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Month: September 2020

Most Likely Bogus, But Interesting Regardless

Most Likely Bogus, But Interesting Regardless

R7b doesn’t exist. Best case scenario, this was done privately, not officially. Certainly the nature of the perforations indicates it was not done on a normal perforator. I thought it was interesting enough to put in a snipe and won it for a nominal bid. It’s an early cancel, and during this period some companies were looking for ways to make imperfs easier to use. See, for example, the sewing machine perforations on R19a and the privately rouletted 1st issues…

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Scarce Half-Cent Battleship Documentary Solo Usage

Scarce Half-Cent Battleship Documentary Solo Usage

It’s a little worse for wear, but this is only the second solo usage of a half-cent battleship documentary I have seen in person, the first being one I posted here last year. It is an 1899 2-day traveler’s accidental death and injury policy from The Travelers Insurance Company. The full name of the railroad(s) in the cancel is Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railways. I’m assuming that rather than it being a combined…

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Curious Illegal Usage Of 2c Bureau On Bank Check

Curious Illegal Usage Of 2c Bureau On Bank Check

At first glance this looks like a nondescript illegal usage, a bit beat up, likely a $10-15 item at retail. But the timing is curious. It’s dated February 21, 1891… but that stamp wasn’t issued until 1894. Unless it’s a contrived item, the only thing I can think of is that it was retroactively taxed at the time the check was submitted for payment, some 3+ years later. The reverse shows nothing except for the endorsement of the payee, presumably…

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Gotta Love A Collection That Tells A Story

Gotta Love A Collection That Tells A Story

This small check collection was in Eric Jackson’s auction this week, and while it cost me more than I had hoped, I was willing to stretch a bit for it. It traces the use of 2-cent revenue stamps from the advent of the tax in October 1862 through the late 1860s through the lens of a single company’s checks. The checks themselves are great aesthetically, having been printed in two contrasting colors. Additionally it has an example from the second…

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