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Photo |
Description |
Lot 107 |
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Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1731-1802), Widow of President George Washington. Free frank signature, "M Washington", on folded letter from Thomas Lear, "Mount Vernon, Octr. 6th: 1800" to Messrs. Thomas and Thomas, Printers, Walpole, N.H., lightly struck red "Alex Va. Oct 6" postmark, endorsed "Free" in another hand, contents request Thomas & Thomas to discontinue sending their newspaper to Mrs. Washington due to the inconvenience of receiving so many different papers, light horizontal file fold, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 30,000 - 40,000
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED FREE FRANKS OF MARTHA WASHINGTON.
Martha Washington was granted the franking privilege in April 1800 after her husband's death and lived for just two more years. Her clipped signature is in itself quite rare and commands significant prices.
Tobias Lear (1762-1816) was George Washington's private secretary from 1784 until Washington's death in 1799 and remained a close associate of Mrs. Washington.
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Lot 108 |
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Dolley Paine Todd Madison (1768-1849), Widow of James Madison. Free frank signature, "Free D P Madison", on cover to Philadelphia Pa., red "Washington D.C. 'Free' Jul 22" c.d.s., original enclosed letter from Mary without year date; light wax seal stain, Very Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
Provenance: Joyce
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Lot 109 |
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[Dolley Madison], 1837 folded letter addressed to Mrs. D.P. Madison in Washington City, entered the mails with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Oct 28" c.d.s. and magenta "12½" rating, upon arrival in Washington, the post office crossed out the postage due and delivered the letter free, the letter was from Mrs. Madison's cousin, Edward Coles, and mentions the writer's trip to Washington, D.C. and meeting with congressmen on the subject of President Madison's personal papers; Very Fine. A most unusual use of the free franking privilege.
Estimate 400 - 500
Provenance: Grunin
The free franking privilege was granted to Dolley Madison on July 2, 1836, just five days after her husband's death. The privilege allowed her to send and receive mail free of postage.
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Lot 110 |
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Dolley Madison, two items, first is Free Frank signature "Free D P Madison" on cover front to Washington, D.C., red "Orange C.H. Va. Nov 1" c.d.s.; second is cover addressed to Dolley Madison from Baltimore to Washington, D.C. with blue "5" rate marking crossed out as postage was free, front with some tears, Fine to Very Fine pair.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 111 |
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Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (1775-1852), Wife of John Quincy Adams; First Lady of the United States (1825-1829).Autograph Letter Signed "Louisa Catherine Adams", four pages, 4½ x 7, Quincy, Mass., September 16, 1848, to "My Dear Mary", in part:
"… I am very much worried at the total perversion of Mr. Adams' opinions by honorable Members of Congress for electioneering purposes: as every one knew that he could not have declared for Genl. Taylor as Mr. Clay was the prominent candidate of the Whigs when he died.
"It would be of no importance did these Gentlemen not make these assertions, to injure my only Child, and they use it shamefully and disgracefully: knowing it not to be true…" and "…He detested the idea of a Military President as much as he detested the Mexican War and the dominion of the South…"
Neatly penned with strong signature by Mrs. Adams, Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
Mrs. Adams was probably writing to her daughter-in-law, Mary Catherine Hellen Adams.
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Lot 112 |
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Louisa Catherine Adams, Widow of John Q. Adams. Free frank signature, "L C Adams", on cover to Dr. Isaac Walker in Spread Eagle, Pa., manuscript "Quincy Mass, July 31" postmark and matching "Free" rating, intact Adams wax seal on verso; cover wrinkling, light soiling, otherwise Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
Louisa Catherine Adams was granted the franking privilege on March 9, 1848; it lasted only a few years until her death on May 15, 1852.
