Hudson River Steamboat Route 810, Red U.S. Express Mail Circular Datestamp on 1845 Cover to New York, 5c Rate Very Fine, and Scarce Route Agent Marking
Light blue folded cover from Albany, New York to New York City, with red circular “U.S. EXPRESS MAIL N.Y. ‘ALBANY’ SEP 7” route agent datestamp and matching red manuscript “5” rate marking for the new 5c rate for under 300 miles, effective July 1.
The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 1
By: Americana Stamps
Aste Attive
Jun 26, 2026 America/Los_Angeles
Americana Stamps The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 1
Friday Jun 26, 2026 19:00 to 23:00 America/Los_Angeles America/Los_Angeles
We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.
America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.
This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale.
As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:
✔ High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item
✔ Links to reference articles and supporting research
✔ Links to philatelic certifications
✔ Census data and population insights
✔ Provenance details to trace notable histories
Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.
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Showing 301 - 325 of 470
Lot #2151 - U.S. Stampless Packets/Inland Waterway
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2152 - U.S. Stampless Packets/Inland Waterway
Buffalo, New York Blue Oval Datestamp with Matching "Steam Boat" in Scroll Marking on Stampless Cover Front to Troy
Buffalo, N.Y. July 5 datestamp. Front glued to index card.
Price: $ 25.00
Lot #2153 - U.S. Stampless Packets/Inland Waterway
Via Red River on 1852 Folded Cover to Texas, New Orleans Integral Rate Marking Earliest Known Use
Red Feb 3 New Orleans integral rate marking 5 cents, collect "Via Red River" on folded cover to Texas.
Contract Mail Steamboats carried Postal Department Route Agents, who took on-board mail, sorted, delivered to, and collected from, postal authorities along the way. This letter traveled from Alexandria, La. , overland to Jasper, Texas...
Price: $ 200.00
Lot #2154 - U.S. Stampless railroad
Utica Railroad Red Straightline, Manuscript “10” Rate, August 2 1838 Folded Letter to Rome, New York Second Earliest Known of This Railroad Straightline, Possibly the 10th Earliest Railroad Handstamp Usage
Red straightline “RAILROAD” handstamp with matching red “Utica, N.Y., Aug. 2” double-oval datestamp and manuscript “10” rate marking on folded letter datelined Fonda, July 31, 1838 addressed to Peter A. Fonda, Esq., Rome, New York....
Price: $ 260.00
Lot #2155 - U.S. Stampless railroad
1838 Baltimore Railroad Folded Letter, 25c "Ch"arged Very Early Usage of the "Baltimore Railroad" Marking
From the George Kramer Exhibit
Red "Baltimore Rail Road" handstamp with manuscript "ch 25" on Baltimore to Massachusetts folded letter, datelined November 15, 1838. Rated for over 400 miles rate.
The small notation "ch"is uncommon; it signified that addressee had an account with the Post Office, and that this letter did...
Price: $ 360.00
Lot #2156 - U.S. Stampless railroad
Housatonic Rail Road, Towle 88-B-1, Red Double Circle Integral Handstamp on 1847 Stampless Folded Letter to Winchester, Connecticut
Housatonic Rail Road (Towle 88-B-1 Rarity VI) 1847 red fancy circled "5" at right, worn with adhesive on backflap, pencil markings on reverse.
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2157 - U.S. Stampless railroad
Housatonic Rail Road, Towle 88-B-3, Red Double Circle Integral Handstamp on 1848 Folded Letter
Housatonic Rail Road (Towle 88-B-3 Rarity VII "Rare") 1848 red fancy circled "5" at left, with file folds and some wear.
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2158 - U.S. Stampless railroad
PHILAD RAIL ROAD Red Straightline on 1850 Stampless Cover, New York City to Salem, Massachusetts
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2159 - U.S. Stampless railroad
Housatonic Rail Road, Towle 88-B-7, Green Circular Datestamp Cancelling U2 1854 3c Red Entire to Seymour, Connecticut
Housatonic Rail Road" dated April 20, addressed to John G. Foster, Esq., Seymour, Connecticut. Towle 88-B-7, Rarity VII. Some edge damage and wear.
Price: $ 20.00
Lot #2160 - U.S. Stampless railroad
Housatonic Rail Road, Towle 88-B-7, Red Double Circle Integral Handstamp on Folded Letter
Housatonic Rail Road (Towle 88-B-7 Rarity V) Oct 9 red circled "5" at right, with file fold and toning.
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #3001 - u.s. postal history Postmaster Provisional
New York Postmaster’s Provisional, 9X1a and 9X1, 5c Black on Bluish Wove, Horizontal Pair, Positions 24–25, "AC" and "ACM" Connected, Tied On 1847 Folded Address Sheet
Horizontal pair of New York Postmaster’s Provisional, positions 24–25, signed “ACM,” with left stamp Type II (AC connected) and right stamp Type I (ACM connected), used on January 17, 1847 folded outer address sheet to Greensboro, Alabama. The pair is tied by blue...
