Skip to main content
| Scott Number | 11X4, 11X4, 11X6 |
|---|---|
| Date | April 10, 1846 |
| From City | St Louis |
| From State | MO |
| To City | Philadelphia |
| To State | Pa |
| Addressee | Charnley & Whelen |
| Cert Author | PF |
| Cert # | 216479 |
| Fake | |
| No. of Stamps | 3 |
| Plate Position | 5, 5, 3 |
| Initials | |
| Others |
Notes
St. Louis, Mo. 5c Ty III, 20c Ty II on Gray Lilac (11X4, two, 11X6). Margins to Barely in, wonderful Rich Color & Impression, Tied by one clear Red St. Louis, Mo. pmk., matching "Paid," "30" in ms. on neat folded 71/2"x31/2" Apr. 1846 Cover from the Celebrated Charnley & Whelan Find, Probably a unique combination, most attractive Showpiece
Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 296 (1966 rarities) lot 20 realized 6,750
5c Black on Gray Lilac, 20c Black on Gray Lilac (11X4, 11X6). Two 5c stamps, both Position 5 (the only 5c denomination on the plate used to print the Bears on Gray Lilac paper), ample margins except at bottom of one and left of the other, used with 20c Position 3, three large margins, slightly into frameline at left, intense impressions on fresh paper, probably an early printing from the altered plate (earliest known usage is February 27, 1846), without manuscript cancel, tied only by a single bold strike of the vivid red "St. Louis Mo. Apr. 10" circular datestamp, matching "Paid" and ms. "30" rate on blue folded cover to the Charnley & Whelen firm in Philadelphia, light fold in cover at bottom, the 5c stamp at center has a faint corner crease ending in a small tear of no significance
The Second Printing of the Bears on Gray Lilac paper was made from the altered plate, in which the 5c denominations in positions 1 and 3 were changed to 20c, leaving only one 5c denomination (position 5). The rarity of the 5c on Gray Lilac (statistically, a 1:5 ratio) was increased by the circumstances of usage. The large finds yielding examples of the Bears were mainly between correspondents more than 300 miles apart, thus requiring 10c rates or multiples thereof. Thus, the conspicuous rarity of the 20c provisonal on this cover is amplified by the presence of two very rare 5c on Gray Lilac stamps.
A VERY FINE AND MAGNIFICENT COVER FROM THE CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE
From the Weill sale and ex Middendorf. With 1989 P.F. certificate
Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 759 (1994 rarities) lot 19 realized 45,000
Christie's Oct 12, 1989 Weill Brothers sale lot 654
Christie's sale 7314 Sept 25, 1991 lot 65
H R Harmer sale 503 Dec 13, 1848 (Charnley & Whelen original catalog) lot 37 realized 1900
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1188 (William Gross Treasures) lot 12 realized 90,000
PF 216479
11X4 1845 20¢ black on gray lilac
11X6 1845 5¢ black on gray lilac
SINGLE 20¢, POS.3, TWO SINGLE 5¢, EACH POS.5, ON FL TO PHILA. RED ST. LOUIS, MO. TOWN CANCEL, RED S/L "PAID" W/MS "30" AT RIGHT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
They Are Genuinely Used On Cover With THE MIDDLE STAMP HAVING A SMALL CORNER CREASE ENDING IN A TINY TEAR.
Number 82 in the Faiman / Bennett census.
Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 296 (1966 rarities) lot 20 realized 6,750
5c Black on Gray Lilac, 20c Black on Gray Lilac (11X4, 11X6). Two 5c stamps, both Position 5 (the only 5c denomination on the plate used to print the Bears on Gray Lilac paper), ample margins except at bottom of one and left of the other, used with 20c Position 3, three large margins, slightly into frameline at left, intense impressions on fresh paper, probably an early printing from the altered plate (earliest known usage is February 27, 1846), without manuscript cancel, tied only by a single bold strike of the vivid red "St. Louis Mo. Apr. 10" circular datestamp, matching "Paid" and ms. "30" rate on blue folded cover to the Charnley & Whelen firm in Philadelphia, light fold in cover at bottom, the 5c stamp at center has a faint corner crease ending in a small tear of no significance
The Second Printing of the Bears on Gray Lilac paper was made from the altered plate, in which the 5c denominations in positions 1 and 3 were changed to 20c, leaving only one 5c denomination (position 5). The rarity of the 5c on Gray Lilac (statistically, a 1:5 ratio) was increased by the circumstances of usage. The large finds yielding examples of the Bears were mainly between correspondents more than 300 miles apart, thus requiring 10c rates or multiples thereof. Thus, the conspicuous rarity of the 20c provisonal on this cover is amplified by the presence of two very rare 5c on Gray Lilac stamps.
A VERY FINE AND MAGNIFICENT COVER FROM THE CHARNLEY & WHELEN CORRESPONDENCE
From the Weill sale and ex Middendorf. With 1989 P.F. certificate
Robert A Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. sale 759 (1994 rarities) lot 19 realized 45,000
Christie's Oct 12, 1989 Weill Brothers sale lot 654
Christie's sale 7314 Sept 25, 1991 lot 65
H R Harmer sale 503 Dec 13, 1848 (Charnley & Whelen original catalog) lot 37 realized 1900
Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries sale 1188 (William Gross Treasures) lot 12 realized 90,000
PF 216479
11X4 1845 20¢ black on gray lilac
11X6 1845 5¢ black on gray lilac
SINGLE 20¢, POS.3, TWO SINGLE 5¢, EACH POS.5, ON FL TO PHILA. RED ST. LOUIS, MO. TOWN CANCEL, RED S/L "PAID" W/MS "30" AT RIGHT.
AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
They Are Genuinely Used On Cover With THE MIDDLE STAMP HAVING A SMALL CORNER CREASE ENDING IN A TINY TEAR.
Number 82 in the Faiman / Bennett census.
