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Sale 20: The Westpex Sale

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U.S. Postal History: Gun Covers: Manufacturers

Lots 388-397 Lots 398-407 Lots 408-417 Lots 418-427 Lots 428-437 Lots 438-447 Lots 448-457 Lots 458-467 Lots 468-477 Lots 478-487 Lots 488-497 Lots 498-507 Lots 508-517 Lots 518-527 Lots 528-537 Lots 538-547 Lots 548-557 Lots 558-567 Lots 568-577 Lots 578-587 Lots 588-597 Lots 598-607 Lots 608-617 Lots 618-627

Lot 508    

Allen & Jemison Co. Black & orange allover design on 1899 cover showing Company Buildings with Streetcards & Horse Drawn Carriages with Pistol at Left, franked with two 1¢ Bureaus tied by Tuscaloosa, Ala. duplex cancel, with lovely all over illustrated ad on reverse showing Rifle & Pistol, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $180

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Lot 509    

American Arms Co. Design on 1893 cover showing Three Shotguns & Pistol, franked with 2¢ Columbian tied by Boston, Mass. machine cancel, Very Fine.
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $325

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Lot 510    

A.L. Babcock. Blue & red design on 1899 cover showing Two Rifles & Plow, franked with 2¢ Bureau tied by Billings, Mont. duplex cancel, small stain & edge tear at r, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $50 - 75.

Realized: $32

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Lot 511    

Baker & Hamilton. All over ad on reverse of 1887 green cover showing Opened Shotgun, franked with 2¢ Bank Note tied by Sacramento, Cal. duplex cancel, Very Fine.
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $115

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Lot 512    

Baker Gun and Forging Co. 194-1908 Four covers all with different ads of the Baker Gun Co., three are illustrated ads & the fourth is with violet handstamped return address, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $290

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Lot 513    

Francis Bannerman. Attractive all over design showing Spencer Repeating Shotgun with Championship Medals, franked with 1890 2¢ tied by New York duplex cancel, reverse with text advertising, Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Francis Bannerman immigrated with his in 1854, when he was three, and settled in Brooklyn. His father established a business selling flags, rope and other articles acquired at Navy auctions. When he joined the union army during the Civil War, 13-year-old Francis began running the business. At the close of the Civil War, the U.S. government auctioned off military goods by the ton, mostly to be scrapped for their metal.

Young Francis can be called the "Father of the Army-Navy Store," for he was one of the first to realize that much of what was being sold had a market value higher than scrap. Under his guidance, Bannerman's became the world's largest buyer of surplus military equipment. Their storeroom and showroom, taking up a full block at 501 Broadway, opened to the public in 1905. Of it, the New York Herald said, "No museum in the world exceeds it in the number of exhibits."

At the close of the Spanish American War, Francis Bannerman purchased 90 percent of all captured goods in a sealed bid, and it became necessary to find a secure place to store their large quantity of very volatile black powder. His son, David, saw Pollopel Island, in the Hudson, and Francis Bannerman purchased it in 1900.

Realized: $180

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Lot 514    

Francis Bannerman. Two covers with all over illustrated design, 1902 cover showing Spencer Repeating Shotgun, 1907 cover showing Remington Rifle (reverse with Bannerman's Military Museum in New York), both reduced at right, 1902 cover stained, Fine.
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $110

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Lot 515    

Francis Bannerman. All over illustrated design on 1912 cover showing Remington Rifle & Bannerman's Island, franked with 2¢ Washington-Franklin tied by New York machine cancel, reverse with Bannerman's Military Museum in New York, cover with original enclosure on matching illustrated letterhead, Extremely Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $210

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Lot 516    

Francis Bannerman. All over ad on reverse of 1916 cover showing Seven Shot Carbine, franked with 2¢ Washington-Franklin tied by New York, N.Y. machine cancel, front of cover with all over design of Bannermans' Island & Arsenal, original enclosure on Company letterhead included, Very Fine.
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $115

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Lot 517    

Francis Bannerman. Two different Bannerman covers, both with illustrated advertising on reverse of cover, one showing "Seven Shot Carbine" & other with "Belgian century Old Flintlock Pistol", Very Fine.
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $95

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Lots 388-397 Lots 398-407 Lots 408-417 Lots 418-427 Lots 428-437 Lots 438-447 Lots 448-457 Lots 458-467 Lots 468-477 Lots 478-487 Lots 488-497 Lots 498-507 Lots 508-517 Lots 518-527 Lots 528-537 Lots 538-547 Lots 548-557 Lots 558-567 Lots 568-577 Lots 578-587 Lots 588-597 Lots 598-607 Lots 608-617 Lots 618-627

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