An 1865 Gonzales, Texas 10c gold on black cover made $47,500 in a sale of postmaster's provisionals at Robert A Siegel in New York on June 24.
The stamp is one of only two known examples printed on black paper to appear on a cover.
 John B Law began to issue the Gonzales provisional in 1861 |
It was used by John B Law, postmaster for Gonzales and co-founder of Colman & Law (a local bookshop and pharmacy), and consists of an advertisement for his store.
It reads "Colman & Law, Booksellers & Druggists Gonzales, Texas" and was in fact designed to be placed inside the covers of books or on medicine bottles.
It wasn't until 1861 that Law would begin to use them as provisionals prior to the introduction of standardised postage.
A Baton Rouge, Louisiana 2c green provisional cover sold for $42,500.
The lot is the earliest recorded use of the stamp, which was issued by postmaster J McCormick during the civil war.
They were printed at the press of the local newspaper and feature a number of nice touches, including a Maltese cross border.
We have a range of rare stamps available, including this St John's 4d stamp on a Newfoundland 1859 cover.
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