California Mails and Western Expresses, Carriers, Locals and Independent Mails continued...

A FINE-APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE CARRIER STAMP. NO MORE THAN A DOZEN EXAMPLES OF 7LB14 ARE KNOWN TO US.

The Type C31 stamps were ordinarily left uncancelled, this probably was removed from a cover. The pencil line at bottom is a characteristic layout line.

Ex Schwartz (Image)

A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE U.S.P.O. EAGLE CARRIER ADHESIVE STAMP, OF WHICH FIVE ARE RECORDED.

The Philadelphia carrier stamps printed on the sheet selvage of imperforate 1c 1851 stamps hold a unique position in United States philately. Elsewhere in the world there are very few instances in which sheet selvage was used to produce adhesive stamps -- the Emory Va. Confederate provisional and early stamps of Zanzibar come to mind as other examples.

Based on genuine dated examples of Scott 7LB16 and 7LB18, as well as the record of Eagle Carrier covers used in Philadelphia, it appears that the supply of Eagle Carrier stamps in Philadelphia was depleted sometime in 1856 and that the carrier department resorted to substitute means of supplying stamps for prepayment of the carrier fee. One step was to obtain and distribute 1c 1851 stamps, which required a special accounting arrangement with the post office. Another was the creation of the handstamped adhesives, Scott 7LB16 and 7LB18.

Two handstamps were used to create Philadelphia carrier stamps in 1856: the Eagle oval (Scott type C31), which produced 7LB16, and the large oval (type C32), from which 7LB18 was made. Both are rare, but 7LB16 is considerably rarer, with only five examples recorded: 1) rectangular margins, on cover with 3c 1851 removed, ex Hessel, Golden (realized $6,250), 2) rectangular margins, used on cover with strip of three 1c 1851, ex Caspary, 3) diamond-shaped margins, on piece with one 1c 1851 intact, ex Caspary, Boker, Golden, D.K. Collection, the example offered here, 4) rectangular margins showing part of imprint, used on cover to San Francisco with 10c 1855, Siegel 1993 Rarities sale, lot 338, and 5) irregular but mostly rectangular margins, grid cancel, Siegel Dec. 12-14, 1995 (Sale 771, lot 1151). Only one of the five recorded stamps is found on an intact cover.

Ex Caspary, Boker, Golden and D.K. Collection. With 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail for off-cover stamp is $5,000.00. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE CARRIER STAMP WE HAVE SEEN IMPRESSED ON THE CORNER OF THE SHEET. THE ULTIMATE "CORNER COPY".

The Philadelphia carrier stamps printed on the sheet selvage of imperforate 1c 1851 stamps hold a unique position in United States philately. Elsewhere in the world there are very few instances in which sheet selvage was used to produce adhesive stamps -- the Emory Va. Confederate provisional and early stamps of Zanzibar come to mind as other examples. Two handstamps were used to create the Philadelphia carrier stamps: the Eagle oval (Scott type C31), which produced 7LB16, and the large oval (type C32), from which 7LB18 was made. This is the only example of either type we have seen from a corner sheet-margin position.

Ex Knapp and Hall. With 2001 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA U.S.P.O. DESPATCH CARRIER STAMP ON THE IMPRINT SHEET MARGIN OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE.

Ex Caspary. Scott Retail as used off-cover stamp $2,000.00 (Image)

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE THREE FINEST OF THE FOURTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE ST. LOUIS 2-CENT BLACK CARRIER STAMP.

Our census of the St. Louis 8LB1 carrier stamp contains 11 unused and 3 used stamps (none is known on cover). Only 5 of the 14 stamps are Type I. A completely sound example realized $6,000 in our Golden sale. This stamp, with a tiny toned spot, is one of the three finest of all known examples.

Ex Col. Green and Hall. "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE TWO FINEST SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE FOURTEEN RECORDED ST. LOUIS CARRIER STAMPS.

Only 6 of the 14 recorded 8LB1 or 8LB2 stamps are sound. Two are Type I (8LB1) and four are Type II (8LB2).

Ex Redfield, Golden and D.K. Collection.

With 1972 Friedl certificate signed by Bloch and Boker, and with 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)