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The New Amsterdam Collection of City Despatch Post

1842 Greig's City Despatch Post
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
201   Carte-de-Visite and Official Correspondence of Alexander M. Greig, Superintendent of the U.S. City Despatch Post. Four items of historical significance: 1) Carte-de-visite with three-quarter half-length portrait photograph of Alexander M. Greig with Matthew Brady imprint on front and back, 2) Letter on New York Post Office stationery dated Nov. 26, 1844, from Postmaster John Lorimer Graham to Alexander M. Greig acknowledging receipt of letter dated Nov. 25 tendering Greig's resignation as superintendent of the U.S. City Despatch Post, "in consequence of having determined to make Cuba your future residence", 3) Letter datelined "New York Nov. 30th, 1844" to "Alexander M. Gregg" (note phonetic spelling of last name), which states in part, " The undersigned, carriers in the 'Despatch' department of the New York Post Office, have learned, with regret, your determination to leave the service for foreign parts. They have, almost all of them, been connected with the Department since its formation, under You as their Chief, and they are not willing that the conexion should be severed without conveying to you their earnest sense of your uniform kindness, friendship, and faithful discharge of duty, towards them and the Government, whose servants they are.", signed by fifteen letter carriers, and 4) Letter datelined "Brooklyn 2nd December 1844" from Greig "To the Carriers of the U.S. City Despatch Post", acknowledging with gratitude their Nov. 30th letter, the cross-outs, corrections and the fact that this letter is with the others suggest that it is Greig's retained draft, an outstanding group, we are unaware of any other examples of Greig's photograph or similar correspondence

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 E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction
202   City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., Collateral Items. Three: 1) proof of full-length standing portrait of Washington (the head portion was used on the City Despatch Post stamp), 2) Aug. 1, 1842 printed notice from 1st Asst. PMG Hobbie to New York Postmaster J. L. Graham authorizing establishment of U.S. City Despatch Post, and 3) Sep. 1842 circular from Graham notifying public that "Free" stamps must be affixed to all to-the-mails letters deposited at stations, interesting and exhibitable collateral lot

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 E. 200-300

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
203 c City Despatch Post N.Y. Feb. 18, 9 OClock.> Type I double-line circular datestamp with N.Y. inverted, struck in deep carmine on 1842 folded printed invitation to officers of Artillery and Infantry of this City to attend a meeting of the CommitteCity Despatch Post N.Y. Feb. 18, 9 O'Clock. Type I double-line circular datestamp with "N.Y." inverted, struck in deep carmine on 1842 folded printed invitation to officers of "Artillery and Infantry of this City" to attend a meeting of the Committee of Arrangements for a Grand Military Fete in honor of Washington's Birthday, addressed to Col. Samuel Jones Mumford, Extremely Fine, this is the first type of datestamp used by the City Despatch Post, which started delivering regular mail about one week earlier, examples of this short-lived datestamp with inverted "N.Y." are rare (Image)

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 E. 400-500

SOLD for $2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
204 ogbl (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Complete sheet of 42, original gum, some very minor paper adherence along right, large margins except frameline just touched at upper right, very fresh, sound except for a smal(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Complete sheet of 42, original gum, some very minor paper adherence along right, large margins except frameline just touched at upper right, very fresh, sound except for a small sealed tear between stamps at upper left (Positions 7 and 13), a couple of stamps lightly soiled

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED COMPLETE SHEETS OF THE 1842 3-CENT CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP -- THE FIRST ADHESIVE STAMP ISSUED IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. AN IMPORTANT AND WELL-PEDIGREED ARTIFACT OF AMERICAN POSTAL HISTORY.

This sheet was printed from the plate of 42 subjects that produced the first adhesive stamps issued in the Western hemisphere. The same plate was modified in 1846 by changing the denomination from "Three" to "Two" cents (under Abraham Mead's ownership) and again in late 1847 or early 1848 by letter-punching (or etching) the initials "CC" on each subject (under Charles Cole's ownership). No other single plate in American philately is believed to have produced such an unusual variety of stamps over such a long period (see The City Despatch Post 1842-1852 Issues: A Study of America's First and Most Versatile Stamp-Producing Plate, Scott R. Trepel).

