDED handstamp are exceedingly rare with the 1847 issue. Ex Pope, Rose. Est, $2000-3000
VERY FINE AND VERY UNUSUAL USAGE. CARRIED OUTSIDE OF THE MAILS TO NEW YORK AND FORWARDED BACK TO SENDER.
The letter was carried outside of the mails to New York, where the 2c datestamp was applied to collect the drop-letter rate. The addressee's regiment had already left for the Mexican War, so the 5c stamp was applied to pay return postage to the sender. The blue grid was likely applied on receipt in Utica.
Ex Pope
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale 814 Lot 2034 realized 5250
Alexander listed as 10/28/47
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1211 (William H Gross) lot 67 realized 2100 (image)
PF 431857
1 1847 5¢ Brown
SINGLE, BLUE PEN CANCEL, ON FORWARDED 1847 DATED FOLDED LETTER TO UTICA NY VIA GOVERNOR'S ISLAND,TWO DIFFERENT RED NY PMKS WITH S/L "FORWARDED" HDSTP. & MS "5" AT TOP.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
IT IS A GENUINE SCOTT 1, BROWN SHADE, WITH A SMALL HORIZONTAL CREASE AT RIGHT CENTER, AND GENUINELY USED ON THIS COVER
Fox sale 424 (Pope, May 4, 1985) lot 115 realized 900
Matthew Bennett International sale 243 lot 6 realized 9000
5c Brown (1) four margins, attractive pale shade and very fine impression, tied by grayish blue grid, no town mark, on Oct 17, 1847 folded letter from Utica NY to a Mr. Henry Green Jr., Governor’s Island, New York, from his father, red New York 2 cts Oct 23 cds for intra-city forwarding (possibly to his sister referred to in the contents as living in Manhattan), clear red New York Oct 28 cds at left with matching straingtline FORWARDED and readdressed back to Miss M. Green, Utica, NY, with blue ms 5, stamp compulsively canceled in the same blue ink in addition to postage due totaled up (7). Miss Green may be the Manhattan sister mentioned above, and this would lead credence to the forwarding explanation put forth here, since the letter is addressed to her in Utica, rather than the than Henry Sr, the sender. The ms note at top, in the same hand as the forwarding address, explains Henry’s absence: “Gone to Mexico”, with the contents shedding light on this in detail.
[Note this would indicate that the 5c stamp paid the postage from Utica to Governor’s Island in NYC and that the forwarding postage to New York and then to Utica was stampless. Alexander’s listing of this cover, from New York to Utica on Oct 28 takes the opposing view that the original postage and forwarding from Governor’s Island to Manhattan was stampless, presumably paid in cash, and then the stamp paid the postage back to Utica. The blue markings, including the cancel on the stamp, were applied in Manhattan.]
They also provide a glimpse into New York City life in 1847:
As soon as you reach your Regiment, I think you ought to explain to Col. Temple the reason you did not go on with it is that you were arrested for leaving the Island . . Aunt Mary has heard that you have been induced to visit at very improper Houses in the City, and we are both very much grieved about it – you will know what I mean; intercourse with abandoned women is ruinous to both body and soul… Your Cousin John must, I think, have led you astray & introduced you to those Haunts of Iniquity . . . consult the Army physician & follow his prescriptions - do not suffer any false modesty to prevent you from doing it at once ,,, If you go into the city to make any purchases or to bid goodbye to your sister & friends, to beware of yielding to temptations or laying out your money improperly & return to your duty at the Island as soon as possible …avoid ardent spirits as you would poison” etc.
Stamp with tiny crease at right center, otherwise very fine, a fascinating and unique usage; both the New York 2 cts and FORWARDED handstamp are exceedingly rare with the 1847 issue. Ex Pope, Rose. Est, $2000-3000
