| Rates and Miscellaneous Postal History |
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Lot 304 |
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1816 (Mar. 31) Greenbush Village, N.Y. to New York, N.Y., folded letter bearing manuscript "Greenbush March 31st" postmark and matching "25½" war rating for 150-300 miles; file fold, Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED COVERS SENT ON THE LAST DAY OF THE WAR RATE PERIOD.
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Lot 305 |
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1816 (Apr. 1) Red Hook, N.Y. to New Germantown, N.J., folded letter bearing manuscript "Red Hook N.Y., 1st Apl." postmark and matching "12½" restored rating for 90-150 miles, small edge tear, a Very Fine usage on the first day of the restored rates.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 306 |
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1816 (Apr. 1) Philadelphia Pa. to Providence R.I., datelined folded letter bearing reddish "Phil 1 Apr" c.d.s. and red manuscript "17" restored rating for 150-300 miles; minor fold separation, otherwise Very Fine and exceptionally fresh. The first day of the restored rates.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 307 |
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1816 (Apr. 30) Lancaster Mass. to Lynn Mass., datelined folded letter bearing manuscript "Lancaster Ms., April 30." postmark and matching "10" restored rating for 90-150 miles, crossed out and updated to "20" and finally "30" as a triple rate, 1816 docketing at left, Fine. Mailed on the last day of the shortlived restored rate period.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 308 |
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1816 (Apr 30) Liverpool, England to Marietta Ohio via New York N.Y., datelined folded letter carried across the Atlantic, entered U.S. mails with red "New-York Apr 30" c.d.s. and matching "Ship" handstamp with red manuscript "27" restored rating for over 500 miles (25¢) plus the 2¢ ship letter fee; minor edgewear and toning, Fine, A rare incoming ship letter that entered the U.S. mails on the last day of the restored rate period.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
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Lot 309 |
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1838 (Apr. 30) New York N.Y. to London, England via Falmouth, manuscript dated part printed circular carried by steamer Sirius from New York on May 1 arriving at Falmouth May 18, red "Ship Letter/Falmouth" handstamp and "8d" due rating, red London "21 May 1838" arrival c.d.s., includes exhibit page, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
CARRIED ON THE FIRST STEAMER CROSSING TO ENGLAND.
The Steamer Sirius was chartered by the British & American Steam Navigation Company to make the first voyage by steam to the United States. The steamer made only two round trips. The cover below was carried on the maiden return voyage.
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Lot 310 |
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1845 (Jul. 1) Houlton Me. to Bangor Me., datelined folded letter bearing red "Houlton Me. Jul 1" with matching "Paid" straightline and manuscript "5" rating, additional "Paid" and "Ch 12." endorsements, Very Fine, the first day of the new 1845 rates.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 311 |
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1845 (Jul. 1) New York N.Y. to Geneva N.Y., datelined folded letter bearing red "New-York '5cts.' 1 Jul" integral rate datestamp, overstruck with "10" rating handstamp and additional strike adjacent; small part of flap removed and some wear, Fine, The first day of the new 1845 rates.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 312 |
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1845 (Jul. 1) Bennington Vt. to Chicago Ill., datelined folded letter bearing red "Bennington Vt. Jul 1" c.d.s. and manuscript "10" rating, Very Fine and choice, The first day of the new 1845 rates.
Estimate 300 - 400
Interesting content, "You see my dear Anson that I hurry to avail myself of the new postage law…".
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Lot 313 |
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1845 (Oct. 31) New York N.Y. to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter bearing red "New-York '5cts.' 31 Oct" integral rate c.d.s. for under 300 miles, upon receipt Philadelphia applied a perfect strike of the large "R" registry handstamp, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 500 - 750
PROBABLY THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE PHILADELPHIA LARGE "R" REGISTRY HANDSTAMP.
Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.
The Philadelphia "R" handstamp is known from this period only on incoming mail, and thus it is difficult to ascertain the exact earliest recorded use of this marking, but it is believed that November 1 was the first day of use.
