Lot
4030 
Hale & Co., 1844 (6¢) blue, margins ample to just shaving frameline on one side, canceled by bold magenta cross precancel on fresh folded letter to Philadelphia, Pa. with pencil street address at top, letter datelined "June 2nd, 44, Boston", Extremely Fine, one of three Hale & Co. manuscript precancels known in magenta; with 2012 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 75L5 Estimate $400 - 600.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD'S FIRST PRECANCEL.
Hale devised the precancel in June 1844, perhaps for labor efficiency and to prevent reuse. The first three were in magenta, the precursor of the typical black manuscript precancel.
Realized: $3,000