The "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Part V

101, 1869 90c Blue, F Grill, used with 12c F Grill (97) on an envelope addressed to Lima Peru, just tied by black cork killer cancels with the 90c also tied by crisp strike of "Panama MY 22 69" cds (British PO), a magenta "San Francisco May 8 Paid" cds at upper left, red crayon "3" and "72", the 12c trivial perf tip toning, 90c some blunted/short perfs, letter a horiz file fold, still Very Fine and, in the words of renowned philatelist Jerome Wagshal, "..it is a philatelic gem of the first rank."; George Sloane notation on back "1867 issue 12c and 90c grilled 9x13/ From the collection of Rear Admiral AB Randall" and signed by Sloane; just two covers with the 90c F Grill are recorded, the other being a domestic use (Chronicle Vol. 40, No. 4, page 264), the basic rate to Peru via Panama in May of 1869 was 34 cents per ½ ounce, making this a triple rate cover, illustrated and discussed in an article by Jerome Wagshal in The Chronicle, Vol. 23, No. 1 (February 1971), page 28-29 (mentions Philatelic Foundation certificate #21793 which does not accompany), 2021 Philatelic Foundation certificate which mentions additional traces of an orange red transit cancel on the 90c (Scott $100,000)

Provenance: Marc Haas (Private Transaction, 1980)

United States General Issues