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| Scott Number | 05X1 |
|---|---|
| Date | August 28, 1846 |
| From City | Brattleboro |
| From State | VT |
| To City | Chelsea |
| To State | VT |
| Addressee | Matthew Hale |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 358424 |
| Fake | |
| No. of Stamps | 1 |
| Plate Position | 9 |
| Initials | |
| Others |
Notes
Lot 15 Brattleboro Vt., 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 9, large margins to just clear of frameline, small scrapes at lower left and upper right, tiny manuscript "FNP" initials below printed initials of postmaster, tied by red "Paid" straightline with matching "Brattleboro Vt. 28 Aug." (1846) circular datestamp on folded letter datelined "Brattleboro Aug. 27, 1846" to Matthew Hale at Chelsea, Vermont, file fold at center, lettersheet to the right of fold is slightly toned
VERY FINE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. AN IMPORTANT ARTIFACT OF THIS FASCINATING ERA OF AMERICAN PHILATELY.
This August 27, 1846, letter is written from William R. Hale to his brother, Thomas, and he adds a postscript to the top of the sheet "I pay this just to shew you the stamp. It's against my principles you know." From this statement we may infer that the Brattleboro stamp was relatively new -- a novelty item -- and upon return from a visit to his family, the writer decided to prepay postage ("against my principles you know").
The tiny "FNP" initials on the stamp have been described as a possible control measure, which assumes they were applied by the postmaster, Dr. Frederick N. Palmer (see "The Plating of the Brattleboro", Calvet M. Hahn, Collectors Club Philatelist, Jan.-Feb. 1988). Because this is the earliest recorded date, it is possible that the first sheets sold were initialled by the postmaster, in common with the New York City postmaster.
After this August 28 postmark date, the next Brattleboro cover recorded in Philip T. Wall's unpublished census is September 3, 1846 (found on more than one cover). Unless a new cover is discovered, it is highly unlikely that the August 28 earliest usage date will be revised.
Ex C. F. Bishop and "Troy" collection. Scott value for a cover is $32,500.00.
Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 824 realized 35,000
Matthew Bennett International sale 331 lot 66 realized 18,000
No. 6 in the Hahn Census, "The Plating of the Brattleboro", Collector's Club Philatelist, May-June 1988, P. 161-166.
Matthew Bennett International sale 316 lot 8 unsold
PF 358454
5X1 1846 5¢ black on buff
SINGLE, POS.9, RED "PAID" CANCEL WITH MS INITIALS "F.N.P.", ON 1846 FL TO CHELSEA, VT, RED BRATTLEBORO VT PMK AT LEFT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage, The Stamp With SMALL SURFACE SCRAPES AT BOTTOM LEFT AND TOP RIGHT, THE COVER LIGHTLY TONED AT RIGHT
VERY FINE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE OF THE BRATTLEBORO POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. AN IMPORTANT ARTIFACT OF THIS FASCINATING ERA OF AMERICAN PHILATELY.
This August 27, 1846, letter is written from William R. Hale to his brother, Thomas, and he adds a postscript to the top of the sheet "I pay this just to shew you the stamp. It's against my principles you know." From this statement we may infer that the Brattleboro stamp was relatively new -- a novelty item -- and upon return from a visit to his family, the writer decided to prepay postage ("against my principles you know").
The tiny "FNP" initials on the stamp have been described as a possible control measure, which assumes they were applied by the postmaster, Dr. Frederick N. Palmer (see "The Plating of the Brattleboro", Calvet M. Hahn, Collectors Club Philatelist, Jan.-Feb. 1988). Because this is the earliest recorded date, it is possible that the first sheets sold were initialled by the postmaster, in common with the New York City postmaster.
After this August 28 postmark date, the next Brattleboro cover recorded in Philip T. Wall's unpublished census is September 3, 1846 (found on more than one cover). Unless a new cover is discovered, it is highly unlikely that the August 28 earliest usage date will be revised.
Ex C. F. Bishop and "Troy" collection. Scott value for a cover is $32,500.00.
Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 824 realized 35,000
Matthew Bennett International sale 331 lot 66 realized 18,000
No. 6 in the Hahn Census, "The Plating of the Brattleboro", Collector's Club Philatelist, May-June 1988, P. 161-166.
Matthew Bennett International sale 316 lot 8 unsold
PF 358454
5X1 1846 5¢ black on buff
SINGLE, POS.9, RED "PAID" CANCEL WITH MS INITIALS "F.N.P.", ON 1846 FL TO CHELSEA, VT, RED BRATTLEBORO VT PMK AT LEFT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage, The Stamp With SMALL SURFACE SCRAPES AT BOTTOM LEFT AND TOP RIGHT, THE COVER LIGHTLY TONED AT RIGHT
