Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Postal Markings by State
Huntsville Al. Jun. 24 (1850). Well-struck blue circular datestamp with matching perfect strike of "5" in Solid Star with Negative Stars fancy rate handstamp on folded letter to Oakland P.O. Ala., Extremely Fine strike and a beautiful cover
Huntsville Al. Oct. 31 (1845). Clear strike of blue circular datestamp with matching strike of Negative "10" in Circle of Stars fancy rate handstamp on light blue folded letter, to Bible House N.Y., fresh and Very Fine, a beautiful cover
Huntsville Ala. Two covers, one with well-struck blue "5" in Solid Star with Negative Stars fancy rate handstamp on cover to Nashville Tenn., clear strike of "Huntsville Al. Aug. 2" circular datestamp and "PAID" handstamp, second with Negative "10" in Circle with Negative Stars fancy rate handstamp to Gaston N.C., similar circular datestamp and "PAID", latter some minor waterstaining, Extremely Fine strikes
Huntsville Ala. Two covers, one with well-struck blue "5" in Solid Star with Negative Stars fancy rate handstamp on folded letter datelined "Limestown Co. Nov. 28th 1846" to Greensboro Ala. with clear strike of "Huntsville Al. Nov. 30" circular datestamp, second to New Orleans with Negative "10" in Circle with Negative Stars fancy rate handstamp and "Huntsville Al. Jul. 12" (1846) circular datestamp, first with trivial overall toning, Extremely Fine strikes
1894 Pullman Railroad Strike. 2c Green entire (U312) with Wells, Fargo & Co's Express imprint addressed to Grass Valley Cal., embossed stamp cancelled by magenta "Wells, Fargo & Co's Express San Francisco, Cal. Jul. 15" (1894) oval datestamp with purple "Transferred at Colfax, Cal." straightline, Very Fine use on mail carried by Wells Fargo to Colfax during the Pullman Railroad strike, where mail was put on a non-strike train to Grass Valley, the railroad strike spawned the Bicycle Mail Route service, also accompanied by a second 2c Green entire with Wells, Fargo & Co. purple Los Angeles double-circle datestamp of Jul. 9, addressed to San Francisco
1c Black on Buff, Postal Card (UX5). Cancelled by perfect strike of North-South Shaking Hands fancy cancel with "Worcester Mass. Jan. 19 10AM" duplex datestamp and used to Providence R.I., small red company receiving datestamp at lower left, card with small internal crease, Extremely Fine strike, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate
Amboy. New Jersey, Apr. 17 (1829). Clear strike of fancy red oval datestamp with matching "SHIP" handstamp, manuscript "203/4" rate on folded letter from Canton, China, to Providence R.I., letter datelined Canton Nov. 19, 1828, sender's directive "Per New Jersey, Capt. Witall" and updated to "Pr. Maria", Very Fine and rare ship letter from China to the U.S. via Amboy N.J.
Baskingridge (N.J.) Sept. 11 (1811). Fancy manuscript circular postmark with matching "8" rate (for less than 40 miles) on folded letter to Flemington N.J., clear evidence of the arc drawn by the postmaster with a compass to ensure his postmark would be circular, Extremely Fine, a beautiful and rare example of this fancy manuscript postmark, the only one recorded, ex Coles, illustrated in The Postal Markings of New Jersey Stampless Covers on p. 15, illustrated in Smithsonian National Postal Museum's Favorite Finds
(Burlington N.J.), "BURLton 2". Manuscript postmark with "ton" raised in lower case and 2 dwt rate on Jul. 7, 1767 folded letter to William Bayard at New York, "15 IY" (Jul. 15) Franklin mark struck on back in New York, letter dated and signed by James Kinsey with interesting contents concerning the Stamp Act, top edge flaws where missing portion of flap, small tear thru postmark
very fine appearance. this is the earliest recorded postmark from Burlington, New jersey.
The name "Lawrence Sweeny" is written near the Franklin mark on the reverse. According to a Rumsey description when previously offered, this "may refer to Lawrence Sweeney of New York who was an outspoken Irish American who secretly distributed the Constitutional Courant and was outspoken against the British actions in 1765. William Bayard was a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, but would later side with the British and have his lands taken."
With 2015 P.F. certificate.
