Americana Stamps

Lot #: 4075

Earliest and Only Known F-31 Hale & Co Forwarding Handstamp, and earliest known Hale letter originating in New York City

Illustrated in Gutman's Exhibit and Book

Illustrated in Gutman's exhibit and as Figure 7-235 in Gutman's book.

New York City, New York to Boston, Massachusetts, dated January 10, 1844.

This letter bears the only known strike of the F-31 forwarding handstamp. It is similar to the NY-D foreign letter office Hale handstamp without the word "Foreign". It is different from F-30 as the first and third line of print are slanted to the right. The letter also bears a manuscript "12 ½" indicating that the letter was double weight. This letter is also the earliest known Hale letter originating in New York City.

Opening: $300
Estimate: $500 - $1,000
Category: Independent Mail, Hale & Co
Provenance:

Ex Hall, Gutman, C.J. Alexander