Your Favorite US Classic Purchase Of 2016

I like my C14 Zeppelin cover:

My favorite item was one I picked up from a Kelleher auction this year. It's just a neat item, I thought (as did the underbidders). The artwork is original watercolor and the stamps are all postmarked Shanghai China in 1909.

One of my favorite purchases is this revenue stamp. I wasn't planning to buy it, but the 150-year-old hand cancellation gave it a very personalized touch.

Very pretty item, Stampman. Do you think the hand written inscription on the obverse is original to the date of the card, but no doubt after it was cancelled? The writer seems to know a lot about the cancellation. I'm wondering if some exhibitor, who had no respect for the artwork, decided to "explain" the significance for an uninformed viewing public. What did the lot description say about that? What do you think?

Essayk,

The item is lot 2070 in Kelleher's Flagship auction 672. The description reads as follows:

"1909, handpainted display card, "Shanghai China,/U.S. Postal St. Rec'd" Jan 13 circular datestamps tie 1902-02 1c-5c (300, 302-304, 319) on beautifull handpainted card, about 4 1/4" X 6"; hand lettered descriptive text was either added later or the cancels are back-dated, as the text mentions the 191 overprints for use in China; a gorgeous collateral item, despite its philatelic origins. Estimate $300-400"

While there is no way to definitely determine which occurred, whether it was a back-dating of the cancels, or the later addition of the text, I would believe that the text was added at a later date, as that would have been the easier of the two events to have happened. I would have much preferred the original individual who wrote the descriptive text to have done so on a separate page, or failing that, have done so on the reverse side of the card. I still find it a fascinating piece of both art and philately. Obviously, as I was the high bidder!