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

9X1, New York, New York, 5c Black, "ACM" Connected, positions 37-40, large margins all around, tied by blue manuscript cancel to folded letter to Fort Wayne, Indiana (paying double the 10c rate), matching blue "20," red "New-York Sep 13" cds and "Paid" in arc, vertical file-fold affects second stamp, still Extremely Fine and attractive, one of only four covers bearing a strip of four of the New York Provisional, an outstanding gem in every regard (Scott $100,000)

In August of 1980, Philip T. Wall wrote an article in the Chronicle (Vol. 32, No. 3) detailing the five most outstanding New York Provisional covers known to him. Obvious choices were the Hasbrouck cover bearing a block of nine and strip of three, and the "MMJr." pair on cover to Bethany, Virginia. Wall, an admitted fan of multiple-rate covers, chose the three covers bearing strips of four that were known to him at the time to round out his top five.

Provenance: John F. Seybold (Purple handstamp on reverse)

O.S. Hart (Private Transaction)

Henry C. Gibson (Ward Sale 12, 1944)

United States Postmasters' Provisionals