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.