10c Black (2). Positions 16-20L, horizontal strip of five, three left stamps with huge margins all around including parts of three adjoining stamps at top, right two stamps large margins to in including right interpane margin, tied by red-orange grid cancels (with bars mostly filled in), matching "Mobile Ala. Nov. 4" (ca. 1847-48) circular datestamp on buff legal-size envelope to Joseph H. Bradley, an attorney in Washington D.C., missing part of top flap

FINE-VERY FINE STRIP AND A SPECTACULAR 1847 ISSUE MULTIPLE ON COVER--THE ONLY RECORDED 1847 ISSUE COVER WITH A STRIP OF FIVE 10-CENT STAMPS PAYING THE FIVE-TIMES OVER-300 MILES RATE, AND THE FOURTH LARGEST MULTIPLE FRANKING.

In order of size, the largest 10c frankings on cover are as follows:

9 stamps on cover to Tepic, Mexico, via Panama (two strips of three, two singles and part of a third single)

8 stamps on cover to San Francisco (horizontal strips of five and three)

6 stamps each on three different covers--strip of five and single, strip of six from Mobile to N.Y., strip of six on the Rush cover to France

5 stamps on one cover, the strip offered here

This cover is specifically described in an article by Gordon Eubanks on covers with three or more 1847 stamps (Chronicle 254). He notes that the addressee, Joseph H. Bradley, was the attorney who successfully defended John Surratt against charges he was a conspirator in Lincoln's assassination. John Surratt fled to Canada, and his mother Mary was hanged for her part in the plot.

USPCS census no. 165. Ex C. F. Rothfuchs, Ackerman, Ishikawa, Hackmey and Gross. Source note on back "$1,250.00 Perry, May 20, 1929." Signed Ashbrook. With 1993 P.F. certificate.

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