Message Board

I have met with Al Smiley's daughter.  She's quite active in one of the historical societies in the bay area.

PO location document 1889

I was able to aquire a proposal document for the establishment of a post office named Logan in Tyler County, West Virginia. Dated October 24, 1889. Are these documents scarce? This is the first one I have seen.

Meyer Lansky Cover/Enclosure: SOLD

Both Cover and letter have been sold to a Las Vegas Museum... $$,$$$.00

Meyer Lansky Cover w/ enclosure: SOLD

Cover with enclosure from Meyer Lansky, 1 April 1979 from Miami, FL  addressed to "Al Smiley" Los Angeles, CA. Al Smiley was sitting next to Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel when he was executed in 1947.

Thanks!

Richard,

Thanks so much for that.  It's good to be back as well!  I appreciate the help on my cover, about all I could tell was that it was, obviously, PCM.  Also, I paid just under $100 for it which seemed quite cheap so it was something of a "poke bid".  I guess I gambled that it might be from the earlier period and a 30c rate.  Your estimate makes sense looking at the receiving stamp on the back of the cover, probably 1865 but perhaps someone on here can decipher exactly when and where it was marked.

Also, thanks for noticing the Marc Hass pedigree!

Bill

Cover

Bill W - Welcome back! Your cover is a circa 1865 use (can't see NY date clearly but the blue PCM mark is later - 64 to 66ish). The 28c rates were often overpaid with 30c stamp - maybe as a convenience but also maybe because the rates were stated as unpaid 30c, prepaid 28c which may not have been obvious unless closely read.

The cover is ex Haas (notation on reverse in Marc's hand) and he purchased in 1957 from Vi Mozian for $19.

Reverse

Of the cover in question... 

Also, there was a piece in the pochette that the over came in noting that it was lot #1427 in Regency's August 95 auction.

Prussian Closed Mail cover

I'm kind of rusty and it's been years since I have posted, tbh after my father (Bill Weismann Sr.) passed away I lost interest for a while but I'm starting to get back into 1861 issue covers.

So I saw this on eBay, it seemed somewhat interesting so... :)   I did lose my copy of the Starnes book, but I picked this misidentified cover up on eBay on Sunday night and it just came in the mail today.  It was advertised as going to France, but it's obviously Prussian Closed Mail, looks like, based on my limited knowledge, an earlier St Louis Postmark, so I thought perhaps it was just the pre (IIRC) 6-1862 or so 30c PCM rate to Germany.  I can't exactly decipher the receiving mark on the back of the cover, and there's not enough of the Exchange Office mark on the front to tell, but it appears to have gone through the NY Exchange Office.  I'll post the reverse as well. 

1812 material

Matt, Maybe if I can get institutionalized, I can see some of the covers!? I guess I will have to keep my eyes open, and follow eBay a bit more closely.

Mark:  at least a couple of pieces wound up institutionalized.  Most of the Ohio material now lives with me after passing through other hands.  I've seen a few other ex-Frajola 1812 covers on eBay (!) over the years.

Albert Sale

Stephen - I don't "happen to have" any of them .... tedious work to compile but NP #2 is next on my to-do list. Might be awhile though.

War of 1812 Sale

Richard,
A great reference!  Thanks very much for posting it.  Now do you have any idea where that material resides currently?  Some of it would have a wonderful home in Philadelphia.

Postal History 1870-1890

Richard
Would you  happen to have a searchable PDF file of your Net Price #2 sale?
Now that was a Banknote collection!!!!

War of 1812 Collection

I just uploaded a searchable PDF file of my Net Price #1 here.

Lotting

Kind of quiet around here.... Richard F, as a collector rather than a dealer, I think your lotting strategy is beyond brilliant. I remember when you sold the Len Persson collection in one of your auctions (back when you had postal history auctions).  Nearly all of the particular territory/state I happen to like--somebody has to--was offered in one lot. I travelled to Danbury to view the lot and attend the auction in person (with the late Henry Spelman who some here may remember for his postal history auctions).  I bought the lot I wanted for a fraction of my bid, and I still have most of the covers.  Many of the covers were the only covers known from the towns or the earliest/best postmarks/best usages known from the towns.  Large lots are definitely the way to go.

Animas City

I am pleased to see the APS raising money for itself by selling off excess material on eBay.  A review of their current listings and recently closed items reveals that the APS is not selling a large quantity of Colorado material or anything else of significant value.  It looks to me like they’re just doing a bit of housecleaning.

