US Locals - Kidder's City Express

 The Brooklyn post was formed when Wellington Walton, proprietor of Walton & Co.'s City Express, sold his post to Henry Kidder in 1847. 

The original Kidder's City Express Post stamps were only printed in black on glazed surface paper in shades of blue. This feature quickly identifies the majority of online colored offers as forgeries.

Kidder sold the post to Issac C. Snedeker in 1851

Issac Snedecker continued to use the stamps when he took over the post. 

Around this time, the manuscript control mark in 2 different styles "IS" (Issac Snedecker) was added to the stamps. 

The post changed hands a few more times and eventually became the "Brooklyn City Express Post"

The Kidder stamps are quite rare and seldom show up in reputable auctions.

The original stamp from an auction with the IS manuscript

Hussey apparently obtained the original dies in the early 1860's and made "reprints" in sheets of 10. These are more likely the source of online sales.

This stamp was sold as a genuine original.

However it matches perfectly the position 1 of the Hussey "reprint"

Frame break above the 2nd "D" and a top break in the 2nd "S"

S.A. Taylor forgeries

These are by far the most common and can be found mainly in 2 distinct varieties

Forgery A - the 2nd Taylor printing

Taylor Forgery A - his 2nd forgery

- The first "D" in "KIDDER'S" is slightly shorter and wider than the second "D".

- The rider has a hat with a front and rear brim.

- The "R" in "KIDDER'S" has no right foot extension 

- The upright of the "P" in "POST" is tilted slightly backwards

- The horse's head is shaded with diagonal lines not always visible 

- Behind the rear leg are constant lines & dot that look like flaws

Taylor forgery C - his 1st. forgery

- The cap has only a long front peak 

- The "R" in " KIDDER'S" leans to the left

- The dust cloud behind the horse's rear left looks like a "2"

- The horse's head is proportionally too long.

- The "C" in "CTS'' has a straight top

- "CITY" is in thin letters and there is a large space between "CITY" and "EXPRESS".

Taylor forgery C1

- Likely a variation of Taylor's 1st forgery

- Key feature is the 2Cts where the C looks like an O

G. Hussey forgery

Often the singles are sold as genuine - as noted earlier

This is an original sheet of 10 (2X5)

W. Scott - Forgery B

- These are relatively common

- The key feature is the small break of the oblique frame line below the "S" of "KIDDER'S"

- The "R" in "KIDDER'S" has a small hook at the end of the foot

- The rider's hat with a longer front brim than rear brim.

Forgery E - source unknown

An uncommon forgery from unknown source

- Very crude design

- This forgery has large flaws in front and behind the horse.

- Proportionately small rider

Forgery F - source unknown

- Easily identified by the lack of a line or dot under the small S of 2Cts

- The middle bar of the E of EXPRESS is noticeably high

- There is no shading between the horse's middle hoofs

- The "R" in "KIDDER'S" has a long thin straight foot

- The hat brim points upwards