Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — Postmasters' Provisionals
Baltimore, Maryland, 5c Blue on Buff Entire, Black Signature Handstamp (3XU1 var). Clearly struck provisional markings with "James M. Buchanan" struck in Black, "Baltimore Md. Oct. 15" (1846) circular datestamp on buff cover to Mrs. Gilbert Rogers Jr. in Washington D.C., minor waterstains along edges
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BALTIMORE PROVISIONAL ENTIRE. A RARE COLOR COMBINATION WITH THE "JAMES M. BUCHANAN" STRAIGHTLINE STRUCK IN BLACK.
USPCS census no. 20060. Number 4 in the Hayes census. Only five are recorded in the Hayes census on Buff entires with the signature in Black. Another three or four of the Blue and Black combination are known on Grayish White entires.
Ex Ferrary, Caspary and Hansen, and from our 1965 Rarities of the World sale. With 1989 P.F. certificate.
The Scott U.S. Specialized mentions that entires with the Black signature handstamp were issued first and "sell for more," but inexplicably this color combination is not given its own major listing. Scott value $4,500 for more common Blue signature handstamp.
Certificate
PF No. 0204355 View Cert
Brattleboro, Vermont, 5c Black on Buff (5X1). Position 1, large margins with complete guideline at right, light red pen mark at upper left, proof-like impression, slight diagonal crease and thins
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE CONDITION OF THIS STAMP IS FAR SUPERIOR TO MANY OF THE 37 RECORDED OFF-COVER EXAMPLES OF THE BRATTLEBORO PROVISIONAL. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY FROM THE ORIGINAL CHUBBUCK SHEET AND LAPHAM-COLSON-WALL RECONSTRUCTION.
This stamp comes from Position 1 (top left) in the sheet retained by the printer, Thomas Chubbuck, who sold three stamps to collectors before selling the remaining block of seven to L. H. Bragg in September 1870. Bragg, in turn, sold the block to John W. Scott. The stamps from the Chubbuck block were eventually cut apart and sold to different collectors. In the 1920s Raymond W. Lapham, with the professional help of Warren H. Colson, reconstructed the Brattleboro plate positions, including some stamps from the Chubbuck sheet.
The USPCS census records 57 examples of the Brattleboro, Vermont, Postmaster's Provisional (37 off cover and 20 stamps on 19 covers). Ex Waud and Wall. With 2026 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
2026 PF No. 626416
New Haven, Connecticut, 5c Reprints (8XU1R). Two reprints, first Peets, 30 x 36mm, Blue signature, Very Fine, 30 reprints were made in 1874 for Cyrus B. Peets, the Chief Clerk for New Haven Postmaster Edward A. Mitchell, most were signed in Blue, second Seebeck, 40 x 48mm, unsigned, Very Fine
New Haven, Connecticut, 5c Vermilion, Peets Reprint (8XU1R). 28 x 32mm, Blue signature, few tiny flaws, still Very Fine, 30 reprints were made in 1874 for Cyrus B. Peets, the Chief Clerk for New Haven Postmaster Edward A. Mitchell, ex Cole, with 1985 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1985 PF No. 0140660 View Cert
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "ACM" Initials (9X1). Position 2, with major double transfer of the bottom label, also with part original gum, ample to full margins, tiny corner crease at top left, still Very Fine and rare original-gum example of the "Big Shift" double transfer, Scott Catalogue notes "Nos. 9X1-9X3 and varieties unused are valued without gum. Examples with original gum are extremely scarce and will command higher prices", ex Newbury, with 1971 A.P.S. and 1984 P.F. certificates, Scott value $1,900 as the double transfer without gum
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "AC M" Initials (9X1a). Position 11, original gum, large margins to clear, intense shade and impression, some gum soaks show thru, otherwise Very Fine, rare with original gum, Scott Catalogue notes "Nos. 9X1-9X3 and varieties unused are valued without gum. Examples with original gum are extremely scarce and will command higher prices", outside of this sale we have offered only five singles and a pair of 9X1a with any gum, three of the other singles have part original gum (two have faults) and the pair has traces of gum, ex Farrington, with 1992 and 2020 P.F. certificates, Scott value $1,750 as no gum
New York N.Y., 5c Black, "A C M" Initials, Initials Not Connected, Without Periods (9X1 var). Position 29 showing double transfer, unused (no gum), large margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITH EACH LETTER OF "ACM" INITIALS SEPARATE AND NOT CONNECTED.
The New York Postmaster's Provisional stamps are categorized by paper and initials. The "ACM" initials are listed in Scott in three major configurations: "ACM" connected, "AC M" with first two letters connected, and "A.C.M." with separate letters and periods after each letter. The stamp offered her does not fit into any of the listed types. The letters are similar to the "ACM" and "AC M" variations, but in this case, there is no connection between any of the three letters, and there are no periods after the letters. For specialists, this stamp represents a significant variety. It is also a rare unused example of the double transfer from Position 29.