Lotting

Matt L - You are making a typical collector mentality mistake in my opinion. Large lots are an integral part of selling any larger collection. They bring dealers to the auction that once there want to spend money. They lend credibility that it is a legitimate estate sale (meaning unreserved usually),  and the large lots often bring more, to much more, than they are worth. A feeding frenzy ...

A dealer who comes for the large lots and who when bidding on a better individual lot hits a few bumps underbidding more that pays for any small dollar cover that brings $5 instead of $20. It is the total that matters, not how you get there.  

Further, the more you take out of any collection the less desireable it is for an auctioneer to handle. Now they will have to answer questions like: "where is that Animas City cover I knew Bill had? I would buy 50 junk covers just for that one."

I could really go on, but do hope that the powers at APS are not that ignorant of the auction market. However, many of these people are likely buyers only in the past and don't grasp some of the finer points of selling.

Richard:  I would think it depends on what parts.  If the APS has volunteers to do the listings, aren't they better off breaking down the lesser material that would otherwise get bulked out?  I would certainly think they should sell the best material at auction....

Animas City

I just looked at the ebay listing. I really can't believe that APS is selling what I presume to be parts of Bill Bauer's collection of Colorado on ebay. I REALLY hope that I am mistaken.

Animas City

Bill L - To be clear. I am not the "Richard" you refer to.

Los Animas is in the San Juan mountains (check Durango & Silverton RR on the internet) and there are several very good collectors of CO including a couple who specilaize in the San Juans. Having said that, that is not an exceptional number of page views on better postal history on ebay when I sell there. Also, it may well be high bidder checking in on status numerous times.

PS - It is a scarcer town as most mail was posted at larger, nearby office of Animas Forks

What is so special about this cover?

Posted on ebay by Richard at the APS is this cover with over 250 views.  Is there something special about this cover that we have overlooked or is it just the funny name of the town?

Description:    1878 Animas City, La Plata Co., Colorado, registered DPO cover, 3¢ Washington (#U163) sent on March 16, to Lake City, Colorado, received March 20 (paid bank docketing in blue), registration paid by 10¢ Jefferson continental (#161), canceled by double circle negative star killer and cds both in purple. No postal markings on back. The Animas City post office was in operation from 1877 until 1885 when its name was changed to Animas, in turn another DPO, and is listed in Helbock’s (1998) with a value rating of 5.   Condition is very clean with strong strikes, neatly slit open at top, 10¢ stamp missing large piece top left.

What Happened

William Cummings,

re your comment,

" many of the stamps he had wanted being sold by dealers there at less than the final auction price. We had quite an interesting discussion over what probably transpired there. "

and what had probably transpired, some sort of conspiracy,

David B.

BALPEX

Will also be at BALPEX - the ARA is meeting there.

Balpex

Larry,

Look forward to seeing you at Balpex.  

Matt

Lou Robbins

    I remember when I upset Lou. I mentioned a recent column by the dealer in Shrub Oak where that dealer had passed a store window, noticed a deck of cards there, and realized that it had an unlisted revenue stamp on it. He bought it and showed it around at the next Collector's Club meeting.
    Lou exploded. I won't repeat what he said exactly, since some of our readers are under 50, but the gist was that Lou's brother, Phil, was the one who had found the stamp, not the man who was taking credit for it.
    I remember, too, when Lou came back from a buying trip to Europe and was very unhappy about the results. It seemed that lots were going at very high prices in the auction and he wasn't getting too many of them. He continued his trip to a stamp show, probably in Germany but I am not sure, and found many of the stamps he had wanted being sold by dealers there at less than the final auction price. We had quite an interesting discussion over what probably transpired there.

Brattleboro

This is not my area, i have not seen the stamp or in fact touched any Brattleboro

To me it is evident the spot is a transient from foreign matter, perhaps dried ink, etc.  on the plate

On the actual stamp, assuming it hasn't been soaked too many times, this should 
be evident

Nuf said, i know not more if this much

Leonard

scan

Al - I don't know if this is more helpful to those studying your stamp.
I just took your image and did a quick contrast, sharpen, color correction, levels, etc. Maybe they can see something in addition to features already commented on.

Roger

Lou Robbins

Lou was one of the greats, especially to reporters, because he detested humbug. Given his pervasive business connections, Lou did not like to be quoted making waves, but when a report needed to be vetted by lawyers for publication, Lou was often the unnamed confirming source.

