Lot 2494
1798, First Federal Issue, 30¢ Rhode Island, exceptional impression clear of manuscript or creasing, at upper left on bill of exchange demand note of $150 dated May 29, 1799 (over payment of tax by 5¢), Extremely Fine.Scott Nos. RM192 $2,250.
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST 30¢ RHODE ISLAND EMBOSSED ISSUE OF THE FOUR EXAMPLES REPORTED.
Realized: $625
Lot 2495
1798, First Federal Issue, 75¢ Rhode Island, sharp crisp embossing, on fresh promissory note of $4,496.47 for 12 months dated February 27, 1800, some manuscript notation over embossing, Very Fine, very rare with only five stamps reported.Scott Nos. RM194 $1,500.
Realized: $500
Lot 2496
1798, First Federal Issue, $1 Rhode Island, sharp detailed embossing, on Marine policy for insuring shipment of slaves from Africa to Havana, Cuba, December 28, 1779, policy for Nathaniel Howland for the schooner Commerce, Very Fine, very rare with only nine stamps reported.Scott Nos. RM195 $1,250.
The document's connection with slavery is shown by the first line of handwritten text "The underwriters risk Insurrection of Slaves." Havana was the main distribution point for slaves that left Africa and then went to the United States. Only one other insurance policy of this kind is known.
Realized: $550
Lot 2497
1798, First Federal Issue, 4¢ Tennessee, sharp detailed embossing, on promissory note of $50 for 10 days, dated February 27, 1801, signed by John Sevier at lower left (served in the Revolution, was Governor of the State of "Franklin" and first Governor of Tennessee); fold slightly affecting embossed area, F.-V.F., very rare with only eight stamps reported.Scott Nos. RM214 $500.
Realized: $290
Lot 2498
1798, First Federal Issue, 50¢ Tennessee, strong clear impression, on top undated portion of bond document, Fine, still among the rarest embossed revenue stamps, with only four examples reported.Scott Nos. RM219 $1,250.
Realized: $325
Lot 2499
1798, First Federal Issue, $1 Virginia, bit more than half the stamp at lower right of bond for tobacco inspectors indebted to James Monroe (Governor of Virginia and later President), dated September 6, 1802; tiny hole in embossed area, Fine, one of the rarest embossed revenue issues, with only two properly used during the required time period, three others including this one are partial stamps on later usages, ex-Combs.Scott Nos. RM234 $2,500.
Realized: $650
Lot 2500
1798, First Federal Issue, 30¢ Virginia, strong detailed impression, on reverse of demand note of £28 13sh 4d dated December 30, 1800 (over payment of tax by 26¢); document with some light edge tone, a Very Fine impression, rare with only sixteen stamps reported, Virginia stamps are usually placed on the opposite side of the paper from the text.Scott Nos. RM244 $500.
Realized: $150
Lot 2501
1818-19, Maryland, 30¢ red, printed, complete sheet of four printed on banknote paper bearing colored silk threads; folds between impressions, Very Fine, a rare complete sheet, according to an article in the 1944 Stamp Specialist by Colin MacR. Makepeace, there may be only 19 complete sheets in existence.Scott Nos. RM362 $2,000.
This sheet of paper was to have four $20 bills of money printed on it. The tax stamp would have been in the center of each bill after the notes were separated. The stamps are not essays; they were offered for sale to the Bank but never used. Six other denominations were required by law, but none were ever found.
Realized: $525
Lot 2502
1794, $5 Federal Licence to Sell Liquor, bold high embossing on printed form licence dated September 30, 1798, to sell liquor carrier off premises in Beverly, Mass.; file fold just affecting edge of embossing, Very Fine, rare with Comb's 1993 book quoting Makepeace's finding of 34 stamps.Scott Nos. RM400 $600.
The annual licence was required between September 30, 1794 and Jun 30, 1801. This was the first Federal government stamp to show a denomination.
Realized: $280
Lot 2503
1814-17, $12 Federal Licence to Sell Liquor, strong sharp embossing on printed form license to retail alcohol in the country, dated December 31, 1814, with extra tax paid "12.00 + 5.50 / 17.50" in manuscript over stamp; file fold affecting embossing, otherwise Very Fine, very rare with only thirteen examples reported, this example with additional tax is unusual.Scott Nos. RM452 $775.
Realized: $575