The March United States Postal History Sale - Day 2

black datestamp on cover to New York City franked with 1870 3c Green and 15c Bright orange (147, 152) tied by black corks, black straightline "Registered", recipient's handstamp dated the following day, very fine, the earliest recorded registered cover from Hartford

dateline on 1873 1c Postal card (UX1) with pencil "Hartford" alongside, addressed to "Miss Ada Louise Taylor" in Hartford, message reads: "My Dear Daughter, I send you the first letter I have ever written on a postal card and this is the first day they have been put into circulation in this city. You can recollect this all your life. Your affectionate Papa Sam", very fine, although uncancelled still an extraordinary first day use of the first...

blue datestamp on oversized cover to New Haven, Connecticut with striking illustrated advertisement for the Hartford Fire Insurance Co., franked with 2c Brown, 3c Green, and two 6c Dull pink Bank Notes, light wear as expected with such a large piece of mail, very fine and extremely attractive, this cover's addressee, Simeon E. Baldwin, would go on to serve as Connecticut's governor from 1911 to 1915

black datestamp with matching star cancellation tying 1873 3c Green (158) to 3c Green entire to Prague, Bohemia, cornercard for "Novelty Weaving & Braiding Works", endorsed "first steamer to Europe", red "New York Br. Transit Aug 10" exchange datestamp, carried by Guion Line's Dakota arriving Queenstown August 19, backstamped Prague August 24, very fine, 6c franking overpays the UPU 5c rate which went into effect July 1, 1875, prior to...

black duplex ties 1879 2c Vermilion (183) to small Valentine's envelope addressed to Miss Lucy Clark in Hartford, spectacular enclosure produced by the New England Valentine Company, extremely fine, Miss Lucy Clark was only five years old at the time so this Valentine's was most likely sent by her father

first day duplex ties 1883 2c Red brown to locally-addressed cover, very fine, one of two recorded first day covers of the issue from Hartford, 1995 APEX certificate (Scott $2,000)

Wesson time-on-bottom duplex on 2c Brown entire, cornercard "Return to S.L. Clemens, Hartford, Conn., If not delivered within 5 days.", local city address not in Twain's own hand, very fine and rare, a wonderful piece of postal history from Hartford's most notable resident
This cover is addressed to Linus T. Fenn, a furniture dealer in Hartford who went by "Fenn the Furniture Man" in his advertisements. Given the lavish nature of Twain'...

15 coves including "Advertised", "Unclaimed", "Forwarded", "Returned to Writer", several different registry markings, mute circular rate cancels, "Due 3" with postage due stamp, and "Transit" backstamp, generally fine to very fine, an interesting group of uncommon and unusual markings

24 covers with cancellations including stars in circles, leaves, geometrics, targets, circles of wedges, negative "K", "B", and more, generally fine to very fine, attractive group

11 wrappers with destinations including Argentina, Germany, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Denmark, Sumatra, Romania, and Canada, generally fine to very fine, an interesting assortment

eight cards selected for freshness, includes four geometrics and four negative letters (two different "H", "V", and "X"), all very fine and choice, an attractive group

small group of 16 covers and cards including "Boston, Hart. & Erie R.R.", "Hart. & Millerton Agt" (with both "W" and "E" killers), "Hartford & M. Agt.", "Hart & Saybrook R.P.O.", "Hartford & State Line R.P.O.", "P.H. & Fishkill R.R.", and "Spring. & Hartford R.P.O.", some light duplication, generally fine to very fine, an interesting group