Pre 1857 Esquire Address Future New York Justice Cayuga Circular Datestamp

OVERVIEW

Offered is an authentic mid nineteenth century United States 3 cent Nesbitt postal stationery envelope mailed from Cayuga New York to Schenectady.

Addressed to Clara M Paige in care of her uncle Platt Potter Esq, the cover is forensically dated to the 1853 to 1856 window. It represents a premier primary artifact documenting the elite legal inner circle of the New York Mohawk Valley prior to the Civil War.

FRANKING & POSTAL HISTORY

The postal stationery is a United States 3 cent Nesbitt issue cataloged as Scott U10, representing the first series of official embossed postal stationery issued in the country.

The red indicium featuring the profile of George Washington is embossed on buff woven paper. As a printed postal entire, the perforation size and state of original gum are not applicable.

The indicium is accompanied by a manually struck black circular datestamp reading:

CAYUGA NY MAR 15

CONTEXT & COLLECTOR APPEAL

The correspondence is addressed to Clara M Paige care of Platt Potter Esq, capturing the most influential legal partnership in the region.

Potter, the longtime law partner of Judge Alonzo C Paige, was elevated to the New York Supreme Court in 1857.

Because Potter is styled as Esquire rather than Judge, this cover is historically locked to his final years of private practice, matching the early usage window of the Nesbitt U10 stationery.

This pre bench document appeals directly to specialists in nineteenth century judicial history, Schenectady regional archives, and advanced collectors of United States postal stationery.

ITEM SPECIFICS

Country: United States

Year: 1850s

Type: Postal Stationery Entire

Topic: Platt Potter Pre Judicial New York Legal Postal History

Theme: New York Supreme Court Ephemera

Subject: Justice Platt Potter Paige Family

Era: 1850s

Region: Cayuga to Schenectady New York

Stamp Color: Red

Stamp Denomination: 3 Cents

Printing Method: Embossed

Paper Type: Buff Woven Envelope

Cancellation Type: Cayuga Circular Datestamp

Cancellation Date: 15 March

Scott Number: U10

Features: Forensically Dated Pre Bench Title

Custom SKU: USA-1850S-U10-POTTER-JUDICIAL

CONDITION

Original postal used condition consistent with an archival document nearly 175 years old.

The front is highly presentable with the embossed Washington indicium retaining sharp relief and the Cayuga circular datestamp clearly defined.

The manuscript ink is bold and highly legible. The envelope shows expected edge wear, natural age toning, and paper loss to the reverse flap from the original opening.

There are no structural tears or vertical creases through the indicium or address field.

Please review all high resolution photographs carefully to determine exact condition.