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The October issue of the Penny Post has been published.

Auction Catalogs

Old Auction Catalogs with Carriers, Locals and Expresses

Auction catalogs are important resources for collectors. Although the earlier catalogs did not include photographs, and group lots were more common, it is often possible to trace the pedigree of a certain scarce or rare stamp or cover, and to prepare a listing of known varieties.

Catalogs of Robert A. Siegel have included many lots of locals and carriers, and their web site permits a user to use a Google search for any term that is included in lot descriptions for several years of sales.

Other auction catalogs focusing on carriers and locals are available through our literature dealer members, Leonard Hartmann, Eric Jackson, James E. Lee, and Byron Sandfield (Park Cities Stamps).

The following file is a comprehensive listing of almost all auction catalogs that included carriers, locals, and expresses. Over 360 auctions are listed chronologically, beginning with the world's first stamp auction in 1870. Brief descriptions are provided, including number of lots of carriers and locals in each, and highlights of some sales. List of Auction Sales

Year	Auction Sale
1884	Geo. A. Leavitt & Co. auctioned the property of Hon. L. E. Chittenden in New York City on Jan. 21, 1884.
1886	An early sale included 33 lots of locals from an unnamed holding. It was held by Ortgies &Co on June 25,1886.
1900	Frank W. Hunter was a major collector of US locals and carriers, and his material was auctioned on January 10-12 and 16-18, 1900, by Henry C. Merry. This was one of the first auction catalogs to use photographs of lots. There were 249 lots of carriers, locals and expresses in this sale. Click here to view the F. W. Hunter carriers and locals.
1910	John F. Seybold collected US carriers and locals, and his collection was auctioned on March 15-16, 1910, with Walter S. Scott as auctioneer. There were 40 lots of carriers and locals in this early sale, mostly carriers. Click here to view the Seybold carriers and locals.
1913	Walter S. Scott was the auctioneer for the Bartels' 49th Sale of Jan. 8, 1913, held in NYC. The owner was not named, but the sale included 213 lots of locals and carriers.
1917	George H. Worthington has been acknowledged as a great stamp collector. After financial difficulties, his collection was acquired via a private sale to Alfred Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein kept what he wanted and offered the rest through J. C. Morganthau & Co. at philatelic auction. The sale held on August 21-23, 1917, included 528 lots of US carriers and locals. A photocopy of those sections of the catalog has been scanned and placed in Acrobat format. To review the extensive carriers and locals holdings of Worthington, click here to view the Worthington carriers and locals.
1921	The German Sale was held on Nov. 3-5, 1921 by Marken & Ganzsachenhaus Co. in Berlin and J. M. Bartels Co. NYC. Although the consignor is unknown, this sale included many important items and many photographs of carriers and locals. It is a rare auction catalog today. Click here for the auction listings and here for the photo plates.