[b]Subject to some special terms below, A autographed and incribed copy of Bill Gross's book, The "William H. Gross Collection - United States Classics, 1847–1869" .[/b] This is an extraordinarily high quality publication that faithfully and exquisitely reproduces the most comprehensive and most valuable classic United States stamp collection in private hands. This 136-page book depicts in full color the entire eight frame exhibit "United States Classics, 1847–1869" formed by the renowned philatelist, William H. Gross, which was awarded one of philately's most prestigious exhibiting awards—the Grand Prix National at the Washington 2006 International Stamp Show.
Depicted and described within this impressive coffee-table style book, which was produced by Spink Shreves Galleries, are literally many of the most recognizable—and valuable—iconic rarities of classic United States philately. The book is beautifully hard bound with bronze foil stamping, and is perfectly protected by a tear-resistant dust jacket. The full color reproductions within the interior pages are incredibly detailed, as well as printed by the finest quality color presses available today—and all on archival quality paper. Retail Value $80.
Donated and personally autographed by by Bill Gross. There are very few known signed copies of this book.
Special terms. The winner of this lot will take possession of this book for one year, after which they will surrender it back to Droege Computing to be auctioned again. Each owner is asked to add their signature to Bill Gross's and to add remarks related to Stamp Collecting and/or Diabetes. After 10 years, we will retire the book and offer it to the Philatelic Museum in Washington DC, or sell it to the highest bidder (this is the 8th time offered). Each years' winner will receive an unsigned copy of the book to keep permanently.
Provenance. 2014 John Emery $775, 2015 Gordon Eubanks $925, 2016 Andrew Titley $525, 2017 Randall Henson $475, 2018 Andy Carr $600, 2019 David Benson $525. 2021 Eric Neville $1100. This is the 8th offering of the book. I have attached the signatures to date I donated last winter and won this book. All proceeds go to Diabetes Society. I added My John Hancock to the book last year. This year I will be the nine time Auctioned. I will pass this year just maybe the opening bid but I will try to win this book in the Tenth Year.
[b]1858, 5¢ brick red, type I (Scott 27),[/b] a wonderfully bright, fresh [b]vertical strip of 3[/b], tied by New Orleans and red "New Paid York/12" c.d.s.s on an 1859 folded letter to Nantes, France; blue sender's double oval and French entry c.d.s. and three different French backstamps; the striip has blunted/clipped perforations at the top and right, but is otherwise exceptionally well centered and Very Fine.
Posted by: RICHARD - 18-10-2025, 10:33 PM - Forum: Wanted
- No Replies
A U.S. Catalogue. US. Scott 279 on cover. , Covers form 1929 Kingston inauguration of the Air port opening. US. Columbian 2 cent 1893 Scott 231 broken hat type stamps.
If you ever come across a Cover from the 1700s you are researching. If you want to enter your old covers in a show you need all the right information. The Important question, when it left and when it arrived. These were missing ship records I found nobody new existed. They kept all the records of ships and who was on them here is an example.
The Mask Likely over inking is the second earliest dated UX8
1847, 10¢ black (Scott 2),[/b][/font][/color][/b] three margins, just into frameline at top, tied on small piece by red "10" in double rim cancel found on cross-border covers, Fine and rarely seen with this cancel
UX8 Earliest date used, Just arrived in the mail
Found this stamps in a pile that I am sorting. The pictures show how different from the 'normal' version. It has a waxy look and the ink is very visible in the back of the stamps.
Posted by: Hugh - 16-10-2025, 11:39 PM - Forum: Europe
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Here's an interesting feldpost card from 1916 with censor marks from Frankfurt am Main.
It appears to be addressed to:
Fräulein
Kätha Krieg
Frankf. a/M. Preungesheim
Kreuz-Stras. 11
It was sent by a solider named Christian Weil. As far as I can tell, he wrote:
Aus dem Felde d. 6.3.16
Werter Fräulein Krieg!
Ihre Karte mit
besten Dank erhalten.
Mir geht es zur Zeit noch gut,
was ich auch bei Ihnen hoffe.
Die besten Grüße sendet
Christian Weil
That is,
From the field, March 6, 1916
Dear Miss Krieg,
I received your card with many thanks.
I am still doing well at the moment,
and I hope the same is true for you.
Best regards,
Christian Weil
Based on the feldpost CDS, the card was mailed at the FPO for the 21st Reserve Division. In March 1916 this division occupied the Massiges Sector a location in the Champagne-Marne region of France. The purple S.B. hand-stamp [soldatenbrief] suggests that he Christian was a member of the division's medical company (e.g. aid posts, stretcher parties, triage / evacuations).
Over and to the right of the CDS are two red hand-stamps. The first, is a largely obscured triangular hand-stamp with a sunburst (partially visible) and an eagle (only visible in theory) It would appear to be a control cachet of a Postüberwachungsstelle [military censorship office]. Given the destination of the car, it was probably applied at the military censor office in Frankfurt am Main before the card was given to the civil mail system for delivery. The other stamp, with the IIA (with two horizontal lines under the 'A') is probably the section or desk code.
The feldpost card is a repurposed picture post card. The hand-tinted image on the other side shows a young woman reading a letter. The text reads:
Ein deutscher Gruß / A German Greeting
In der Heimat, in der Heimat, Giebt’s ein Wiedersehn / In the homeland, in the homeland, there’ll be a reunion, we’ll meet again]
The second line comes from the refrain of a popular soldiers' song.
The diamond shaped logo or monogram on the lower left reads PFB. This is the mark of the postcard publishing firm of Paul Finkenrath, Berlin. On the lower right is the number 358616, the serial number of the card.
