Lot
4149 
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1854, 2¢ black, three large margins, barely touched at right, cancelled by brownish "Paid" straightline on light buff cover to local street address; slight edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Mason, Middendorf, Golden; signed by Sloane. Scott No. 4LB3 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY A FEW RECORDED 4LB3 USAGES WITH THE "PAID" CANCELLATION.
Realized: $2,900
Lot
4150 ()
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1854, 2¢ black, three large margins, touched at top, tied by brownish "Paid" straightline, used with 3¢ dull red (11A), ample margins to in at left, tied by blue "Charleston S.C. '3 Paid' Nov. 27" cds on blue front only to New York City street address, Fine, ex-Caspary, Hall. Scott No. 4LB3 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY A FEW RECORDED 4LB3 USAGES WITH THE "PAID" CANCELLATION.
Realized: $1,900
Lot
4151
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1849-50, 2¢ black on bluish pelure, four margins, uncancelled on locally addressed mourning cover to Mrs. Elmore, Charleston S.C., original letter datelined "Charleston Jun 4th 1850" to the widow offering condolences, apparently delivered entirely out of the mails by Honour's, a Very Fine use, Ex-Hessel. Scott No. 4LB5 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY 10 RECORDED COVERS LISTED IN THE LYONS CENSUS.
The "Honour's/City Post/2 Cents" typeset stamps were the first of the small rectangular issues after the oval first issue. They are found on yellow and bluish pelure paper, both of which are extremely rare. The Lyons census (The Penny Post, October 2007) lists ten 4LB5 covers.
Realized: $3,500
Lot
4152
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1849-50, 2¢ black on yellow, three large margins, barely touched at left, uncancelled, red "Charleston S.C. '10' Oct 2" integral-rate cds on 1849 folded letter to New York City, Very Fine, ex-Myersburg; with 1983 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 4LB7 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE HONOUR'S 2¢ BLACK ON YELLOW CARRIER STAMP.
Realized: $2,900
Lot
4153
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1849-50, 2¢ black on yellow, three large to huge margins, slightly in at right, uncancelled, red "Charleston S.C. Jan. 21" cds and red manuscript "20" due rating on buff cover to New York City; cover tear and staining at upper right, some light stamp soiling, Fine and scarce use, ex-Hessel, Golden; with 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 4LB7 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $450
Lot
4154
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 5, large margins except just clear at left, tied by manuscript "X" cancel, red "Charleston S.C. Jun 15" cds and matching "Paid" rating handstamp with red manuscript "48" cent rating on folded cover to Dorking, England, New York red "6" cent credit rating for double the 3¢ American packet credit, carried by Collins Line Pacific departing New York Jun. 21st to Liverpool arriving Jul. 1st, red Liverpool Paid (7.1) arrival cds, forwarded upon arrival to London, Very Fine, Ex-Hind. Scott No. 4LB8 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A REMARKABLE TRANSATLANTIC USE OF THE HONOUR'S CARRIER STAMP.
Realized: $16,000
Lot
4155
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, vertical strip of three, Positions 5/7/9, with huge left sheet margin, slightly in at right, light crease in margin, manuscript cancel in pencil, used on large embossed valentine cover to Miss L. A. Mills on Line Street, with beautiful decorative Valentine enclosure which appears to have originated with the cover; minor edge tears, Very Fine; with 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 4LB8 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY THREE VALENTINES BEARING A MULTIPLE OF THE HONOUR'S 4LB8 STAMP ARE RECORDED.
The three recorded multiples used on cover are:
1. (no date) Valentine cover with uncancelled vertical strip of three (Pos. 5/7/9), ex Kuphal
2. (no date) Valentine cover with uncancelled horizontal strip of three (Pos. 7-8-9), ex Caspary, Boker, Golden and D.K. Collection
2. (no date) cover with pen cancelled horizontal pair (Pos. 3-4), ex Hall, D.K. collection.
Realized: $2,900
Lot
4156
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 3, three large margins, slightly in at bottom, tied by manuscript squiggle cancel, light but clear strike of blue "Wil. & Ral. R.R. Feb. 10" Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad route agent's cds with matching "5" cent rating handstamp on 1852 folded letter to New York City, Very Fine, ex-Chapman, Hall. Scott No. 4LB8 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN OUTSTANDING USE OF CARRIER STAMP ON MAIL GIVEN TO THE ROUTE AGENT OF THE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH RAILROAD.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
4157
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 1, three full margins, slightly in at left, tied by manuscript cancel, used with 3c brownish carmine (11A), clear to ample margins, cancelled by manuscript cross-hatch cancel, blue "Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad" route agent's circular datestamp with matching manuscript "Feby 17" dating on circa 1852 blue folded letter to Boston Mass.; two file folds with one affecting carrier stamp, Very Fine, ex-Remele, Abt (with album page and route map), Golden. Scott No. 4LB8 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE USE OF CARRIER STAMP ON MAIL GIVEN TO THE ROUTE AGENT OF THE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH RAILROAD.
According to the Abt pages, Charles Remele had speculated that the Charleston carrier department somehow ensured letters would reach the southern terminus of the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad at Wilmington, perhaps via a coastal vessel since Charleston was 150 miles away.
Lot
4158
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, Position 12, huge margins except just touched at top, tied by manuscript cancel, used with 3¢ dull red (11A), margins to slightly in, vibrant shade, tied by blue "Charleston S.C. '3 Paid' Feb 13" cds on buff cover to Endfield Center N.Y.; some edge wrinkling, Very Fine; with 1975 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 4LB8 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $525