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1868 Portland, Maine to Sterling, Massachusetts Cover — 3¢ Washington — Geometric Cancel
Unusual small-format 19th-century cover measuring only approximately 5¼ x 2⅛ inches, mailed from Portland, Maine to a member of the Newhall family in Sterling, Massachusetts.
The handwritten address appears to read: Mrs. H?rline H. Newhall, Sterling, Mass. The first name has not been positively identified. The initial letter closely resembles the writer\'s capital “H” used for the middle initial, while the final letters appear to read approximately “rline.” It is left unattributed rather than assigning an uncertain name.
The cover bears a clear PORTLAND, ME / APR 3 circular date stamp. A large penciled “1868” appears on the front, apparently an early collector or docketing notation rather than part of the postal cancellation.
Accompanying the cover is its original 3¢ Washington stamp of the 1861 issue (Scott 65). The stamp is now completely detached and has not been reattached. It bears a bold black segmented geometric/cork-style cancellation. The stamp has faults and wear as clearly shown in the close-up photographs. One image shows the back of the detached stamp immediately adjacent to its former position on the cover; the mirror-image nature of the staining confirms that this is the same stamp that was attached to this cover.
The Newhall surname is well documented in 19th-century Sterling records, although research has not established the precise identity of the Mrs. Newhall addressed on this particular cover.
The envelope shows age-related toning, spotting, folds and handling wear. Its unusually narrow 5¼ x 2⅛-inch dimensions give it an especially distinctive appearance. The backs of both cover and detached stamp are unremarkable but are shown for completeness.
From the collection of Dr. Allan C. “Doc” Johnson (1889-1941) of Clinton, Massachusetts, an active stamp collector during the early 20th century. Doc\'s collection has remained with his family for more than eight decades.
Please examine all photographs carefully for condition, handwriting and postal markings.
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