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Lot 113 |
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Louisa Catherine Adams, Free frank signature, "L C Adams", on cover to New Orleans, La., blue "Baltimore Md." c.d.s., intact Adams wax seal in black; Very Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
Provenance: Joyce
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Lot 114 |
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Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison (1775-1864), Widow of William Henry Harrison and grandmother of President Benjamin Harrison; nominally First Lady during her husband's one-month term in 1841, but never entered the White House. Autograph Letter Signed, 1 page, Northbend, Ohio, November 1, 1848. To Joseph R. Winchell, Greenfield, Mass. in response to an autograph seeker, in part,
"I should have answered your kind, & friendly letter before this, but for a sore finger, which prevented my holding a pen - I am truly sorry that it is not in my power to send you an Autograph of my Father-in law…I believe you could procure one by writing to a great Nephew of my dear husband. His name is Henry Harrison - Birkley Charles City County Virginia…"
Free frank signature, "Free Anna Harrison", on integral address leaf addressed in her hand with manuscript "Cleves O. Nov. 3" postmark; some slight wear and edge toning, Fine.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
Mrs. Harrison's father-in-law was Benjamin Harrison (1726-1791), Virginia farmer, politician and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
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Lot 115 |
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Anna Harrison, Autograph Letter Signed "Anna Harrison", two pages, 8½ x 10¾ Northbend, Ohio, November 18, 1848. To friend Phebe R. Reeves in Long Island, N.Y., informing Miss Reeves of the state of her health, her family and her religion. Some wrinkling, about Fine.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
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Lot 116 |
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Anna Harrison, Autograph Letter Signed "Anna Harrison", one page, Northbend, January 17 1851. Letter is in response to an autograph seeker, in part,
"I received your note a few days ago, & hasten to comply with your request, by sending an Autograph of my much lamented Husband. I have so often been [asked] for them that for some time passed have been oblidged [sic] to cut them from my letters…"
Light toning and small thinning from wax seal in lower left blank margin, otherwise Fine and scarce.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
Mrs. Harrison offers another reason why her husband's autographed letters are very scarce.
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Lot 117 |
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Anna Harrison, Free frank signature, "Free Anna Harrison" on one page letter from her son J. Scott Harrison responding to an autograph seeker asking for one of his father's letters for a friend, addressed in his hand to John B. Murray in New York, letter datelined "North Bend, Jany. 30th 1843" with red "Cleves. O. Feb. 4" handstamped postmark updated with blue manuscript. "5" date; water stained, Fine.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 118 |
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Sarah Childress Polk, Widow of James K. Polk. Free frank signature "Free Mrs. J.K. Polk", on mourning envelope addressed in her hand to B.B. French in Washington City, D.C., light strike of Nashville Tenn. c.d.s. and "Free" handstamp, intact black seal, no flap, Very Fine. Very Fine.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
ALTHOUGH MRS. POLK HELD THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE LONGER THAN ANY OTHER FIRST LADY, FROM 1850 UNTIL 1891, HER FRANKS ON INTACT COVERS ARE EXTREMELY RARE. THIS COVER AND THE NEXT ARE TWO OF ONLY THREE RECORDED, THIS BEING THE ONLY ONE ON A MOURNING ENVELOPE.
B.B. French was the Commissioner of Public Buildings in Washington, D.C.
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Lot 119 |
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Sarah Childress Polk, First Lady (1845-1849). Free-franked cover, envelope endorsed "Free. Mrs. J.K. Polk" and addressed in her own hand to Major John Bills in Bolivar, Tenn.; some restoration, Very Fine appearing and exceedingly rare.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF MRS. POLK'S FREE FRANK ON AN INTACT COVER.
Provenance: Stearns
John Houston Bills, the founder of Bolivar, Tenn., was a life-long friend of the Polk family and married a cousin of President Polk's.
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Lot 120 |
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Sarah Childress Polk, Free frank signature "Free Mrs. J.K. Polk", on cover front addressed in her hand to B.B. French in Washington City, D.C., blue "Nashville Ten." c.d.s., light strike of Nashville Tenn. c.d.s., front is mounted on backing paper, Fine and rare.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 121 |
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Sarah Childress Polk, Autograph Letter Signed, "Mrs James K. Polk", 1 page, Polk Place, Nashville Tenn., Feb. 12, 1856. To General Jefferson Davis as Secretary of War, in part,
"Col. Fauntleroy…will be presented to the President for promotion. Col. Fauntleroy's long services for his country, & his late efficient & gallant services in New Mexico, will commend him to the President.
"Allow me most respectfully to say, that I would be most gratified & pleased to see Col. Fauntleroy Breveted…"
Minor edge flaws, minor toning and small ink blot not affecting text, Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
The letter refers to Col. Thomas L. Fauntleroy, U.S. Army, who succeeded in pacifying the Utah and Apache tribes in the New Mexico Territory.
