We are excited to announce that the online catalog for our Summer 2025 Auction is coming very soon!
This sale features over 950 incredible lots, including U.S. Stampless, US Stamps and Postal History, Carriers, Locals, Independent Mail, Western & Eastern Express Postal History, Civil War Postal History, Airmail and more.
We’re also proud to note that over 690 items are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certificates. In addition, hundreds of listings include links to supporting articles, census data, and expert research, offering collectors enhanced confidence, valuable context, and full transparency.
As we prepare to launch, we’re pleased to share a preview of just a few standout highlights from across the sale:
Sale 12 – Carriers & Independent Mails
Lot 12020: 3LB1a, 1c Blue Penny Post Boston Carrier, Tied by Boston Postmark on 1849 Folded Letter with #1 1847 5c Brown, Tied by Red Grid and Manuscript “X”
The 1c stamp tied by “BOSTON 5 CTS 9 JUL” postmark.
Lot 12043: Williams’ City Post, 2c Brown, 9LB1, Used with Partial Cincinnati Circular Datestamp
Very Scarce, Fewer Than Ten Singles Known
The 9LB1 issue is extremely scarce, with only one unused pair and approximately ten off-cover singles known.
C.C. Williams was appointed superintendent of the Cincinnati carrier department in late October 1854, overseeing a service that had operated intermittently since 1837, with no service from October 1845 to February 1848. Early advertisements under his leadership listed delivery fees of 2c for city delivery and 1c for delivery to the mails, with strict instructions that fees be prepaid using either the official Eagle Carrier stamp (LO1) or the semi-official Williams’ City Post stamp (9LB1). Williams eventually transitioned to a clerk role at the post office on April 1, 1855, though the 9LB1 stamp continued in use, as evidenced by three known covers postmarked May 1855, June 1855, and January 1856.
Lot 12056: #9, 1c Blue Type IV (Pair, Positions 28R1L–29R1L), on Drop Letter to New Orleans with “Please Send by Penny Post” Directive
The Only Recorded Cover with The Carrier Fee And Drop Letter Postage Prepaid by Stamps
Horizontal pair of 1c Blue Type IV (#9), positions 28R1L and 29R1L, tied by circular grid cancels on folded cover addressed locally within New Orleans, Louisiana. The manuscript instruction “Please Send by Penny Post” requested carrier delivery. The pair prepaid the 2c combined rate for drop letter and local carrier service.
Figure 7 in The Carrier Stamps of the United States by Elliot Perry
Sale 13 – U.S. Postal History
Lot 13113: #72 90c Blue, Tied by Baltimore Datestamp on 1865 Piece to Hong Kong
Augustine Heard Correspondence, Included in the Census
The stamp with two large margins. tied by “Baltimore Md. Jun. 12” datetstamp, addressed to Hong Kong with the Heard name. Red 1865 London transit marking and magenta “80” in manuscript.
The Augustine Heard Co. of Shanghai and Hong Kong, China, was established in 1840, and its business correspondence, primarily relating to the Chinese tea trade, was received from its New York and Boston offices. The Augustine Heard correspondence, found in 1931, represents one of the most significant sources of postal history rarities and gems. This item is included in the census amongst the 17 other covers.
A very attractive usage on piece to Hong Kong, showing a wide range of postal markings.
Lot 13141: #17 1851 12 Black, Tied on Cover with Hawaii #8 1853, 5c Blue Thin White Paper, Red “HONOLULU – U.S. POSTAGE PAID”
A Very Fine and Attractive Rare United States and Hawaiian Mixed Franking
Honolulu, U.S. Postage Paid, Jan 27 Red postmark (Type 242.03). and Black San Francisco Cal ,Mar 5 postmark. Addressed to Old Lyme CT.
Sale 14 – U.S. Stamps
Lot 14101: #244 1893 $4 Crimson Lake, Unused, Original Gum, NH, SMQ $3,500
Never Hinged, PF Graded, Fine 70
Sale 15 – Expresses, Western and Eastern Express Postal History
Lot 15101: Wells, Fargo & Co. Eastern Transcontinental Pony Express Frank, Type I (WFE-097), “Free” Company Use to Official N. H. Stockwell
Only Three Other Known Examples, This being the Only Known “Free” Usage
An attractive usage of the Wells, Fargo & Co. 1/2 OUNCE PAID FROM St. JOSEPH TO PLACERVILLE PER PONY EXPRESS, Type I, printed frank. The Type I printed frank was used to prepay the $2.00 per half ounce express fee for only two months, approximately April to June 1861.
The design differs from the more common Type II design (WFE-098) by having a comma at the end of the word “Placerville.” Thomas notes that besides being printed on U40 envelopes, these printed franks were printed on white non-government envelopes, like this example.
The addressee, N.H. Stockwell, was on the Board of Directors for Wells Fargo from 1858-1867.
The manuscript “1/4 oz free” indicates that this was carried free as company use to an official, making this the only known free usage of the Type I design. There are only three other used examples of this design.
Sale 16 – Locals Part One (A–C)
Lot 16076: California City Letter Express Co., 33L7, 10c Red, Third Setting, Light Pen Cancel
One of Only Two Known Examples of the California City Letter Express 10c Red Issue, Third Setting
Figure 8, in Lyon’s Articles, California City Letter Express The Three Types and the Variations
Used, with light manuscript cancel. Repairs including a repaired tear and added margins at top and bottom. Fine to very fine appearance.
Lyons records that the two recorded red Type 3 design, 33L7 stamps both have the word “office” at the end of line eight and both have a comma after “delivered” and a period after “Street.” This example has an error in the seventh line, where the word “House” seemingly has an “n” instead of a “u”.
