Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — Presidents Signatures and Free Franks
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1961
George Washington. One-page letter signed "G. Washington", datelined "Morristown May 19, 1777", reads "Sir, This will be delivered you by Monsieur Colerus, who is to fill a Majority on Colonel Hazen's Regiment, under your immediate command. This gentleman's conduct, I think, will promote the service and do honor to himself. Monseur Colerus' rank is to be governed by the date of his commission, and the rules for adjusting rank in American Army. I am Sir, Your most obdt. sevt.", docketed on back, expertly silkedA RARE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LETTER SIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.
The Papers of George Washington (Revolutionary War Series, 9, pp. 320 and 470-471) available at http://www.consource.org , contain two letters relating to Monsieur Colerus. The first, dated May 1, 1777, is from Colerus who states: "It is very unhappy, that with the sincerest desire to be useful to my Country, I see myself so forgotten. I am neglected. the whole world knows your equity, how will they Judge of me?...Please to grant me the testimony that I deserve, since I am in the Continental service." A second letter in the correspondence to Monsieur Colerus, with the same date as the one offered here, states: "It has always been my wish and design, that you should be provided for, so soon as you acquired a competent knowledge of our language, to make you fit for Command, and Circumstances would admit. When you were here last, I told you, I should try to place you in some Corps, as you seemed uneasy at your situation, and expressed a desire of being immediately in Service....There is now a vacant majority in Colo: Hazen’s Regiment at Princeton under the command of Lieutt Colo. Antill, which you may have immediately by repairing to it, and which you will do. Should this appointment, be not equal to your views, I have no other in my power; And I would further observe, that if you will take a calm, dispassionate view of things, you cannot expect more, upon any principle of reason or justice. I might add, without any disparagement to your merit, that there are many good Officers in the Service and who have been in it, from the commencement of the War, who have not received such Honorable marks of favor and distinction."
E. 10,000-15,000
15,500
1962
George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" as Commanding General of the Continental Army on folded cover addressed in another hand to "Brigadier General Irvine, Fort Pitt", no date (ca. 1782), neatly reinforced along foldsVERY FINE. A WONDERFULLY BOLD FRANKING SIGNATURE BY GEORGE WASHINGTON AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM IRVINE AT FORT PITT.
William Irvine was promoted to Brigadier-General on May 12, 1779. On March 8, 1782, upon Washington's recommendation, Irvine was given command of Fort Pitt until the end of the war.
From the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Archives (deacccession).
E. 7,500-10,000
9,500
Back to Top1963
James Madison. Three free franked covers, each addressed to James Madison, one dated from 1790s as "Member of House of Representatives" in Philadelphia, one as "Ex Pres U. States" in Montpelier Va. from Philadelphia and one with printed "Free" to Orange County, one docketed in his hand, couple with minor fold reinforcements, Very Fine
E. 300-400
425
Back to Top1964
Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Joseph Burnett & Co. in Boston, single 1c Blue (63) tied by red "U.S. Mail City Delivery" carrier datestamp, back of cover with "Held for Postage" straightline and "New-York May 6" duplex datestamp and target, same duplex (May 8) ties 1c Blue (63) pair that was added after post office notified sender, small stamp flaws, sealed tear to the right of stamps, otherwise Very Fine, Van Buren died in July 1862, the stamps were issued in August 1861, so this May 8 cover was mailed in 1862 and the frank was refused in error, ex Cole and Dr. Robertson
E. 750-1,000
850
Back to Top1965
Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Ithaca N.Y., 1c Blue (63) tied by "New-York May 9" duplex datestamp and target, small edge tear at upper right, still Very Fine, rare use of 1c 1861 to pay carrier fee on cover franked by an ex-President (franking privilege did not apply to carrier fees), ex Cole and Dr. Robertson
E. 750-1,000
1,100
Back to Top1966
William H. Harrison. Document signed "Wm H. Harrison Adc" as ensign in Indian Wars, quartermaster's order for "Nine gills of whiskey" datelined "Greenville February 26, 1795", Very Fine and scarce, signed during Harrison's service as aide-de-camp to General Anthony Wayne
E. 300-400
750
Back to Top1967
James K. Polk. 1847 cover addressed to "His Excellency James K. Polk, President of the U. States, Washington City", blue "Louisville Ky. Sep 22" circular datestamp and "5" rate, turned and readdressed to Louisville in President Polk's hand, no postal markings on readdressed side, light file folds, Very Fine and scarce
E. 300-400
225
Back to Top1968
Andrew Johnson. Two items, first autograph endorsement "From the Pres" as President in pencil on cover to the Commissioner of Pensions, trivial soiling, Very Fine, Johnson used pencil most of the time when signing his free frank as President, this was carried outside of the mails, ex Hessel and Dr. Robertson, second is signature as Governor of Tennessee on part of military appointment, dated May 6, 1863, also signed by Secretary of State, few light file folds, Very Fine, Johnson would be President less than two years later
E. 300-400
475
Back to Top1969