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Lot 122 |
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Sarah Childress Polk, Autograph Signature, "Mrs. James K. Polk, 'Polk Place', Nashville Tenn., Sept. 25, 1875", on card backing, Very Fine.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 123 |
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Mary Todd Lincoln, Widow of President Abraham Lincoln. Free frank signature "Mary Lincoln", on mourning cover addressed in her hand to David Davis as Judge of Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., bold strike of "Chicago Ill. Dec. 3" c.d.s.; small cover tear, Very Fine.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000
In May 1865 after President Lincoln's assasination, Mary Todd Lincoln and her sons, Robert and Tad, left Washington D.C. for Chicago. They resided there until leaving for Europe in 1868.
David Davis, Lincoln's campaign manager in 1860, was appointed by President Lincoln to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1862. In 1877 he resigned from the Court to become a U.S. Senator for Illinois.
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Lot 124 |
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Julia Dent Grant (1826-1902), Widow of Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank signature "Julia D. Grant", on mourning cover addressed in her hand to Mrs. Jesse R. Grant at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco Cal., "New York Oct 23 '89" duplex postmark, upper left corner paper missing and replaced with black card, intact black "JDG" wax seal, Fine and scarce.
Estimate 500 - 750
Jesse Root Grant was Julia's youngest of four children.
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Lot 125 |
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Julia Dent Grant, Free Frank "Julia D. Grant" on mourning cover addressed in her hand to Mrs. Charles L. Webster in Fredonia N.Y., "New York Mar 12 '90" duplex postmark, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 126 |
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Lucretia R. Garfield, Widow of James A. Garfield. Four mourning envelopes with Free Frank "Lucretia R. Garfield" dating from 1896 to 1912 originating from West Mentor, Oh. and South Pasadena, Oh.; two with opening faults, a Fine to Very Fine group.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 127 |
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Frances F. Cleveland, Widow of Grover Cleveland. Five covers with Free Frank "Frances F. Cleveland" dating from 1911 to February 2, 1913 (one week prior to her re-marrying), all originating from Princeton, N.J., better include a post card with a real photo of her garden and her message to a friend "This is the little corner of stone wall where my 'Intermont' garden is…", and a 1912 mourning cover with original 4pp ALS, some faults, a Fine to Very Fine group with this scarce form of her Free Frank.
Estimate 500 - 750
Mrs. Cleveland only used the "Frances F. Cleveland" form of her free frank for five years.
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Lot 128 |
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Frances F. Cleveland, Two free franks, first "Frances F. Cleveland" on 1912 cover addressed in her hand to Mrs. Larkin in Buffalo, N.Y. with "Princeton, N.J. Nov 26, 1912" machine cancellation; second "Frances F. Cleveland Preston, Free" on 1939 cover addressed in her hand to her husband Dr. T. F. Preston Jr. in Tamworth, N.H. with "Princeton N.J. May 29 1939" machine cancellation, a Very Fine and choice pair.
Estimate 200 - 300
Frances F. Cleveland married Grover Cleveland on June 2, 1886 in the Blue Room of the Executive Mansion. They were the first and only first couple to do so. At age 21, she was the youngest American First Lady. After Grover's death in 1908, she remarried on February 10, 1913 to Thomas J. Preston, Jr., a professor of archaeology, and remained a figure of note in the Princeton community until she died. After this date she started franking her mail with Preston.
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Lot 129 |
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Frances F. Cleveland, nine covers with Free Frank "Frances F. Cleveland Preston, Free" (five signed and four with printed signature) dating from 1913 to 1947; some faults, a Fine to Very Fine group.
Estimate 400 - 500
Frances remarried on February 10, 1913 and after this date she started franking her mail with Preston.
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Lot 130 |
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Mary Lord Harrison, Widow of Benjamin Harrison. Twelve covers with Free Frank "Mary Lord Harrison" (six signed and six with printed signature) dating from 1909 to 1943; some faults, a Fine to Very Fine group.
Estimate 300 - 400
Harrison's first wife, Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison, died near the end of his Presidential term in 1892. He married Mary Lord Harrison in 1896. She is the only President's widow to have never been First Lady and she didn't receive the free-franking privilege until she applied for it in 1909, eight years after her husband's death.
