Robert A. Siegel has recently conducted “The William H. Gross Collection: United States 1847 First Issue” auction that introduced to collectors' attention numerous interesting items. One of the starring lots of this spectacular sale was the "Waukegan" cover, which is widely regarded as the finest quality 10¢ 1847 multiple known on cover - a stunning combination of beauty and rarity. The lot managed to fetch $155,000.
The rarity of a 10¢ 1847 strip of four, on or off cover, is well established. The USPCS census lists five covers and one front, each with a 10¢ strip of four. Beyond that, there are six covers with multiple-rate frankings that include 10¢ strips of five or six, including the covers that were offered in this sale. Quality is what sets the Waukegan cover apart from all others, and earned the adjective “wonderful” in The New Yorker headline. The strip on this cover is flawless and superb, with margins all around and a generous portion of the sheet margin at left.
The auction described this spectacular philatelic item as follows: “10¢ Black (2), Positions 11-14L, horizontal strip of four, left stamp short transfer at top, large to huge margins including 4mm sheet margin at left, shows the uneven entry of subjects on the 10¢ plate, tied by five perfect strikes of red wide-spaced 6-bar grid in circle cancel, equally clear strike of matching "Waukegan Ill. May 10" (ca. 1850) circular datestamp on buff legal-size envelope to Oliver Phelps Esq., Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York, the strip pays the four-times over-300 miles rate”.
