371st Auction

1 cent dark brown-lilac/grassgreen, III. printing, vertical pair and single copy tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 23/10 1879" to lettersheet to Bassin, St. Croix with Christiansted arrival mark on reverse; a fine and early multiple franking, certficate C.A. Møller BPP (2007)

1873/1900, 1 cent IV. printing, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 1/6 1885" to printed matter to Puerto Rico. A very fine and scarce single franking; certificate C.A. Møller (1997)

1 cent, VI. printing, horizontal pair, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 27/3 1891" to printed matter wrapper to New Jersey, very fine and scarce

1 c. green/brownish-red and 3 c. blue-grey/carmine-rose in strip of 3, all with frame inverted, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 16/3 1898" to cover to New York with arrival mark, fine

3 cents, II. printing, tied by clear "ST. THOMAS 23/11 1878" with additional strike alongside to lettersheet to St. Croix with manuscript transit notation  "Frederiksted 24/11 78 L.K." and additional blue "Christiansted" in the address; sent on with Christiansted arrival mark of November 25. The post office of Frederiksted burnt down in October 1878 during the labor riot and a new date cancel did not arrive before January 1879. This is the only recorded entire showing the emergency handwritten postmark. Certificate C.A. Møller BPP (2000)

1873/90, 3 cents II. printing, 4 cents I. printing and 10 cents I. printing, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 9/4 1878" with additional strike alongside to lettersheet to Vera Cruz, Mexico, endorsed "p French Str.". A fine and scarce colour franking according to the GPU rate to Mexico with French packet service between 2.4.1878-31.3.1879

3 cents II. printing and 10 cents I. printing in horizontal pair, tied by clear "ST. THOMAS 8/1 1878" to lettersheet endorsed "p French Str." to Vera Cruz, charged on front with "60" centavos inland delivery. The cover is franked according to the GPU rate with French packet service between 1.9.1877-1.4.1878. The 3 cents with tear at upper right, one 10 cents rounded corner, otherwise fine and fresh; a very rare entire, just three 23 cents frankings recorded

3 cents, III. printing, tied by cds. "FREDERIKSTED 21/10 1887" to pre-printed soldier's mail envelope, countersigned at lower left, addressed to Denmark with St. Thomas transit of the next day and Danish arrival mark of November 20 on reverse. Soldier's letter were transported at a favoured 3 cents rate. The stamp with slightly rounded corner and faint corner crease, otherwise fine. Very rare; just 3 printed envelopes recorded

3 cents with frame inverted and 4 cents, tied by circle of 4 rings on cover with reverse side "ST. THOMAS 1/9 1899" to Helsingör, Denmark with arrival mark on reverse; 4 cents slightly rounded corner, otherwise fine

7 cents, I. printing, tied by circle of 5 rings, tied to envelope with adjacent "ST. THOMAS 2/8 1875" to Germany, showing on reverse scarce "AUS WESTINDIEN P. HAMBURG DAMPFER ÜBER CÖLN 20/8". The stamp with corner fault at lower right, partly corrected, otherwise very fine and fresh; just 4 other covers with the early printing are recorded. Certificate C.A. Møller BPP (2006)

7 cents deep yellow/lilac and 5 cents light grey/light green, both I. printing, 2 copies each, fixed alternately and tied by target to double rate lettersheet with part of contents from "CHRISTIANSTED 13/11 1877" via London to Copenhagen with transit mark of St. Thomas and arrival mark on reverse. A fine, rare and highly attractive colour franking

7 cents, II. printing, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 4/2 1886" to postal stationery envelope 3 cents red via London to France with transit and arrival marks on front and reverse; the envelope light fold not affecting the stamp, otherwise fine and scarce combination

5 cents grey/green, VI. printing, 2 copies tied cds. "ST. THOMAS 3/3 1896" to small envelope to Nova Scotia with New York transit and Barrington N.S. arrival marks, very fine

5 cents green/grey, normal frame, horizontal pair tied by cds. "FREDERIKSTED 11/7 1899" to registered postcard via New York with transit register label to Denmark; on arrival taxed in mistake, but corrected. A fine and scarce registered card, only few recorded

5 cents, III. printing, 7 copies with 2 copies 1 cent, V. printing, tied by cds. "ST THOMAS 10/11 1887" to triple rate registered envelope to Colchester with arrival mark; the right 5 cents neglectable corner crease, otherwise fine and most attractive

10 cents dark brown/ultramarine, I. printing, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 15/10 1879" with additional strike alongside to registered lettersheet with boxed "Anbefalet./No.1625" to Christiansted with arrival mark of October 17. A fine and rare single franking of the first printing and the only recorded domestic registered letter with the bicoloured issue

10 cents, I. printing, used with clear target on lettersheet from "CHRISTIANSTED 13/8 1879" via St. Thomas and London to Copenhagen, endorsed "Per Royal Mail Steamer", very fine, certificate Nielsen (2003)

