Millbury Mass., 5c Black on White (7X2). Distinct white print paper which is markedly thicker than the bluish letter paper of Scott 7X1, large margins on two sides, just in at right and at bottom, tied by broad stroke of red ink matching the ink used to apply datestamps, on large piece with clearly struck "Millbury Ms. Mar. 8" (1847) circular datestamp, stamp also "tied" by horizontal file fold

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE MILLBURY MASSACHUSETTS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON WHITE PAPER — NOW CORRECTLY CERTIFIED AS SCOTT 7X2 AFTER PREVIOUSLY BEING IDENTIFIED AS BLUISH PAPER.

Colonel Asa Holman Waters III was a wealthy resident of Millbury, Massachusetts, a mill town near Worcester. Waters, a graduate of Yale and Harvard law school, received his postmaster’s appointment from President Andrew Jackson on January 18, 1836, and he served as nominal postmaster through the administrations of Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler and Polk. Most of the functions of postmaster were performed by his deputy, Henry Waterman, a local jeweler, who was directly responsible for issuing the adhesive provisional stamp in 1846. Waterman succeeded Colonel Waters as postmaster on November 10, 1848.

The distinctive Millbury stamp is one of two postmasters’ provisional issues with portraits, both of George Washington. The other is the New York City stamp, which was issued first and probably inspired the Millbury design. 18 examples of the Millbury provisional on bluish paper are recorded (Scott 7X1, our census is available at https://siegelauctions.com/resources/census/us/scott/7X1), including one with original gum, seven cancelled off cover (all have faults), two cancelled on pieces (one sound, the other with faults) and eight on covers (six sound, two with faults).

This stamp, which has been known since at least 1913, was previously identified as the bluish paper Scott 7X1, and was twice certified by The Philatelic Foundation as bluish paper. However, in 2024 Siegel and the consignor re-submitted the stamp with an analysis demonstrating the very different nature of this paper — both in terms of color and thickness — and the P.F. recertified it as white paper No. 7X2. The Scott Catalogue listing includes a footnote stating "No. 7X2 was printed on print paper that is substantially thicker than the letter paper on which 7X1 was printed".

Census no. 7X2-PCE-01 (available at https://siegelauctions.com/resources/census/us/scott/7X2). USPCS census no. 20231 (not yet updated to 7X2). Illustrated in Philip T. Wall's article on the Millbury provisional (Chronicle 121, p. 17). Ex C. E. Chapman, Col. Edward H. R. Green, Peyton ("Isleham") and from our 1964 and 2001 Rarities sales — all as the previously identified 7X1. "W.H.C." backstamp (Warren H. Colson). P.F. certificate no. 384694 as 7X1 no longer accompanies. With 2022 A.P.S. certificate stating "white (not bluish) paper" and numbered as a variety of 7X1. With 2024 P.F. certificate as No. 7X2, "Black on White." Listed but unpriced in Scott, which prices 7X1 used at $60,000.

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