Lot 1081
1847, 10¢ black (2), mostly large margins, cutting at top right, tied by three strikes of blue "FREE" and matching "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 28" c.d.s. on 1849 folded letter with the letterhead of Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette, contents written by Rufus King (editor and former adjutant general of New York State), and addressed to Orsamus Cole, a Wisconsin congressman in Washington, Fine, the only recorded 1847 cover from Milwaukee with the Free handstamp.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and a former engineer of the New York & Erie Railroad, King became U.S. minister to Rome in 1861, resigning to serve as brigadier general of volunteers in the Civil War. The interesting contents of this letter discuss the various appointments that might be possible for friends in the new administration, or as King describes it "the distribution of loaves and fishes in this field". This included the appointment of postmaster in Milwaukee.
A likely explanation for the use of the "Free" handstamp is that though the cover could have been sent free as Congress was in session at that time (the contents discussed congressional business), the sender chose to use a stamp and not risk rejection.
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| Realized $4,500 |
