cover Metropolitan Post Office, New York, N.Y., 1c Blue (108L5), die cut as issued, used in combination with 3c Dull Red (11), large margins to barely in, both tied on fresh 1856 buff cover to Portland, Me., the 3c stamp is tied by 'New-York Jan 14' c.d.s., but more importantly the local is tied by a bold boxed 'Paid, W.H. Laws' company handstamp, with original contents headed 'New York City', minute cover edge tear,

METROPOLITAN POST OFFICE COMBINATION COVER

Details

cover Metropolitan Post Office, New York, N.Y., 1c Blue (108L5), die cut as issued, used in combination with 3c Dull Red (11), large margins to barely in, both tied on fresh 1856 buff cover to Portland, Me., the 3c stamp is tied by 'New-York Jan 14' c.d.s., but more importantly the local is tied by a bold boxed 'Paid, W.H. Laws' company handstamp, with original contents headed 'New York City', minute cover edge tear,

VERY FINE AND UNBELIEVABLY CHOICE, AN EXTRAORDINARY INDISPUTABLE COMBINATION USAGE, AN EXTREMELY RARE LOCAL COMBINATION COVER, A MAJOR LOCAL RARITY WORTHY OF THE FINEST COLLECTION

Lot Essay

Note: A noted specialist reports that this cover is unique. Whether used by itself or in a combination usage, this is the only cover on which the local is actually tied by the company handstamp. Such an example was not present in the famed Caspary collection.

Expertization: 1995 P.F. certificate which states 'it is a genuine usage' est.