#65 1861 3c Rose, Straddle Margin, on Cover to Massachusetts
North Sterling, N.Y., June 30, 1863 to Amherst, Mass., straddle margin single. The stamp and cover with a stain at top.
The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 1
By: Americana Stamps
Aste Terminate
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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Lot #3041 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
Lot #3042 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#73 2c Black, Target Cancel on Unsealed Circular to New York Double Roulette Vertical Perforations
Philadelphia Apr 13 circular datestamp
Lot #3043 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#73 2c Black on Large Embossed Cover with Unused Valentine Card
Tied on cover by Feb 14 black Newark, NJ cds on large Valentine's day cover.
Three-dimensional envelope with original multi-color valentine enclosure. The valentine exhibits four different layers of cut filigree, which is unusual. Top Right Stamp repaired
Lot #3044 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#73 2c Black with Cork Cancel on Wrapper with manuscript "Pamphlet", to New York Sent at the 2c Printed Matter Rate
Pamphlets, magazines and other printed matter could be sent at a rate of 2c per 4 ounces or fraction thereof, effective August 1, 1864, through May 31, 1867.
Lot #3045 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#73a 1863 2c "Black Jack", Diagonal Bisect Pair, Pen Cancelled on Cover to Pennsylvania
Cover from Benvendue, Pennsylvania to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, both in Dauphin County.
Lot #3046 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#76, 5c Brown, Irregular Block of 9, on 1864 Cover from New York to Peru. Carried via Panama with British Consulate Address Possibly the Largest Multiple of this Issue on Cover
Irregular block of nine tied by segmented cork cancels, on folded letter from New York to Capt. Dauserities, Br. Ship Lydia, British Consulate, Callao, Peru, routed via Panama. Manuscript “24” in red and “2” in blue totaling 26c for the Panama transit rate. Panama...
Lot #3047 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#86, 1c Blue, "E" Grill, Tied by Chicago Postmark on Local Drop Cover Scarce Drop rate usage of the 1c E Grill
CHICAGO, ILL JUN. 8 postmark. The stamp with a tear at top left.
Lot #3048 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#92 1c Blue, "F" Grill, Tied by Quartered Cork Duplex on New York Drop Cover
JAMESTOWN, N.Y. SEP 30 postmark.
Lot #3049 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#94 3c Rose, F Grill, Tied by Blue Cork on Cover to Controcoville
F. grill, single tied by blue segmented cork cancel with matching "Fishersville, N.H. Mar. 9" postmark on cover to Controcoville, N.H.
Lot #3050 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#113 1869 2c Brown, Pictorial Issue, Tied by Blue Cincinnati, Ohio Target Duplex Cancel on Local Cover
The stamp with a pulled perforation at top right. Cover with light soiling and staining on the front and a torn, mostly missing back flap.
Lot #3051 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#113 2c Brown, 1869 Pictorial Issue with Quartered Cork Cancel and Tied on Cover to New Brunswick, Paying the Ferriage Rate One of Finest of the 10 Recorded 2c 1869 Covers Paying Cross-Border Ferriage to New Brunswick
Stamp tied by indistinct "Fulton Me. Oct. 26" circular datestamp on small cover to Woodstock, New Brunswick, with straightline "Paid 2" handstamp for the ferriage rate. The cover with some edge weat, but still Fine, and an...
Lot #3052 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#114 3c Ultramarine, 1869 Pictorial Issue, Used with Collins Depot, Mass Circular Datestamp on Cover
A Depot was a place where shipped goods were stored, often co-located with a railroad station. If a town grew up around it, that would then be the origin of the name.
Some railroad depots served as post offices. They accepted and cancelled mail and delivered it to the trains.
Lot #3053 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#145 1870 1c Ultramarine, Tie by Oval Portland Negative Cancel, on All Over Advertising Cover
1870 1c Ultramarine, tied by oval PORTLAND, ME with ornament in center negative cancel, on all over orange embossed advertising cover for GEORGE STINSON & CO PUBLISHERS, to Binghampton NY. Backflap unsealed, complete, stained. Corners bumped.
