440

A "Stamp" unlisted in Scott.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:27.00 USD Estimated At:55.00 - 80.00 USD
A  Stamp  unlisted in Scott.
Bright yellow cover with locally printed "school postage stamp" attributed to Jamestown Union School and Collegiate Institute, Chautauqua County, N.Y., c. 1874. Pink "stamp," printed in black "Three Cents," with simulated perfs. School-cancelled with black c.d.s. Addressed by a student in florid hand, to complete this lesson in business letter-writing. With copy of article solving the mystery of this "stamp," in The American Philatelist, July 1938. Long thought to be an unrecorded local label, the writer describes his sleuthing of the mystery, concluding, "With all this historical background...they certainly have just as much place in philately as Christmas Seals...." Address nearly faded, but bold strokes closely match the cover illustrated in article, suggesting both were the work of the same student. The Institute became Jamestown's public High School. Some rippling, light wear, else about fine. Also with copy of appearance of an example in a 1969 auction of noted Manhattan dealer Sylvester Colby, and modern research. No further examples found in search of modern auction records. A charming conversation piece, long regarded as rare.