With 2004 P.F. certificate as 9X1b.
Certificate
2004 PF No. 0408984 View Cert
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature (9X1e). Unused (no gum), full even margins, beautiful proof-like impression on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE NEW YORK PROVISIONAL WITHOUT SIGNATURE.
Ex Dr. Morris. With 1996 P.F. certificate. Scott value as no gum.
Certificate
1996 PF No. 0305965 View Cert
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Without Signature (9X1e). Position 23 with double transfer, unused (no gum) as normally encountered, three large margins, clear at bottom
VERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT NEW YORK POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL WITHOUT SIGNATURE AND WITH A DOUBLE TRANSFER.
The Piller book notes this position has a double transfer at bottom, which is clearly evident on this stamp, especially in the "Five Cents" lettering. With 2004 P.F. certificate (NG; F-VF 75). Scott lists other double transfer positions but for some reason does not list this position — all are priced at $4,000. Scott value as no gum double transfer.
Certificate
2005 PSE No. 00128461 Graded 75 View Cert
Providence, Rhode Island, 5c & 10c Gray Black, Se-Tenant (10X2a). Complete sheet of twelve, original gum, lightly hinged, large margins, crisp impression, typical slight wrinkling and gum creases, vertical crease between first two columns and diagonal crease affects bottom left stamp
VERY FINE APPEARING COMPLETE SHEET OF THE PROVIDENCE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
Complete sheets are scarce, particularly with gum.
Providence, Rhode Island, 5c, 10c Gray Black (10X1, 10X2). Singles of each, unused (no gum), large margins to clear, Fine-Very Fine, 10c with 1969 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1969 PF No. 31605 View Cert
Providence, Rhode Island, 5c & 10c Gray Black, Se-Tenant, Reprint (10X1R-10X2R). Complete sheet of twelve with letters on back, without gum as issued, light creasing mostly in sheet margin, still Extremely Fine
St. Louis, Missouri, 5c Black on Greenish (11X1). Vertical pair, Types II and III, Positions 3/5, unused (no gum), large to huge margins including bottom sheet margin, detailed impression
EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL UNUSED VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 5-CENT ST. LOUIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON GREENISH PAPER. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED UNUSED PAIRS.
The “Bears” were printed from an engraved copper plate comprising six subjects arranged in two vertical rows of three. The original plate was made by a local engraver, J. M. Kershaw, and it was altered twice. The states of the plate (1, 2 and 3) roughly correspond to the papers used (Greenish, Gray Lilac and Bluish Pelure), so philatelists say there were three printings (First, Second and Third). The pair offered here is printed on Greenish paper, the first color used. It comes from Positions 3 and 5 on the printing plate in its first state. When the plate was altered, the top stamp's position and the one above it were changed to “20” cent denominations.
Our census of Scott 11X1 unused includes eight single stamps and three pairs (six stamps). The pairs are:
1) Types II and III, sound and Extremely Fine, the pair offered here
2) Types I and II, margins clear all around, tiny natural wrinkle and tiny thin speck, ex Lilly, 1973 and 1980 Rarities of the World sales
3) Types I and II, large margins except nick into frameline of bottom stamp, both stamps thinned, top stamp sealed tear at right, ex Faiman (last offered in Sale 1227, lot 2067)
None of the pairs or singles have gum, and were likely uncancelled on covers and subsequently removed. The pair offered here falls into that category. It was found uncancelled on a folded letter from the Pettus correspondence, which was deaccessioned by the Missouri Historical Society and bought by Stanley Richmond in 1984 (see Chronicle 130, May 1986). The pair was removed and certified as unused by The Philatelic Foundation in April 1985 (they were well aware it was from the Pettus correspondence).
With 1985 P.F. certificate as unused (no gum). Listed but unpriced as a pair in Scott—value $75,000 as two singles.
Certificate
1985 PF No. 0146565 View Cert
St. Louis, Missouri, 10c Black on Bluish Pelure (11X8). Type III, Position 6, unused (no gum), ample margins on three sides and just shaved along outer frameline at top, deep impression on fresh paper, tiny vertical crease at bottom
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE ST. LOUIS "BEARS" 10-CENT PROVISIONAL ON PELURE PAPER. AN IMPORTANT RARITY AMONG POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS.
A survey of our Levi records and auction catalogues produced a tally of approximately 35 examples of the 10c Pelure off and on cover. The vast majority of these stamps have faults or margins cutting into the design. The stamp offered here is essentially sound and one of the most beautiful examples extant. It is also the only certified unused example.
Ex Pope and Wagshal. With 2010 P.F. certificate as unused. Footnote in Scott states: "Values of Nos. 11X7-11X8a, on and off cover, reflect the usual poor condition of these stamps, which were printed on fragile pelure paper. Attractive examples with minor defects sell for considerably more."
Certificate
2010 PF No. 491301 View Cert