He was also the man with the longest memory. About 15 years ago, Linn's made a habit of decorating the front page with photos of stunningly centered U.S. classic stamps with clean certificates that achieved multiples of catalog value in A-list auction sales, accompanied by hyperbolic superlatives in the descriptions.Today they would be graded 98J and 100J. One day Lou informed the reporter that several of those superb jumbo stamps were actually large margin copies that had been reperforated. He knew because he had handled them before they were worked. His tip brought an abrupt end to the feature. During one of my investigations, Lou remarked that Jack Molesworth's report about doctored stamps, "The tip of the Iceberg," was aptly titled, perhaps even more so than Jack intended.  

Brattleboro Provisional

I retract my previous theory regarding the 11th position. I hadn't seen that stamp before and was working on the supposition it was genuine.

AJV

Below is 1200 dpi, the best I can do.

BALPEX

Lawrence LeBel

Lawrence, unexpectedly I will be attending BALPEX. You will recognise me. I am the substantial looking gentleman, quietly spoken with a string of onions over my shoulder.

I had hoped I would be then going down to see RF in New Mexico but business has rudely intruded.

Hope we make contact! Nick

Brattleboro

I’m now having a hard time believing our flaw was caused by paper after Chip provided me with the image. Perhaps the images provided would help others.
The dark contour line around perimeter shows unevenness, a coagulation or dissipation, then a build up of the ink. The inner area has more of an even flow to it. Almost looks like the ink was disturbed on the sheet, perhaps by a small drop of water or sweat. 
Really hard to say without examining the stamp firsthand.

Chip,
THANK YOU.

Scott:
The offical term for this (well, official amongst my family), would be "schmutz."

Stephen:
Al did post this picture a while ago of the spot.
Chip

Brattleboro

I believe Scott T is right on point. I wonder if Al Valente would be willing to show a higher resolution image of the stamp?
Also, I'm not sure if copper plates would produce enough force, or the setup used in the mechanical application of the process at the time of printing could produce enough force to cause even a slight protrusion on the reverse side of the stamp.

Brattleboro

Copper plate. One printing. No corrosion.

I think the shape of the flaw impression and dark contour line around perimeter suggest something adhering to the plate or paper, which prevented the ink/paper from entering the recessed lines (as it must in engravure printing) but formed a ring around the amorphous shape.

Brattleboro

Alan,

The dark halo around the blemish's perimeter supports the notion that it was a pit, as ink along the inside edges of a negative-relief space are more difficult to remove during wiping. So I agree with you there.

But since the 500 sheets allegedly produced could easily have been pulled in only a few days, simple corrosion seems unlikely to me. Besides, was the plate not copper? Copper doesn't rust, and won't even gain a patina in less than a week.

Anyone working with copper plates would have acid in his shop, to use for etching. I vote for sloppiness rather than aging.

Balpex 2010

Who will be attending Balpex this weekend?  I will look for you if you are attending.

Brattleboro Provisional Plate Flaw

I generally agree with the premise that for a variety to be classified as a repeating plate flaw instead of a printing anomaly, a confirming copy needs to be found. But for very rare stamps, where plate damage may have occurred late in production, this may be virtually impossible. O52, the 12¢ Post Office official stamp, is relatively common, but a huge scratch appeared late at position 100. I have searched for years for a confirming copy, to no avail. Fortunately, there exists a single card proof (printed later) which confirms that this is a plate variety, along with a photograph of the Earl of Crawford proof sheet. The flaw on AJ Valente's stamp looked to me like a rust pit, a form of plate damage that was probably not there when the first printings were pulled.

Lou Robbins

"Icon" is an overused word, but in fact, Lou Robbins was one of the last. I was thrilled to see the American Stamp Dealer and Collector Magazine induct him into their Dealer Hall of Fame within the last few years, a well-deserved honor. But Lou's kindness and generosity knew no bounds. I told this story for the ASD&C readers shortly after he was honored, but it is worth telling again to anyone who missed it;

  In 1985 we were set to conduct our Public Auction No. 8, but our first  in NYC at the Collector's Club, and at that time Abbot Lutz was in charge of booking auctions into the club and was a licensed auctioneer as well, so we hired him to call  the sale. A day or two before the sale, we got a telephone call from Lou explaining that Abbot had fallen ill and could not call the auction, but Lou, who was also an auctioneer, offered to fill in for Abbot. We gratefully accepted.

  The auction took place without a hitch.  After the sale, we went to pay Lou for his services, whereupon he refused payment, and instucted us to send the money to Abbot instead!  After that, Lou became our auctioneer, and continued to be our auctioneer until he retired from that part-time occupation. He was a stern and accurate auctioneer and did a great job for us for all those years, for which we will be eternally grateful.

