Collectors of classic U.S. stamps turn their attention to a standout sale this January. Cherrystone Auctioneers plans to present a specialized group of 1861–68 postal history in Teaneck, New Jersey, with bidding set for January 21. Among the lots, one cover from the Richard Drews collection has already sparked strong interest. The piece in question is a cover mailed on March 4, 1865, from New York City to Corisco, West Africa, bearing an extraordinary three-color franking of classic U.S. 1861 Issue stamps.
On this historic cover, the postage combines a single 24¢ brown lilac Washington (Scott 70a), a horizontal pair of 30¢ orange Franklin (Scott 71), and a horizontal pair of 90¢ blue Washington (Scott 72). Together the stamps create a $2.64 total franking, a rate that covered eight times the applicable British mail service charge and reflects the complex routing required for transatlantic and African destination mail in the Civil War era.
Philatelists prize this item not only for its striking visual impact but also for its documented rarity. Cherrystone highlights the cover as an exceptional survival, noting that no other documented example shows the 90¢ 1861 issue used on mail addressed to West Africa. The letter traveled by American packet to England before continuing along the West African coast, with stops that included Fernando Po, now known as Bioko. Its destination was Corisco Island, a small missionary outpost rather than a commercial port. The envelope bears the name of Reverend James Leighton Mackey, who directed the Corisco mission from the mid‑19th century.
Together, the markings and route place the cover at the intersection of postal practice, missionary movement, and early transatlantic communication. Collectors noticed the item well before the sale and began signaling interest weeks in advance. In mid‑December, one bidder placed an early offer at $17,000. Cherrystone expects competitive bidding and projects a higher result once the lot reaches the floor.
The wider Drews collection brings together 117 lots of domestic and overseas mail. Each piece comes from a long‑standing exhibit dedicated to the U.S. 1861–68 issue. The lineup includes several sought-after usages, distinct stamp shades, and covers that document key rates, routes, and treaty applications during and after the Civil War period. Collectors who specialize in classic U.S. postal history see the sale as a rare opportunity to acquire high-quality material with strong historical resonance.