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Lot 131 |
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Ida S. McKinley, Widow of assassinated President William McKinley. Free frank signature "Mrs. Ida S. McKinley" on mourning cover to Miss Kate Barber in Northampton, Mass., "Canton Ohio Feb 26 1904" machine cancellation, Very Fine and choice.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
Provenance: Joyce
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Lot 132 |
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Ida S. McKinley, Free Frank signature "Mrs. Ida S. McKinley", on mourning cover to Washington, D.C., "Canton Ohio, March 5, 1904" machine cancellation, Very Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 133 |
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Ida S. McKinley, Free Frank signature "Mrs. Ida S. McKinley", on mourning cover to David Dwight-Biggin, Secretary of Gibson Monument Commission at Tiffin Oh., "Canton Ohio Oct 11 1906" machine cancellation, includes condolence card (not original encl.), no flap; Very Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
Provenance: Joyce
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Lot 134 |
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Edith K. Roosevelt, Widow of Theodore Roosevelt. Free frank signature "Free, Edith K. Roosevelt", on blue illustrated Herbert Hoover presidential campaign cover addressed in her hand to New York City, no postmarks, Fine. A most unusual use of Mrs. Roosevelt's frank.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 135 |
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Edith K. Roosevelt, 18 items, including Free Frank "Edith K. Roosevelt" on nine covers and two cover fronts, a few stamped usages (all but one a front), etc., some faults, Fine group.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 136 |
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Helen Taft, Widow of William H. Taft. Free frank signature "Helen H. Taft, Free", cover the postage on blue cover to Hewitt, Minn., 10¢ special delivery stamp (pre-use crease) tied by "Washington D.C. Apr 9 1939" duplex for the 10¢ special delivery fee; Very Fine.
Estimate 300 - 400
The free franking privilege only covered the postage on letters, special fees like registration, insurance and special delivery had to be prepaid with stamps.
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Lot 137 |
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Helen Taft, four covers with Free Frank "Helen H. Taft, Free" dating from 1931 to 1935; one with water damage, a Fine to Very Fine group.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 138 |
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Edith Bolling Wilson, Widow of Woodrow Wilson. Free frank signature "Edith Bolling Wilson", on mourning cover to New York City, "Washington D.C. Mar. 12, 1924" machine cancellation, with matching printed enclosure acknowledging sympathy for the death of President Wilson (died on Feb. 3), a Very Fine use only eight days after her franking privilege took effect on Mar. 4.
Estimate 150 - 200
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Lot 139 |
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Edith Bolling Wilson, 14 covers with Free Frank "Edith Bolling Wilson" (3 signed and 11 handstamped signatures) dating from March 12, 1912 (two mourning covers) to 1961, few faults, a Fine to Very Fine group.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 140 |
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Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge, Widow of Calvin Coolidge. Nine covers bearing "Grace Coolidge" free franks from 1934 to 1957, one cover faulty, a Very Fine group.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 141 |
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Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, Widow of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Free frank signature "Free Anna Eleanor Roosevelt" on cover to Mr. Smith in Patterson, N.J., postmarked New York N.Y., May 3 1959, Very Fine.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 142 |
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Mamie Doud Eisenhower, Widow of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Free frank signature "Mamie Doud Eisenhower" on cover addressed in her hand to New York City, "Gettysburg Pa May 26 1971" machine cancellation, original TLS enclosure thanking Mr. Joyce for the chance to view his Free Franks of Presidential Widows; a Very Fine and scarce Free Frank.
Estimate 500 - 750
Provenance: Morton Dean Joyce
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Lot 143 |
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Mamie Doud Eisenhower, Free Frank signature "Mamie Doud Eisenhower", on cover above a red machine-printed facsimile frank, addressed in her hand to Miss Duane Canter, Brooklyn, N.Y., postmarked York Pa., Feb. 4, 1977, includes original Autograph Letter Signed enclosure stating she did not have an autograph of her late husband to send; Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 144 |
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Mamie Doud Eisenhower, group of five facsimile free franks including 1963 letter sent by air mail and charged 8¢ due since franking privilege did not cover the additional postage; also 1965 letter with handwritten postscript from her and signed "Mamie E-"; a Very Fine group.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 145 |
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Jacqueline Kennedy, Widow of John F. Kennedy, Free Frank signature "Jacqueline Kennedy" on cover to Mr. Smith in Paterson, N.J., postmarked New York, N.Y., Apr 15, 1966, Very Fine and rare Free Frank.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 146 |
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Jacqueline Kennedy, Free Frank signature "Jacqueline Kennedy" on cover with "Mrs. John F. Kennedy" corner card addressed to Mr. Smith in Paterson, N.J., reverse postmarked New York N.Y., Dec 10, 1966, black mourning edging on flaps; slightly affected by water, still Very Fine and rare Free Frank.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 147 |
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Jacqueline Kennedy, group of 18 items including 16 facsimile free franks in either printed or handstamp form, plus two JFK prayer cards, some water damage, a Fine group.
Estimate 200 - 300
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