Scott #17 - To Grade Or Not ....

Nah, probably not. I was thinking that you had some strange syncopated perfs going on with yours though :)

Don't know which stamp you think was perforated, but wow, I wish I had a perforated 12c that was big enough to cut down into a 4-margin imperf!
(and the cover predates the first perforated issues)

Will do a better scan of the cover later and check the plate position. Thanks.
C.

spqr - Yes, the margins are a bit tight on your 12c stamp.

Seriously great item, even if its just a front. Wagshal had those two matched bisect usages to Canada which remind me somewhat of this.

I recall only having one cover, with each of the 1c, 3c, and 12c. They are surprisingly hard items to come by. Mine also had a 10c stamp. If I can dig up a picture I'll post it. Someone on the board might own it now, who knows.

On Chip's stamp, I noticed the markings in the lower label, and I agree its definitely worth a closer look.

Happy to see a nice 12c stamp/cover thread.

This is the cover I referred to. I had this for some time, sold it in 2005. It was always a favorite of mine. Four color franking, only missing the 5c stamp.

The 3c stamp exhibits the Providence control marking as well.

Attempting to prepay the 37c Prussian Closed Mail rate, but went via British Mail instead.

Yes, it has 12c stamps on it
(scan courtesy of Siegel - this has changed hands a few times since)

Some beautiful covers - love them all.

Scanned the 12c from the 3-color cover at 600dpi and the position 49R plating mask from the Neinken book. Looks like a match. Thanks.

C.

I acquired this cover at the Garfield Perry show earlier this month

It is not pretty, but I think a scarce use of 4 times the 6 cent over 3,000 mile domestic rate from the West Coast. It still has the enclosure.

(even though Kentucky is less than 3,000 miles as the crow flies from San Francisco, the post route at this time was via Panama, so it was substantially more than 3,000 miles)

Yes, I would have to concur with 49R. Good eye Caper.

Its unfortunate that you don't have the bottom present on the stamp to see what appears to be a shifted rosette on the drawing. Nice variety though.

SPQR - we're more than 14 days out from Garfield-Perry. Guess we dodged one there. Nice cover.

PS - the cover I showed was in the Louisiana position on the "Postal History Map" I showed at Garfield-Perry. Looking forward to stamp shows resuming so I can show that again.

Chip - there was so much eye candy in your "Postal History Map" that I didn't recognize the cover as being from your exhibit.
Yes, G-P might be the last show for some time to come. I think NAPEX in early June is the next show still on the calendar (and no guarantee it will take place)

spqr - is there a date on the enclosure?

It certainly seems as though your interpretation of that cover is correct. That's a really rare usage.

As an aside, I've seen a number of nice covers to or from Hopkinsville, KY.

TX - Enclosure is March 31, 1854 - postmark is April 1

sorry, I was unclear - "I think" in my prior message was I think it is a scarce use - I'm certain it was a 4x 6¢ rate use.