Lot
4167 
Charleston, S.C., Honour's City Express, 1851-58, 2¢ black on bluish, four margins, cancelled by manuscript "X" on dark buff cover addressed "Present" and with "Legare St" added at lower left later, original enclosure also addressed simply "Present", Very Fine. Scott No. 4LB8 Estimate $200 - 300.
Charleston had only the government approved carrier service in the South. In 1849, John H. Honour was appointed the first letter carrier, and he continued until he retired in 1860. There was soon sufficient demand for the service to occupy two people. Honour had several typeset stamps printed through the years, and the stamps were sold directly to the public. Initially called "Honour's City Express", later it was referred to as the "City Post" or "Penny Post". His successors continued on during the Civil War but not use stamps.