Lot 16096: (Cole’s) Post Office City Despatch, 40L8, 2c Black on Buff, Position 11, “CC” At Sides, on Folded Letter
Extremely Rare, Only 15 Known On or Off Cover, Signed by Sloane
Approximately 15 examples are known, either on or off cover.
Locally addressed folded letter with genuine “P.O. City Despatch Post Jan 6, 1 O’Clock” circular datestamp with matching straightline “Paid” handstamp. The datestamp with time slug suggests operation by Mead or Cummings & Wright. The stamp has been repaired with long vertical tear and other tears, previously tied by a fake four-bar grid cancel, now removed.
Lot 16097: City Dispatch, New York, 160L1, 2c Red, Used with Blue Pen Cancel
A Fine and Remarkably Choice Example, One of only Seven
One of Only Seven Genuine Off-Cover Examples. Identified as #6 in Alexander’s Census
Canceled by blue manuscript pen squiggle, with faint horizontal crease at top and tiny pinhole. Three margins adjoining stamp margin at bottom.”
Lot 16109: Cummings’ City Post, 55L3, 2c Black on Yellow Glazed, Tied by “FREE” In Frame on Folded Letter, with “P.O. City Despatch Post” Datestamp
One of Only Two Recorded Covers Used in Conjunction with the P.O. City Despatch Marking
Figure 5, in Lyon’s Article, “The City Despatch Post 1842 – 1852 Some New Perspectives”
Folded letter locally addressed in New York City, with red “P.O. City Despatch Post Mar. 25, 4 O’Clock” circular datestamp clearly struck at far right. The stamp, tied by black framed “FREE”, has large margins to just touched and shows surface rubbing, but overall a very fine example of this scarce usage.
One of only two recorded covers showing use of a Cummings’ City Post adhesive in conjunction with the Post Office City Despatch markings, documenting the transition from Abraham Mead to Cummings & Wright.
The dated postmark (March 25, 1847) proves that Cummings & Wright had assumed operation of the post by that time, following Mead’s brief tenure after purchasing it from the New York carrier department on November 30, 1846.
Lot 16111: Cutting’s Despatch Post, 56L1, 2c Black on Vermilion, Unused
EXTREMLEY RARE, The ONLY Off-Cover Example
Only One other Known Cover. This is seldom offered, with the last sale 25 Years ago.
Sale 17 – Locals (D–Z)
Lot 17081: Moody’s Penny Dispatch, 110L1a, 1c Black on Red Chicago, Sans-Serif “Chicago”, Used
Extremely Scarce, Only 3 of 17 Recorded Examples are the Sans-Serif “Chicago” Variety
Lot 17105: Walton & Co’s. City Express, 142L1, 2c Black on Pink, Tied on Piece by “PAID/W.W.”
Very Fine and Exceptionally Rare Use of this Elusive Local Stamp
Red “5” rate handstamp from the Brooklyn post office. Stamp repaired at right with crease. Very Fine appearance. Only six recorded covers with Walton & Co’s stamp.
SCV $16,000 on Cover.
Sale 18 – U.S. Postal History – Specialized
Lot 18111: 1930, $2.60 Graf Zeppelin, C15, Tied by Machine Cancel on Airmail Envelope
An Outstanding Example of this High Value Zeppelin on Cover, PF Graded 90, Extremely Fine
Flown on Zeppelin’s westbound voyage, Friedrichshafen to Lakehurst, NJ by “VARICK ST STATION APRIL 24, 1930” to Lansdowne, Pennsylvania with green cancel on reverse at Lakehurst, NJ. An attractive cover.
SMQ $800 Stamp Only
Lot 18119: #332 1902 2c Carmine, Truncated Bisect, Tied by Houston, Tex Machine Cancel on Local Cover
Used to Pay the Unsealed Circular Rate
Houston, Tex. May 29, 1909″ machine cancel on locally addressed envelope from Hogg, Watkins & Jones, Lawyers
Sale 19 – Civil War
Lot 19030: #35 1859 10c Green Horizontal Pair with #24 1c Blue and #26 1c Dull Red, on Waving Patriotic Flag Cover to London
Attractive Transatlantic Patriotic Usage
“If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot.” waving flag patriotic design, addressed to Westminster, London with red open grid cancels. The stamps paying the 24c rate.
Lot 19041: Confederate States, Memphis, Tennessee, 56X2 1851 5c Red, Horizontal Pair, Tied on Cover to Augusta, Ga
A Scarce Pair of the Memphis Provisional on Cover, Less Than 10 Recorded
The pair with large margins to slightly in at left, tied by “Memphis Ten. Sep 26” datestamp. The cover with edge repairs along top edge, otherwise Very Fine.
Lot 19055: Confederate States, CSA #4, 5c Blue, Stone 2, Middle Positions 5-6 and Right Positions 8-9, Three Horizontal Pairs, Tied on Cover Front
Incredibly Scarce Triple Rate Usage
Stamps tied by four strikes of “Mobile Ala., Jul 26, 1862” double-circle postmarks, addressed to Mr. Strenna, who was a merchant in Montgomery, Ala.
The left stamp of the right pair with a scuff, the right stamp of the right pair with a vertical crease, the front repaired at right, and two vertical folds to front not affecting the stamps.
Despite these faults, this cover front is still attractive and can easily be exhibited, as it is exceptionally rare to find a cover or usage bearing more than a single pair of CSA #4 stamps to pay a higher rate.
Be the First to be Notified!
Stay tuned for the full catalog launch, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know whenthe auction is open for bidding. We can’t wait to share this remarkable auction with you.
Also, be sure to Register to Bid!