Frances Folsom Cleveland. Eight free franks and two contents (letters signed), used between 1911-45, incl. two attractive early uses from 1911 on mourning covers, mostly sent from Princeton N.J. but one with "Jack. & St. Pete R.P.O. Apr. 15, 1937" postmark and two used from New Hampshire, fresh and Very Fine, a desirable group covering the wide period of her free franking privilege, lot also incl. autograph free frank "Lucretia R. Garfield" on mourning cover to Cleveland O., neat "West Mentor Ohio Jun. 21, 1906" postmark, receiving backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, all ex Dr. Robertson
E. 300-400
160
Back to Top1970
Edith Bolling Wilson. Five items: first is TLS dated March 7, 1924 which reads "My dear Mr. Postmaster General: Accept my thanks for your very kind letter of March fifth informing me that Congress has enacted a law granting me free transmission in the mails of matter sent by me under my written autograph signature..." and signed, second item is mourning cover with "Edith Bolling Wilson" free frank used on March 19, 1924 in Washington D.C. and addressed to the Postmaster General, third item is original contents which contains TLS reading "Admiral Grayson delivered to me on yesterday your very kind message that it would be acceptable to the Post Office Department for me to use a fac-simile signature, made with rubber stamp, for franking letters. As I was under the impression that there had been a ruling to the contrary, I have thought it best to write you before doing this." and signed, fourth item is a small cover dated Oct. 17, 1928 with a facsimile free frank, final item is autograph free frank on mourning cover to New York, contents with printed "Mrs Woodrow Wilson desires to express her deep appreciation of your kind sympathy", very early use (Woodrow Wilson passed away on Feb. 3, 1924), Very Fine, an historically important assemblage, Edith Bolling Wilson was the first presidential widow to use a facsimile, most others following also did so
E. 750-1,000
400
Back to Top1971
Herbert Hoover. Complete set -1/2c-10c Washington Bicentennial (704-715) on Planty #7 multicolored printed cacheted business-size cover, typed address to "The Honorable Herbert Hoover" and signed Herbert Hoover, with "Washington D.C. Jan. 1 (1932)" circular datestamp on the first day of issue, Very Fine, few are known with the signature of then-President Herbert Hoover, a wonderful exhibit item
E. 500-750
700
Back to Top1972
Harry S. Truman. Signature just above that of wife Bess W. Truman on unaddressed Artcraft cacheted First Day cover for 8c Missouri issue (1426), cover also with 13c Missouri Flag (1656) tied by its First Day cancel, and signature of Thomas H. Benton, all signatures in ink, Extremely Fine
E. 400-500
225
Back to Top1973
Harry S. and Bess W. Truman. Signatures on fifteen (eight Harry and seven Bess) different cacheted covers, incl. one Harry 1949 inauguration, others mostly first days, Bess signed three "Bess Wallace Truman", most of Harry's tie stamps, Extremely Fine
E. 1,000-1,500
550
Back to Top1974
Mail to John F. Kennedy. Over 6,000 covers addressed to John F. Kennedy in 1960 while he was U.S. Senator, from a wide variety of correspondences, also incl. around 3,000 1973 Nixon inaugural cards with 8c stamp tied by inauguration day pmk., since the cost of shipping this multi-box lot will most likely exceed its value, we recommend that the buyer pick it up from our office
E. 150-200
2,200
Back to Top1975
Gerald Ford. Apollo cachet cover with "JSC-Spacepex Sta., Houston Tx. Jul. 17, 1975" and "Houston, Tx GPO Jul. 17, 1975" circular datestamps, with appropriate handstamps regarding docking and crew transfer, signed Gerald Ford as President, Very Fine
E. 200-300
110
Back to Top1976
Free Franks Collection. Covering several areas, five from Executive and State Dept, incl. secretarial letter on Executive Mansion stationery (with cover, no frank), Census Office, Patent Office, handstamped frank of Wm. Hunter, Seward's chief clerk; Treasury Dept. group of four, incl. two franked by Tench Coxe (First Comm. of Internal Revenue), A. J. Dallas and Oliver Wolcott; Post Office Dept group of four, incl. Postmaster General Habersham; Legislative group of eleven, incl. A. Tattom and E. Everett, territorial delegates Chaffee (Col. Terr.), Cass (Michigan Terr. unsigned) and R.K. Call (Florida Terr.), several other Senatorial and Congressional; couple free franks to Europe; finally an inspection report from Fort Brown Tex. related to items needed due to the abolishment of free franking privilege, minor faults, overall Fine and interesting collection, all ex Dr. Robertson
E. 750-1,000
0
Back to Top1977
Free Franks and Signatures. 14 items, incl. free franks of Samuel Meredith (Treasurer of the U.S. from 1789-1801), Worcester Webster (postmaster responsible for the unique Boscawen provisional), Daniel Webster, John C. Breckinridge, Hannibal Hamlin, John G. Nicolay (private secretary to Abraham Lincoln), William A. Browning and Edmund Cooper (1st and 2nd private secretaries to President Andrew Johnson), Horace Porter (private secretary to Ulysses S. Grant), Herbert Hoover (2, one on postcard), cut out signature of Mrs. James K. Polk, also Jimmy Carter free frank as ex-President on cover, a most fascinating group
E. 300-400
550
Back to Top1978
Presidential Widows' Free Franks. Three items, Edith Bolling Wilson free frank on mourning envelope, with matching printed enclosure acknowledging sympathy for the death of President Wilson (d. Feb. 3), Very Fine, her franking privilege took effect on Mar. 4 and this was used only eight days later, Mary Lord Harrison free frank on cover with her imprint on back to Indianapolis Ind., Lucretia K. Garfield free frank on mourning cover to Philadelphia, Very Fine group
E. 300-400
0
Back to Top