Price: $ 4,000.00
Lot #3002 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Red Brown, Tied by Blue Grid on Cover to Burlington, New Jersey
Single tied by blue grid cancel with matching blue "PHILADA PA" postmark on cover addressed to John T. Troth, Care of George B. Deacon near Burlington, New Jersey. The stamp has an internal tear in the area of Franklin's throat.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3003 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Red Brown, Tied by New York Red Square Grid on Cover, New York City to Ballston Spa
Stamp with four margins,showing part of adjoining stamp at bottom right, tied by New York red square grid cancel on cover addressed to Ms. Buchanan Kilmer, Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, New York. Scissors cut 2mm into extreme upper right corner. Red circular New York datestamp, June 17.
Price: $ 260.00
Lot #3004 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Red Brown, Tied by Blue Grid Cancel on 1848 Folded Cover to Owasso, Michigan
Single tied by six bar open grid cancel in blue on 1848 folded cover addressed to Amos Gould Esq., Owasso, Michigan. Matching blue Monroe, Michigan July 4th postmark alongside matching blue "5" rate handstamp. The cover with toning at left and bottom and along a vertical file crease at right with small area of paper erosion.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3005 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Red Brown, on 1849 Folded Letter to New York
Single with red grid cancel on 1849 folded letter, red Rochester N.Y. Feb 26 postmark, addressed to Canandaigua NY; stamp with light vertical creases at left and right.
Price: $ 200.00
Lot #3006 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Brown, Tied by Red Cork Cancel on 1849 Folded Letter from New York City to Kingston with Hudson River Mail Route Agent Marking
Single with margins all around, tied by red barrel grid and just tied by red "Hudson Riv. Mail N.Y." route agent circular datestamp on December 8, 1849 folded letter from New York City to Kingston, New York. Prepaid 5c single rate under 300 miles, carried on Contract Route No. 809 (New York to Albany...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3007 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Red Brown with Red Grid Cancel on 1850 Folded Letter to New York
Single with four margins, not tied by bold red grid cancel on 1850 folded letter to New York. Matching red "Binghamton N.Y. AUG 8" circular datestamp. Addressed to Willet G. Carpenter who was a commercial merchant. The stamp with a small file crease at bottom right.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3008 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 5c Red Brown, "S" Variety, with Fancy "PAID" on Folded Letter
Single, "dot in S" variety, with blue 9-bar open grid cancel on 1851 dated folded letter to Cooperstown, New York, blue Utica N.Y. postmark at right with fancy blue "PAID" in scroll at top center.
Price: $ 260.00
Lot #3009 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1a 1847 5c Dark Brown, Deep Rich Color, Tied by Blue Pen on 1848 Folded Cover to Poughkeepsie, with Red Hudson River Mail Route Agent Markings
Single with deep rich color and a large right margin showing a portion of the adjoining stamp at right; full margins on the remaining three sides, just touching at bottom. The stamp with unusual placement in bottom right corner on 1848 folded address sheet to Poughkeepsie, New York. Red "Hudson...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3010 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1b 1847 5c Orange Brown, Tied by Grid Cancel on 1850 Folded Letter to Clinton, N.Y.
Single tied by grid cancel on 1850 folded letter addressed to Mrs. Sophia Dwight, Care of I.B.M. Dwight Esq., Clinton, Oneida Co., New York. Red "New-Haven Ct. 27 Apr" circular datestamp. The stamp with some oxidation, the cover with toned spots.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3011 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Orange Brown, Used with Grid Cancel on 1850 Folded Letter from Wilmington, Delaware to Philadelphia
December 18, 1850 folded letter from Wilmington, Delaware to Philadelphia. Addressed to Henry Charles Lea (1825 to 1909), American historian, civic reformer, and political activist, and son of Isaac Lea (1792 to 1886) of the Philadelphia book publishing firm Lea and Blanchard at 4th below Chestnut Street (per 1850 McElroy's...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3012 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Brown Orange, Large Margins, Used with Manuscript Cancel on Cover From Wyoming, New York to Ontario, New York
The stamp with large margins, just touching the frame lies at bottom left. Jan 20, Ontario, NY red circular datestamp, addressed to Miss Lucy Lamphere. The cover with a vertical crease at the right.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3013 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1d 1847 5c Brown Orange, Tied by Two Strikes of Red Grid Cancel on 1849 Cover from Fall River to Boston, Massachusetts
Letter from Fall River, Massachusetts addressed to attorney William D. Sohier.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3014 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#1 1847 5c Brown Orange, Tied by Blue Baltimore, Maryland Postmark on 1850 Folded Letter to New York
Single with full clear margins, three large and bottom touching, tied to January 12, 1850 folded letter by blue Baltimore, Maryland postmark. Addressed to a wool broker in New York City. Contents discuss a Peruvian wool offer. Typical file folds creasing the stamp and soiling on back. Fine.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #3015 - u.s. postal history 1847 Issues
#2 1847 10c Black, Fine Color and Impression, Large to Huge Margins, Red Cork Cancel on 1849 Cover to Quebec, Canada with Red Hudson River Mail Route Agent Marking Very Rare and Unusual Usage
One of Only Twelve Recorded Examples of the 10c Black Used with the Hudson River Mail Route Agent's Marking, and Possibly Latest Known Usage to Canada
Single with large to huge margins except close at upper left corner, fine color and...
Price: $ 400.00
