Arago: 3-cent Washington

Type I; imperforate; relief C; positions 4, 5, 6 and 7L7 (left pane, Plate 7)

This strip is from the top row, showing wide salvage with 'gash' on shoulder.

The four stamps are tied by the large black "PAID" in grid variety from Boston, with a typical red "Boston/JUN30" cancel at left. Cover addressed to "The Hon. W. C., Castle Hill, Albemarle Co. Virginia." Docketing at left denotes date as '24 June 1856' and sender as the 'Hon.able Ro. C. Winthrop'. Mr. Winthrop (1809-1894) was a representative and a senator from Massachusetts. He studied law with Daniel Webster, and was admitted to bar in 1831. He practiced law in Boston. He was also engaged in literary, historical, and philanthropic pursuits.

The reverse of the cover demonstrates a method of the day to seal the flap whereby melted wax was added to the envelope and impressed with a sealing tool. This seal was engraved with a coat of arms in a frame. There is also docketing in pencil referring to an "endorsement of ordinance of 187.-"

Reference:

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000646