Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — Backof-Book, including Buffalo Balloon, Special Delivery, Carriers and Locals, Group Lots
1877, 5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon Air Post Semi-Official, Tête-Bêche Pair (CL1a). One Schoendorf Type II, other Schoendorf Type III, 5.5mm spacing between stamps, Type III Mint N.H., Type II usual small margin thin spot and trivial toned speck at edge (could easily be trimmed)
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND ATTRACTIVE TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIR OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON POST ISSUE, COMBINING TYPES II AND III, WITH ONE STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, Lillard wrote that only 23 were used.
Based on previous examples we have handled, at least some of the Buffalo Balloon stamps were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed. This accounts for the fact that only three of the tête-bêche pairs certified by The Philatelic Foundation are potentially sound. The others are mostly thinned or scuffed in one corner where they were stuck together.
Ex Kharasch. With 1971 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1971 PF No. 35195 View Cert
5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon Air Post Semi-Official (CL1). Schoendorf Type II, unused (no gum), showing stitch watermark at bottom, large margins all around and rich color, two small thin spots
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BUFFALO BALLOON ISSUE.
The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John F. B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, only 23 were used. Based on previous examples we have handled, at least some of the Buffalo Balloon stamps were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1989 PF No. 0213972 View Cert
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Imperforate (E5P5, formerly E5a and E5c). Vertical pair, original gum, h.r., large margins, few tiny thins and tiny scrape on bottom stamp, Very Fine appearance and rare, with 1979 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1979 PF No. 76106 View Cert
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Imperforate (E5P5, formerly E5a and E5c). Vertical pair with horizontal guideline, original gum, large to full margins, Very Fine and rare
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a). Mint N.H. with huge 32mm top plate no. 882 selvage, deep rich rich color, fresh and Fine, desirable with the plate no. selvage as this variety comes only from plate 882 and so is easily identified here, it is priced in Scott at nearly double the normal E5
Special Delivery Balance. Album pages containing 25 items, including Nos. E1-E4, E6-E111, E11a (N.H., graded XF 90), few others, also F1, few Mint N.H., few small faults, overall Fine-Very Fine
90c Brown, Treasury, Soft Paper (O113). Disturbed original gum, thinned at top and slight short perfs at right, Very Fine centering, Scott value $11,000
(1c) Dull Blue, Franklin Carrier (LO1). Unused (no gum), small but clear margins, characteristic shade and sharp impression of the original 1851 printing, large area of filled-in thinning, Fine appearance, a rare unused example of the Franklin Carrier stamp, ex Kuphal, with 2007 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2007 PF No. 447355 View Cert
Kingman's City Post, Charleston S.C., 2c Black on Bluish (4LB14). Unused (no gum), large margins, small thin spot and light diagonal crease not noted on certificate, Very Fine appearance, with 1991 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1991 PF No. 0236336 View Cert
U.S.P.O., Philadelphia Pa., 1c Blue (7LB12). Large part original gum, large margins all around, Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1994 PF No. 0283687 View Cert
Adams & Co.'s Express, Cal., 25c Black, "Over our California lines only" (1L4). Unused (no gum), "LR" initials (L. Reed), large margins, Very Fine and attractive
Allen's City Dispatch, Chicago Ill., (unstated value), Pink, Black (3L1-3L2). Complete sheets of 100, original gum, the vast majority Mint N.H., some hinging along edges, both sheets with pieces of selvage missing and some typical separations, about ten of the Pink stamp with gum staining or soiling, overall Fine and scarce as complete sheets, Scott value as blocks of four
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Horizontal pair, original gum, h.r., large margins to full including top sheet margin, faint horizontal crease at center, Very Fine appearance, ex Chapin, with 1964 P.F. certificate for strip of three
Certificate
1964 PF No. 19137 View Cert
2c Orange & Black, Third Issue, Center Inverted (R135b). Attractive centering, Very Fine
Tellico Plains Tenn., 5c Red (81X1). Setting B with comma after "Johnson", unused (no gum), large to full margins, paper with clear laid lines, Very Fine
Essays & Proofs Balance. Eclectic balance of 17 items, ranging from couple N.Y. Provisional proofs, No. 30P3, a few lithograph essays, No. 73TC pair Francis Patent (P.F. certificate), Bowlsby coupon essay, No. 146P3 plate block, No. 257P1 off card, others, Very Fine, see our website PDF
Classics Balance, 1851-1869. 45 mostly unused stamps, including Nos. 9, 24, 25, 30, 68, 68a, 112, 124, 128, few other better, some either no gum or regummed, few faults, some appear Fine-Very Fine, approximately 25 with certificates
Bank Note Issues Balance. 60 mostly unused stamps, including Nos. 135, 146, 153, 156, 157, 159, 161, 179, 182, 185, 205, 208, 208a, 209, 211-218, some varieties such as No. 158 on ribbed paper, 210 on both vertical and horizontal laid paper, faults including regummed and some reperfed, some appear Fine-Very Fine, approximately 32 with certificates
1890, 1894-98 Issues Balance. 64 mostly unused stamps, including Nos. 219D, 220a, 226-229, 249, 253, 254, 256, 257, 258, 259, 261, 274, 275, 276 (2), 276A, 277, 282C, 283, 284, some faults including some regummed or reperfed, some Fine-Very Fine, seven with certificates