  Mrs Robbins (Estelle) has also always been kind and gracious to us, and we send her our condolances. God bless them both.

Lou Robbins

I first met Lou Robbins at the Detroit airport in 1972. I had been asked to pick him up at the airport to bring him to the Koerber auction office to view lots. 

The look on his face was remarkable when he saw the small sports car I came in (a TVR) but got worse when he tried to climb in as it was so low to the ground. After a white-knuckle drive to the office, and some conversation, he warmed up a little bit to me. After that, he always asked me if I still had the car ... I must have replied in the negative at least 50 times but it always brought a smile to us both.

In the old days of auction agents, Lou handled all my bids when I didn't attend sales (one of the other agents of the era had a habit of falling asleep). 

Certainly an icon of philately on the American scene for a long time. A hall of famer for sure.

I am very sad to learn of the passing of Lou Robbins.
Lou was one of the great ones: a gentleman, always honest, and he sure knew his stamps! 

4-16

Nick,

Not as bad as you may think. It is unlikely to mean a medal level.

Visit the Rothko collection in Houston if you are ever there - but not if you're feeling suicidal.

Cincinnati dc cancel and grid- duplex?

Geoff, the first recorded use of a duplex cancel (CDS + killer) was Aug 8, 1860 by .  NYC.  Cleveland used one a month later while Cincy was one of the early ones as well.

Passing Of Lou Robbins

Philately has lost an Icon with the passing of Lou Robbins......... I first met Lou in 1975 when I was just poking my nose out and went to my second philatelic auction in New York.  He did not know me and being the gentleman he was, came up to me and introduced himself.  Between then and early 80's I would see Lou often.  I stood in awe of Lou as he had been, thren, in organized philately for almost 50 years.

As my auction agent, there was many a time Lou snagged that elusive item in  an auction craftily  using "with your discretion," never leaving a great piece wanting for just one bid.

The cycle of life must continue but it is sad to loose another friend. 

Positioning

Have just realised that one of the major covers in my re-arranged and reduced five frame New York Foreign Mail exhibit for Portugal is positioned at 4-16 ie on the bottom row at the extreme right. If you do not exhibit then you do not realise the absolute and total unmitigated disaster this position represents. How about an invisible black hole?Oh, why not just move it out of sequence to the premier position 5-1? Easier said than done - I have already informed the judges in my synopsis 4-16 is where it will be. It is a bit like placing your Mark Rothco on the restroom wall and your repro pictures of the holiday beach in Sardinia up in living room. Now, if judges could be limited in height to a max, of say, 5 feet 4 inches I would not be so bothered.

Lou Robbins

It is always sad to hear of an old friend passing but i have nothing but fond memories of Lou and Estelle

They were always first rate in every respect, honest and knowledgeable. I remember having dinner with Estelle in the early 1970's in New Orleans, a Bruce Ball sale, Lou was tied up at another auction and she was a bit nervous of the resonsibility. I have an auction catalog, an early Chicago cover was on the front cover, i gave Lou a good bid but told him i had problems with the marking and date, he didn't execute the bid and commented he thought the date on the letter was not in the same penmanship. The early 2000 i had dinner with them after the office was closed, they were both in excellent form.There was a 95th birthday, etc. dinner for Lou, i even more now regret but i could not attend.

Fortunately there are still a few around of there stature and there is much hope that classic philately will continue, ie the people.

Leonard

Lou Robbins

I only briefly met Lou.  But, part of my Siegel Auction run was part of Lou's personal set.  His notations are unbelievable and he had some eye for detail.  My prized copy of Moritmer Neinken's sale (including 10 cent collection) is hand annotated by Lou.

Louis Robbins

I'm posting this from Richard Frajola via Bob Markovits.

IT is with the deepest regret that the family of Louis K. Robbins announced his death on Saturday at age 98.  His philatelic dealings from 1928 were always done with honor and a humbleness that showed through.  I first met Lou in 1955 since I had just started collecting US Special Delivery material and he had been collecting special delivery material of the world since 1928.  He was and will always remain a gentleman, scholar and true friend.  His memory will live on with Ruth and me.  I loved to drive him home from Collectors Club meetings over the years, hear his stories, and gain knowledge from his vast experience.  Our sympathy goes out to his widow Estelle, daughter Sarah and son Ira and families.  I believe a memorial service will be held at the Collectors Club of New York in the near future, where he was a life member.
Robert L. Markovits

Scott T........

Given that you have examined the position 11, I understand.

John B......

I never expected the plate was anything other than 2 x 5.