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Lot 314 |
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1847 (Jun. 30) New York N.Y. to Quebec, Canada, datelined folded letter bearing red "New-York '10cts.' 30 Jun" integral rate c.d.s., Canadian "1/5½" rating and red "Quebec Jul 4 1847" datestamp on flap, Very Fine, Mailed on the last day of the 1845 rate period, the day before postage stamps were authorized.
Estimate 200 - 300
Provenance: Fisher
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Lot 315 |
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1847 (Jul. 1) St. Louis Mo. to Morganfield Ky., folded letter bearign red "St. Louis Mo. '10' Jul 1" integral rate c.d.s., manuscript "Recd July 6th 47" docketing; minor edge splitting, Very Fine, The first day of the new 1847 rates.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 316 |
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1847 (Jul. 1) Hampton Falls N.H. to New Hampshire, datelined folded letter bearing red "Hampton Falls N.H." handstamp with manuscript "July 1" date and matching "5" rating, Very Fine, The first day of the new 1847 rates.
Estimate 200 - 300
Provenance: Fisher
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Lot 317 |
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1851 (Jun. 30) Lowell Mass. to Manchester, N.H., datelined folded letter bearing perfectly struck blue "Lowell. Ms. '5cts' 30 June" integral rate c.d.s., fresh and Extremely Fine, The last day before the new reduced uniform 1851 rates took effect.
Estimate 200 - 300
Provenance: Fisher
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Lot 318 |
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1851 (Jun. 30) Kennebunk Me. to North Conway N.H., datelined folded letter bearing green "Kennebunk Me. Jun 30" c.d.s., VeryFine, The last day before the new reduced uniform 1851 rates took effect.
Estimate 200 - 300
Provenance: Fisher
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Lot 319 |
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1851 (Jul. 1) San Francisco Cal. to Rochester N.Y., buff envelope bearing mostly clear "San Francisco Cal. 1 Jul" c.d.s. and matching "10" rating handstamps, additional red crayon rating, endorsed "per Mail of July 1st", pencil "Recd Aug 6 - 51" on reverse; light edge creases, Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
A FIRST DAY USAGE OF THE UNPAID "10" RATE FOR OVER 3,000 MILES.
Expertization: 1999 P.F. Certificate.
Postage stamps were not required when reduced uniform domestic postal rates went into effect throughout the United States on July 1, 1851.
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Lot 320 |
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1851 (Jul. 1) Beardstown Ill. to Randolph City Va., datelined folded letter bearing "Beardtown Ill. Jun" c.d.s. with manuscript "Ly 1" for July 1st added and matching "Paid" straightline with manuscript "3" rating, minor stain, Fine, The first day of the new reduced prepaid 3¢ 1851 rate for under 3,000 miles.
Estimate 500 - 750
Expertization: 1998 A.P.S. Certificate.
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Lot 321 |
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1851 (Jul. 1) New York N.Y. to Boston Mass., datelined folded letter with "Paid" endorsement crossed out in blue crayon and black "New-York '5cts' Jul 1" integral due c.d.s., fresh and Extremely Fine, The first day of the new reduced unpaid 5¢ 1851 rate for under 3,000 miles.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 322 |
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1851 (Jul. 3) New York N.Y. drop letter, folded cover bearing "New-York 1ct. Jul 3" integral due c.d.s., docketed "Jul 3/51", minor staining, Fine and scarce use only three days after the new 1¢ drop letter rate took effect July 1, 1851.
Estimate 200 - 300
Provenance: Fisher
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Lot 323 |
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1855 (Mar. 14) Salem, N.C. Ballooning letter, two page letter to Morganton N.C. bearing "Salem N.C. Mar 14" c.d.s. and matching "5" rating handstamp for the unpaid rate less than 3,000 miles; some edgewear, Fine.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
A FASCINATING GLIMPSE INTO EARLY BALLOONING DURING THE 19TH CENTURY.