Our records show five complete sheets of the City Despatch Post stamp issued by Alexander M. Greig in 1842. These are 1) the sheet offered here, ex Caspary, Lilly, Boker, Klein, Golden and Gordon N. John (Siegel Sale 868, lot 2001, realized $26,000 hammer), 2) ex Middendorf, 3) ex Kapiloff, sold in our 1995 Rarities sale (lot 339, realized $30,000 hammer), 4) ex Norvin Green, and 5) illustrated in Perry's 100 Years Ago, ex Ackerman and Hall (Siegel Sale 830, realized $25,000 hammer).

Ex Caspary, Lilly, Boker, Klein, Golden and Gordon N. John. Scott Retail $27,500.00 (Image)

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 E. 25,000-35,000

SOLD for $23,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
205 ogbl (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Positions 1-47-10, top left corner sheet margin block of eight, original gum, large margins all around, fresh and bright, negligible corner crease in sheet margin at extreme t(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Positions 1-4/7-10, top left corner sheet margin block of eight, original gum, large margins all around, fresh and bright, negligible corner crease in sheet margin at extreme top left

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF EIGHT OF GREIG'S CITY DESPATCH POST ISSUE -- THE FIRST ADHESIVE STAMP ISSUED IN THE WESTERN HEMISHPERE.

Ex Chapin. With 1970 P.F. certificate (as No. 6LB1) (Image)

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 3,800.00

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
206 ogbl (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Positions 4-510-11, top sheet margin block of four, original gum, large margins all around, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Chapin, with 1956 P.F. certificate(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Positions 4-5/10-11, top sheet margin block of four, original gum, large margins all around, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Chapin, with 1956 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 1,900.00

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
207 ogbl (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Positions 19-2025-26, left sheet margin block of four, original gum, large margins all around, light natural paper wrinkle affects bottom left stamp (not mentioned on accompan(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Positions 19-20/25-26, left sheet margin block of four, original gum, large margins all around, light natural paper wrinkle affects bottom left stamp (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Extremely Fine, left stamps "W.H.P." backstamps, with 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 1,900.00

SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction
208 ogbl (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Positions 5-611-12, top right corner sheet margin block of four, original gum, large margins other sides, small surface scrapes between top pair and two small surface scrapes(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Positions 5-6/11-12, top right corner sheet margin block of four, original gum, large margins other sides, small surface scrapes between top pair and two small surface scrapes in the bottom right stamp, penciled note in selvage "See letter of Son of Founder of this, the first post using stamps in the States, 17 Jun 1897", Extremely Fine appearance, a desirable position block, ex Caspary, Hart and Kuphal, with 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 1,900.00

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction
209 og (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Positions 19-20, horizontal pair with left sheet margin, original gum, large margins all around, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Positions 19-20, horizontal pair with left sheet margin, original gum, large margins all around, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 850.00

SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction
210   (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Position 42 from the bottom right corner of the sheet, huge margins, clear strike of red Free in frame cancel, Extremely Fine, a superb used example of this historic issue(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Position 42 from the bottom right corner of the sheet, huge margins, clear strike of red "Free" in frame cancel, Extremely Fine, a superb used example of this historic issue (Image)

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 275.00

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
211 c (Greigs) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1).> Position 18, large margins, tied by red Free in frame on embossed <Valentine> cover to local addressee, with original enclosure, stamp has faint gum toning<><>^VERY FINE. A(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Position 18, large margins, tied by red "Free" in frame on embossed Valentine cover to local addressee, with original enclosure, stamp has faint gum toning

VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR VALENTINE COVER WITH GREIG'S CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP TIED. THIS IS THE FIRST ADHESIVE STAMP ISSUED IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

Ex Caspary, Middendorf and Geisler. With 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $2,500.00 without premium for Valentine usage (Image)

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 E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

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