BORDENTON/&/NEW YORK STAGE. Large rectangular framed handstamp on back of Sep. 23, 1786 folded letter from John Shields in Philadelphia to Capt. William Smith in Hydestown Pa., sender's directive "P. Bordenton Stage", minor soiling, letter completely intact and sound
VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE "BORDENTON & NEW YORK STAGE" PRIVATE MAIL MARKING, ONE OF THE ICONIC POSTAL MARKINGS OF 18TH CENTURY AMERICA. ONLY SIX EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
The February 2005 issue of NJPH (New Jersey Postal History Society journal, available at http://njpostalhistory.org/media/archive/157-feb05njph.pdf states: "This private mail marking is regarded as the first of the independent mail handstamps used by a private carrier. Only six examples of this handstamp have been recorded over its brief period of use from August 23, 1786, through November 21, 1786." The cover offered here is the third of the six by date. Calvet M. Hahn wrote about these covers in two articles (CCP Sep.-Oct. 1991 and Penny Post July 2003).
Ex Edwin Mayer and Kramer.
Bordenton & New York Stage. Manuscript "pr. Bordenton Stage" at bottom of May 2, 1787 folded letter to Captain William Smith in Hydestown N.J., some slight staining and wear, Fine and rare, ex Hahn, this cover is from the same correspondence (sent eight months later) as the ex Kramer cover offered in lot 6316 with the "BORDENTON/&/NEW YORK STAGE" framed handstamp, used Aug.-Nov. 1786 and of which only six examples are recorded, Calvet M. Hahn recorded only three examples of this manuscript version
Haddonfield N.J. Jul. 22. Clear strike of negative circular postmark with date in manuscript on ca. 1841 buff cover to New Lisbon N.Y., missing part of backflap, Very Fine strike of this fancy town marking
Lambertville N.J. Mar. 2. Strong strike of dark black circular handstamp with negative lettering, with manuscript date, manuscript "6" rate uprated to "10" on 1841 folded letter to Allentown N.J., docketing at left, small tear at top of center file fold not affecting any markings or writing, Very Fine strike, very few are known, the finest recorded example of this marking realized $5,750 hammer in our sale of the Peter Sharrer collection (Sale 1136, lot 1003), with clear 2017 P.F. certificate
(New Brunswick N.J.), N.B. Feb. 22. Well-struck New Brunswick N.J. straightline datestamp with manuscript "8" rate on 1796 folded letter to Philadelphia from Robert H. Morris, famous financier of the Revolutionary War and Signer of Declaration of Independence, some light staining and small tear in address panel at right, Very Fine strike of this scarce marking and desirable from a Signer, with 2014 P.F. certificate
(Trenton N.J., 1764) "Trenton 2dwt". Manuscript postmark on folded letter datelined "Philada. Aug. 20th 1764", addressed to Mr. Thomas Newton in New York City, minor soiling, Very Fine, a scarce early Colonial Trenton postmark, ex Hahn
New-York Nov. 17 (1802). Bold strike of "clamshell" style datestamp and manuscript "Sh 19" (17c plus 2c ship fee) on 1802 folded letter datelined "St. Petersburg 12th August 1802" and addressed to Providence R.I., faint vertical file fold does not affect marking, Extremely Fine strike and a rare use on a letter from Russia
"Cincinnati 27th June 1797" — Northwest Territory. Neat manuscript postmark with matching "25" rate on folded letter to a printer and bookseller in Philadelphia, writer notes there is no book or stationery store in Cincinnati and offers to set one up with help from recipient, some slight edgewear
VERY FINE. A RARE EARLY USE FROM CINCINNATI AS PART OF NORTHWEST TERRITORY.
The sender, Joseph Carpenter, opened a book store and became publisher of the Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette. ASCC lists 1794 as the earliest date known. ASCC $3,500.
"Cincinnati 15 July 1800" — Northwest Territory. Manuscript postmark at left reading upwards, matching "25" rate on folded letter to Hanover Neck N.J., some stains and edgewear, otherwise Very Fine and scarce Northwest Territory use, ASCC $2,500
(Fort Washington/Cincinnati, Northwest Territory) Military Authorization for Postage. Document from U.S. Army for postage to be paid to William Ruffin (postmaster at Cincinnati from 1799-1814), dated Sep. 1800 and listing letters sent by the army, with receipt and signature of Ruffin at bottom, Very Fine and an excellent collateral piece of Northwest Territory
"Cincinnati 21 Decemr 1802" — Northwest Territory. Manuscript postmark with matching "25" rate on folded letter to Thomas Findlay in Baltimore, vertical file fold, some slight edgewear, Very Fine and scarce Northwest Territory use, ASCC $2,500
Cincinnati Postal History. 12, all manuscript markings from 1803-1815, on separate exhibit pages, including 1803 to "New Ark New Jersey", 1803 to Ky., 1804 to Ky., 1807 to Marietta, 1807 to Secretary of War in Washington D.C., 1811 to Ill. territory, few faults to be expected, overall Fine-Very Fine and scarce group