Lot #3054 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#145 1870 1c Ultramarine, Oval Portland Negative Cancel, On Plimpton U116
Portland, Maine large negative fancy cancel, obliterates 1c Plimpton U116. Addressed to Chas A Carleton, Cumberland Mills.
Lot #3055 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#145 1870 1c Ultramarine, Tie by Oval Augusta Negative Cancel on All Over Advertising Cover
1870 1c Ultramarine, tied by negative AUGUSTA fancy cancel, on all over advertising cover for True & Co Publishers Augusta, Maine. Addressed to Sam'l May, Shohola Pike Co, Pennsylvania. Edge wear. Stains and small hole at right. Backflap open, complete.
Lot #3056 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#147 3c Green with THE FAST MAIL NY & CHIC R.P.P. Circular Datestamp on Temperance Hotel, Syracuse, N.Y Advertising Cover
THE FAST MAIL NY & CHIC R.P.P. circular datestamp on Temperance Hotel, Syracuse, N.Y advertising cover
Lot #3057 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#212 1887 1c Ultramarine, Tied on First National Bank, Rome Georgia. Printed Card
Addressed to the Pennsylvania National Bank in Philadelphia
Lot #3058 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
#281 5c Dark Blue, Tied on Cover to Switzerland, Forwarded to France with Swiss #J26 and France #J38
The 5c tied by "BRISTOL, R.I. JAN. 20, 1905" duplex on cover to Montreaux Switzerland, and forwarded to the Hotel Bristol, Cannes, France. Swiss #J26 and France #J38 added, 20 centimes "opera glasses" mark and blue crayon "50". The Swiss stamp with bottom left corner torn away, the French stamp with perf stains.
Lot #3059 - u.s. postal history U.S. 19th Century
W51 1864 2c Black on Buff on Wrapper to Connecticut Rare Wrapper Usage
Canceled by pen grid o Bradford, Ct with manuscript "196"
Lot #3060 - u.s. postal history steamship
Tiny Red "S.BOAT" Straightline on 1836 Folded Letter, New York to Kingston, Manuscript "12 1/2" Scarce and Earliest Known Small "S.BOAT" Marking, Only Four Recorded
Folded letter datelined New York City, April 25, 1836, to Kingston, Ulster County, New York. Light but legible 15x2mm red "S.BOAT." handstamp with manuscript "12½" rate.
This is recorded by Calvet Hahn to be the earliest of the small S.BOAT markings, with only four...
Lot #3061 - u.s. postal history steamship
Manuscript "STBOAT 12 1/2" on 1839 Folded Letter, New York City Park to Kingston, N.Y. One of Only Four Reported
Folded letter datelined New York City Oct 22, 1839. Addressed to Kingston, carried on the Hudson River. Letter with stains at left and on the interior of the letter.
Lot #3062 - u.s. postal history steamship
Troy & New York Steam Boat, Blue Boxed Handstamp on 1848 Folded Letter
Letter datelined November 2, 1848, from Troy, N.Y. to Plattsburgh, N.Y.; manuscript "12" for 10 cents postage plus 2 cents ship fee.
Lot #3063 - u.s. postal history steamship
Troy & New York Steam Boat, Blue Boxed Handstamp on 1849 Cover, Hudson to Troy, Blue "7 CTS" In Circle Suberb Strike
Rated for 5c postage plus 2c steam boat fee. Very Fine.
Lot #3064 - u.s. postal history steamship
Troy & New York Steam Boat, Blue Boxed Handstamp on 1851 Cover, New York City to Arlington, Blue "7 CTS" In Circle
Rated for 5c postage plus 2c steam boat fee. Very Fine.
Lot #3065 - u.s. postal history steamship
Troy & New York Steamboat, Black Boxed Handstamp on Cover with #11A 3c Dull Red and Manuscript "2" Due Overpaid 2c Ship Rate Marking
The stamp with manuscript cancel, addressed to Mechanicville, Saratoga County, N.Y., struck with black boxed "TROY & NEW YORK / STEAM BOAT" marking. Additional manuscript "2" for ship fee, though the letter was prepaid.
The 2c due was added in pencil, despite the 1855 statute and postal...