This historically interesting letter is datelined "Salem March 10th /55" and describes a balloon ascension on Feb. 13 as follows, "We had the pleasure of attending a balloon ascension on the 15th of Feb. A great number of people were assembled to see it, more than I have ever seen in Salem on any occasion before. We were pleasantly entertained for an hour or two while they were inflating the balloon, by music from the band. We watched Prof. Elliott when he ascended into the air, and saw him wave his flag until he appeared a mere speck in the sky. We afterwards heard that he landed safely a few miles distant from this place."
An advertisement for this flight was published on February 10, 1855 in the People's Press, the Salem-area weekly newspaper that starts, "Providence and the weather permitting Prof. Geo. Elliott will make his 113th Grand Ascension, on Thursday February 15th 1855, at Salem, N.C, a(t) 2 O'clock." George Elliott began his ballooning career in 1834 in the city of Baltimore on August 11 and continued until the 1850s.
Subject of article by Kathleen Wunderly, "A Most Beautiful Ascension," American Philatelist, May 2004, pp. 422-424.
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Lot 324 |
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1855 (Dec. 31) Lowell Mass. to Marlboro Mass., folded letter with dated part printed enclosure and bearing blue "Dec 31" datestamp and matching circled "Paid 3" c.d.s.; accompanied by 3¢ red entire cancelled by perfectly struck "Old Town Me. Dec 31" c.d.s. to Bangor Me., 1855 enclosed letter; a Very Fine pair.
Estimate 200 - 300
Provenance: Fisher
These covers were mailed on the last day of the 1851 rates prior to the mandatory prepayment of mail called for in the act of March 3, 1855. This is the last day of the stampless period.
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Lot 325 |
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Stampless balance, group of four covers comprising 1827 (Mar. 2) cover mailed on the first day of the new newspaper rates, 1845 (Jul. 1) folded letter mailed on the first day of the new 1845 rates, and two 1845 (Jul. 2) City Despatch Post local folded letters mailed on the 2nd day of the new 2¢ local rate that was effective Jul. 1, one was forwarded to Philadelphia; some faults, Fine group.
Estimate 300 - 400
Provenance: Fisher
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Lot 326 |
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1869 (May 14) San Francisco Cal. to Marburg, Prussia, 3¢ entire bearing 3¢ rose, F.grill (94) three singles, ties by matching wedges duplexed with "San Francisco Cal. May 14" c.d.s., red "New York Paid All Direct May 25" c.d.s., red framed "Hamburg, 6/6/69, Franco" handstamp and Marburg (6.7) backstamp; some cover faults, Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
THE EARLIEST RECORDED STAMPED LETTER CARRIED BY THE NEWLY COMPLETED TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD.
Expertization: Accompanied by Ashbrook letter of authenticity.
Provenance: Polland
The Transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869 with the joining of the rails linking the Central and Union Pacific Railroads at Promontory Summit, Utah. This cover was mailed in San Francisco Cal. only four days after completion on May 14 and arrived into New York at the latest date of May 25. The Postmaster General Report stated that the time-in-transit by railroad across the country was 11 days, exactly matching this cover.
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Lot 327 |
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1896 (Oct. 6) New York, N.Y. Collection & Distribution Wagon, Trip 15 c.d.s. ties four 2¢ Bureau singles and two 1¢ Bureau singles on cover to Munich, Germany, reverse with New York Barry (10.7) machine transit and Munich Oct. 19 backstamp, Hotel Avellanet corner card, minor edgewear, Very Fine.
Estimate 200 - 300
THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF A COLLECTION & DISTRIBUTION WAGON POSTMARK FOR ANY CITY.
According to the Bruns monograph, the wagon service began on October 1, 1896. The earliest documented date of October 6 was only recorded by Bruns for the Washington D.C. These specially fitted postal wagons were actually converted omnibuses that operated on the streets of Buffalo, New York and Washington from 1896 to 1900. They were fitted out inside like miniature railway mail cars and were quickly replaced by trolley car post offices.
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