Census of New Haven Conn., 5c Postmaster's Provisional (Scott 8XU1-8XU4)

Notes:

Blue hs/Blue signature/White envelope
“New Haven Ct. Apr. 1” (1846) cds and “Paid” in scroll handstamp
To Horace Clark, Middltown Conn.
Ruined by C. H. Mekeel in an attempt to bring back faded blue impression with sulphate of iron
Never certified

Provenance:

1886 Found by addressee’s grandson, Richard C. Fagan, of Middletown Conn., Fagan wrote about it in an article in Philatelic Journal of America Jan. 1888 (color of handstamp is described as “badly faded, but I think the original color was blue or black)
188(?) Purchased by C. H. Mekeel in St. Louis auction
188(?) Mekeel applied sulphate of iron to the handstamp lines, hoping to strengthen color, but over days the infused paper reacted with oxygen and turned dark brown
188(?) Sold at auction by Mekeel to Hiram Deats
188(?) To Philippe la Rénotière von Ferrary from Deats (price reported to be $2,500)
1922 Apr. 7 Ferrary sale, Gilbert Sale 3, $70, buyer unknown, Lot 564
196(?) To T. Cullen Davis
6/18-19/1964, Siegel Auction Galleries, United States, Sale 272, Lot 8, Realized $775, 1964 Jun. 18 Davis sale Part 1
1/27/1975, Siegel Auction Galleries, Postal History of the World, Sale 464, Lot 152, 1975 Jan. 28, $3,750, to Henry Houser
1990 Oct. 26 Christie’s RL sale, Lot 799, Unsold
1993 Donated to the Whitney Library at the New Haven Museum

Certificates: