Carriers Stamps - Stamp Auctions

Lot 22 - United States

Lot 22 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc January 26, 2022: “Erivan” Collection Part VI

5LB2, Brown & McGill's USPO Despatch (Louisville, KY), (2c) Blue, unused block of four with large margins showing complete framelines all around, Very Fine showpiece, an exceedingly rare stamp in multiples of any size (Scott $1,250)"Erivan" Collection Part VI

H. R. Harmer Inc January 26, 2022: “Erivan” Collection Part VI

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 20 - United States

Lot 20 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc January 26, 2022: “Erivan” Collection Part VI

LO2, 1851 1c Blue, Eagle Carrier, four large margins, centrally struck red star cancel, locally-addressed within Philadelphia, pressed vertical filefold, Very Fine and fresh (Scott $500)"Erivan" Collection Part VI

H. R. Harmer Inc January 26, 2022: “Erivan” Collection Part VI

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 21 - United States

Lot 21 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc January 26, 2022: “Erivan” Collection Part VI

3LB2, Boston, MA, 1851 1c Blue, margins large to clear, tied by red cancel to 1850 embossed cover with 1847 5c Brown (1) tied by black grid, red "Boston 5 3 Oct" datestamp, addressed to Newington, Connecticut, original contents included, carrier stamp with small pre-application tear, Very Fine, one of only four recorded covers with the 1847 5c and second Boston carrier stamp, USPCS Census #3356 (Scott $12,500)rnProvenance: J. Waldo SampsonrnWeill Brothers (Signature on reverse)"Erivan" Collection Part VI

H. R. Harmer Inc January 26, 2022: “Erivan” Collection Part VI

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 1174 - United States

Lot 1174 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc United States Stamps Featuring the "Nelson" Collection & The Dr. Larry C. Parks Collection of United States Postal Stationery

LO1P3, 1851 1c Blue, Plate proof on india, left margin horizontal block of ten with just clear to ample margins the other sides except just in at bottom of pos 6, Very Fine (Scott $430 as two blocks plus two singles)Sale 3052: United States Stamps Featuring the Donald D. Nelson Collection

H. R. Harmer Inc United States Stamps Featuring the "Nelson" Collection & The Dr. Larry C. Parks Collection of United States Postal Stationery

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 1175 - United States

Lot 1175 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc United States Stamps Featuring the "Nelson" Collection & The Dr. Larry C. Parks Collection of United States Postal Stationery

LO2, 1851 1c Blue, bottom margin block of twelve (4x3) with full imprint, blotchy o.g. with some typical light natural bends, top stamps hinged, others NH, light corner crease bottom left just into pos 9 stamp, bit of offset in the bottom margin, Very Fine (Scott $1,070 as hinged imprint block of eight plus two pairs)Sale 3052: United States Stamps Featuring the Donald D. Nelson Collection

H. R. Harmer Inc United States Stamps Featuring the "Nelson" Collection & The Dr. Larry C. Parks Collection of United States Postal Stationery

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 1176 - United States

Lot 1176 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc United States Stamps Featuring the "Nelson" Collection & The Dr. Larry C. Parks Collection of United States Postal Stationery

6LB3, 6LB5, 1842/45 3c Black, US City Despatch Post, 6LB3 light red cancel, clear to large margins, thin spot at bottom; 6LB5 centrally struck red cancel, clear to large margins, small faults, Very Fine appearance; each with 2021 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $925)Sale 3052: United States Stamps Featuring the Donald D. Nelson Collection

H. R. Harmer Inc United States Stamps Featuring the "Nelson" Collection & The Dr. Larry C. Parks Collection of United States Postal Stationery

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 23 - United States

Lot 23 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

4LB9, Honour’s City Post, Charleston, SC, 1851-54 2c Black on bluish pelure, large-margined single on folded letter addressed to "Mssr. Cornelius + Co., Philadelphia, Pa." (datelined October 15), stamp uncancelled, red "Charleston S.C. 10 Oct 15" credit datestamp alongside, lettersheet with some light vertical creases, stamp lifted and hinged back into place, Very Fine, not listed in the Lyons census (Penny Post Vol. 15, No. 4) although several other Honour's covers to the same addressee are noted (Scott $950 for used)United States Carriers and Locals

H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 24 - United States

Lot 24 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

4LB17, Beckman’s City Post, Charleston, SC, 2c Black, single with wonderful margins, used alongside US 1857 3c Dull red (26), both stamps tied by perfect strike of “Charleston S.C. Jun 18 1860” cds, Beckman’s stamp additionally lightly tied by pencil, on cover addressed to Brunswick, Georgia, small piece of backflap out, Extremely Fine and unique on- or off-cover, we are reticent to speak in superlatives but we feel confident in quoting Herbert J. Bloch when he wrote in the 1957 Caspary catalogue: “In marvelous condition and generally considered the most outstanding carrier cover in existence,” quite simply one of the gems of American philately which has been off the market for 64 years (Scott listed but unpriced)

In the 1957 H.R. Harmer Caspary sale of Carriers and Locals, this cover realized an astounding $11,000. The next highest realization, for the October 19, 1861 Crouise “Garter” Pony Express cover, was half the Beckman’s hammer price ($5,500). In terms of covers bearing unique examples of postage stamps used in the United States, it is in an elite class alongside the Alexandria “Blue Boy,” the Lockport and Boscawen provisionals, and very few others. The combination of uniqueness and beauty makes this a singularly desirable and impressive cover.

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 7, 1924)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1072, 1957)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

United States Carriers and Locals

H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 25 - United States

Lot 25 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

4LB18, Steinmeyer's City Post, Charleston, SC, 2c Black on bluish, stamp in upper righthand corner of neat envelope addressed simply to "Judge John Johnson," stamp with full margins, small repair at top left and cover with sealed tear at top, Extremely Fine appearance, one of three known examples of the Steinmeyer's "Border-of-Pearls" stamp and the only cover in private hands, therefore one of the rarest and most extraordinary of all carriers covers (listed but unpriced in Scott)

There are only three examples of the Steinmeyer's "Border-of-Pearls" stamp recorded, one of which (an on-cover stamp) is housed in the British Library's Tapling Collection and is therefore unlikely come onto the market. The other stamp, an unused single, was sold as part of the Hall Collection in 2000. Joseph G. Martin, John C. Beckman, and John F. Steinmeyer, Jr., all carriers in Charleston, South Carolina, each issued their own adhesive stamps in the period around 1860. All are exceptionally rare. Postage stamps of a different design issued by Steinmeyer on bluish, pink, and yellow paper are not known used genuinely, and may or may not have actually seen service.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1070, 1957)

Ambassador J. William Middendorf, II (Frajola Net Price Sale 4, 1990)

United States Carriers and Locals

H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps
Lot 26 - United States

Lot 26 - United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps - H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

7LB6, Philadelphia, PA, 1849-50 1c Black on rose, stamp with irregular margins (including massive margin at bottom), affixed but not tied to locally-addressed cover, blue circled "2" handstamp, adhesive with some light water stains around the edges (part of which seems to tie the stamp), Very Fine and interesting intra-city usage lacking the typical Philadelphia datestamp (Scott $500)rnProvenance: Henry C. Gibson (Private transaction)United States Carriers and Locals

H. R. Harmer Inc The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

United States "Back of the Book" Stamps and Postal History Carriers Stamps