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| Scott Number | 09X1b |
|---|---|
| Date | February 23, 1851 |
| From City | Wilmington & Raleigh |
| From State | RR |
| To City | New Orleans |
| To State | LA |
| Addressee | W. F. Vredenburgh & Co. |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 367792 |
| Fake | |
| No. of Stamps | 2 |
| Plate Position | |
| Initials | A.C.M. |
| Others |
Notes
New York, N.Y., 1845, 5¢ black on bluish, signed "A.C.M." (9X1b), two singles, margins to clear, each with light strike of blue propeller cancel, matching "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad Feb. 23" c.d.s. on 1851 folded letter to New Orleans, manuscript "Paid" at upper left, docketing confirms date; stamps with light horiz. crease (does not break paper), Very Fine appearance, very rare usage and remarkably late, possibly latest known usage of a New York provisional.
Estimate $3,000-4,000
Expertization: 2001 P.F. Certificate.
Matthew Bennett International Sale 277 Lot 82 Realized $5,250
PF 367792
9X1b 1845 5¢ black
TWO SINGLES, BLUE CANCELS, ON 1851 DATED FL TO NEW ORLEANS, BLUE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH R.R. DATE STAMP AT LEFT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage, THE STAMPS WITH A LIGHT HORIZONTAL CREASE FROM A FILE FOLD
Written up as questionable in Chronicle 116 (by Philip Wall)
Figure B is a letter postmarked in blue "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad Feb 23
(1851)" and addressed to New Orleans. In the upper right hand corner are two single 9X1 stamps from positions 6 and 15. The manuscript paid is in black. Neither stamp is tied to the cover and both have faint blue windmill or petal cancels. The postmark is a genuine Remele W7-c. The letter inside is dated February 21, 1851, and was received in New Orleans on March Ist and answered on March 20th. While a letter could have traveled from New York City to Weldon, North Carolina (the northern terminus of the railroad) in just under 48 hours in 1851, it would have had to make all connections promptly. Travel by sea from New York to Wilmington would have taken longer. There is no way to determine if the cover was traveling north or south on the railroad. Given this information, it is not possible to definitely state the cover is either genuine or fraudulent. However, most of the windmill or petal cancels I have seen on 1847 stamps and covers have been distinct and sharp, whereas those on the cover in question are extremely faint. Furthermore, why would a Route Agent working on a railroad in orth Carolina accept for postage New York local (provisional) stamps almost four years after they had been replaced by the 1847 issue? Why was the cover not postmarked in New York City? While letters are sometimes carried outside the mail from point A to point Band then mailed to point C, this almost invariably results in a delay in mailing the letters. The 5c New Yorks were never valid in North Carolina except on mail going to or through New York City - at which point the red curved PAID was always applied. The cover in question has a manuscript PAID that could have been applied anywhere but which may have been written by the person addressing the letter. In my opinion, there are entirely too many questions about this cover that cannot be answered satisfactorily for it to be genuine. I do not want to condemn any cover that I do not understand fully, and I invite comments from readers who may arrive at a different opinion regarding this cover.
Estimate $3,000-4,000
Expertization: 2001 P.F. Certificate.
Matthew Bennett International Sale 277 Lot 82 Realized $5,250
PF 367792
9X1b 1845 5¢ black
TWO SINGLES, BLUE CANCELS, ON 1851 DATED FL TO NEW ORLEANS, BLUE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH R.R. DATE STAMP AT LEFT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
It Is A Genuine Usage, THE STAMPS WITH A LIGHT HORIZONTAL CREASE FROM A FILE FOLD
Written up as questionable in Chronicle 116 (by Philip Wall)
Figure B is a letter postmarked in blue "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad Feb 23
(1851)" and addressed to New Orleans. In the upper right hand corner are two single 9X1 stamps from positions 6 and 15. The manuscript paid is in black. Neither stamp is tied to the cover and both have faint blue windmill or petal cancels. The postmark is a genuine Remele W7-c. The letter inside is dated February 21, 1851, and was received in New Orleans on March Ist and answered on March 20th. While a letter could have traveled from New York City to Weldon, North Carolina (the northern terminus of the railroad) in just under 48 hours in 1851, it would have had to make all connections promptly. Travel by sea from New York to Wilmington would have taken longer. There is no way to determine if the cover was traveling north or south on the railroad. Given this information, it is not possible to definitely state the cover is either genuine or fraudulent. However, most of the windmill or petal cancels I have seen on 1847 stamps and covers have been distinct and sharp, whereas those on the cover in question are extremely faint. Furthermore, why would a Route Agent working on a railroad in orth Carolina accept for postage New York local (provisional) stamps almost four years after they had been replaced by the 1847 issue? Why was the cover not postmarked in New York City? While letters are sometimes carried outside the mail from point A to point Band then mailed to point C, this almost invariably results in a delay in mailing the letters. The 5c New Yorks were never valid in North Carolina except on mail going to or through New York City - at which point the red curved PAID was always applied. The cover in question has a manuscript PAID that could have been applied anywhere but which may have been written by the person addressing the letter. In my opinion, there are entirely too many questions about this cover that cannot be answered satisfactorily for it to be genuine. I do not want to condemn any cover that I do not understand fully, and I invite comments from readers who may arrive at a different opinion regarding this cover.
