Lot
1080 
1851, 12¢ black, diagonal bisect, lower left portion of stamp with full margins at sides, tied by blue "Via Nicaragua, Ahead of the Mails" boxed handstamp on fresh cover to Boston, Mass., entered the U.S. mails with "New - York, Ship, 7cts, Apr 10" integral due rate cds, manuscript "Via Nicaragua" endorsement at top; central vertical cover fold, Very Fine, ex-Emerson, Knapp, Beals; with 1969 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 17a Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN ATTRACTIVE 1851 12¢ BISECT AND VIA NICARAGUA LETTER BAG OPERATOR COMBINATION USAGE.
During the period from 1853 to April 1855, bisected 1851 12¢ stamps were used on mail from San Francisco to prepay the 6¢ over 3,000 miles rate to the east coast due to a shortage of 3¢ stamps. Upon arrival in New York, the bisects were either accepted or rejected. In this case, the New York office did not accept the bisect and corrected applied the New York "Ship" cds with integral 7¢ due rating for a non-contract ship letter to another post office.
Realized: $2,900