10 cents dark chocolatebrown/dark steel-blue, II. printing, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 27/7 1879" with additional strike alongside to entire letter originating from Caracas, posted to New York with arrival mark of August 6. The stamp with slightly rounded corner, otherwise very fine

1876/93, 50 cents greyish-violet, II. printing, unmounted mint, very fine and scarce in this condition, unsigned, opinion Møller BPP (2018) (Facit 13b)

50 cents grey-violet with 12 cents yellow-green/lilac-red with horizontal pair 5 cents VII. printing and 2 copies 4 cents II. printing, tied to registered linen envelope with boxed "AR" from "ST. THOMAS 24 11 1896" via London to Belgium with transit and arrival marks on front and reverse. The letter is correctly franked with 7x 10 cents letter fee, 7 cents registration fee and 3 cents 'avis reception'. A very rare and most attractive franking, certificate Nielsen (2005)

1887, 1 CENT on 7 cents, II. printing, 2 horizontal strips of 4 and 2 single stamps including 2 with inverted frame, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 21/7 1887" to commercial envelope to Port of Spain, Trinidad with arrival mark on front; the lower right stamp with pulled perf and tiny marginal tear, the envelope with small tear at bottom and light damage on reverse, otherwise fine and attractive. A very rare multiple franking, just one similar item recorded

1895, 10 CENTS on 50 cents, 6 copies, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 12/3 1896" to sixfold linen envelope of the US consulate with adjacent sender's mark of ship brokers Bache & Co. to Portland with transit marks on reverse. A highly unusual and scarce multiple franking

1895, 10 CENTS on 50 cents with 1873/90, 1 cent IX. printing (3) and 4 cents II. printing, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 29/9 1895" to registered envelope to New York with arrival mark; one 1 cent with tear, otherwise fine. A nice 3 colour franking, certificate Nielsen (2000) Provenance: Sven Yort (Robson Lowe 1981)

4 cents normal frame, 2 horizontal pairs with 1900, 5 cents blue tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 11/8 1903" to registered double rate letter to Germany with arrival mark, very fine

4 cents, diagonal bisect with plate flaw "cut in oval's upper edge", tied by "ST. THOMAS 28/1 1903" and used as correct postage on postcard to Liverpool, here charged with 2 d., refused by the addressee and returned to St. Thomas with RLO marks of Liverpool and London and with arrival mark of April 30. The card with corner creases at lower left and some light bends, otherwise fine; an interesting item

4 cents, diagonal bisect, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 28/2 1903" to 2nd rate local printed matter envelope; a fine and scarce usage

4 cents, diagonal bisect with inverted frame, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 7/2 1903" to postcard to the Isle of Wight, charged on arrival with 2 d. with adjacent "Contrary to regulations 723" 

10 cents in horizontal pair with 1900, coat of arms 1 cent in horizontal pair and 5 cents, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 17/8 1901" to 2nd rate commercial cover to New York with US registration mark on reverse; a fine commercial cover

1900, Coat of arms 1 cent green with clear "ST. THOMAS 27/12 1904" on picture postcard, sent as printed matter to the Cape of Good Hope with Copenhagen transit mark on front, fine and scarce

1900, Coat of arms 5 cents blue, 2 horizontal pairs and 2 single, tied by cds. "FREDERIKSTED 4/6 1900" to triple rate envelope to Denmark; on reverse nice advertising print for the "HOTEL & CAFE DU COMMERCE ST-THOMAS"; a fine and scarce multiple franking

1902, Surcharge 2 CENTS on 3 cents perf. 12 3/4, tied by clear "ST. THOMAS 10/4 1902" to small local cover; very fine and scarce

1902, 2 CENTS on 3 cents perf 14:13½ with inverted frame, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 11/4 1902" to picture postcard to Manila, Philippines; on reverse transit machine cancels of New York and San Francisco; the card with light corner crease at upper left, otherwise very fine and extremely rare, supposed to be the only recorded entire with this stamp (Facit 24a)

8 Cents on 10 Cents and coat of arms 5 cents, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 2/1 1904" to registered envelope with Boston transit register label to St. John Newfoundland; 5 cents one short corner perf and small part of backflap missing, otherwise fine

1902, 8 Cents on 10 cents with coat of arms 5 cents blue, tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 8/8 1903" to registered cover with adjacent boxed "AR" to the US with New York register handstamp on reverse; a scarce cover in fine condition

1903, Coat of arm 2 cents carmine tied by cds. "ST. THOMAS 5/4 1904" to printed matter envelope to Denmark with arrival mark on reverse; a fine and scarce franking

1903, Coat of arms 2 cents carmine, horizontal pair, tied by clear "CHRISTIANSTED 22/6 1903" to cover to Bassin. A fine and scarce local use