Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — Revolutionary War
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
2007
(Battle of Long Island, Sep. 1776) "New York Sept 1st 1776". Dateline on 3pp folded letter from Moses Gaylord, a member of Major Roger Newberry's 1st Regiment, Connecticut Militia, to his wife in Hartford Conn., carried privately "pr. favour Mr. Steel", Moses writes instructions on back for addressing letters: "Subscribe my Letters to Mr. Moses Gaylord in Lieut. Charles Simons Company, Major Newberrys Regt. of Militia in Little Dock Street, N.York", a fascinating letter written shortly after the British forced the Continental Army to flee Long Island, some excerpts "Our Army is retreated from Long Island & Governors Island... as to particulars respecting the fite on Long Island...great numbers are slain & taken prisoners..." (names of killed or wounded with injuries described), stains and wear, still Fine and a very rare soldier's letter from New York City in the aftermath of the Battle of Long Island -- Washington was enraged by the conduct of the Connecticut militia during the British assault
E. 750-1,000
2,500
2008
(New York City, 1776) "To Capt. Swan at harlom, Six myls from New York". Address on privately-carried small folded cover with part of letter intact showing Sep. 14, 1776 dateline, minor toning, Fine, scarce use during Revolutionary War
E. 400-500
275
Back to Top2009
1776 Letters to Newport R.I. Two folded letters, both carried privately to William Vernon in Newport R.I., one dated June 6 from East Greenwich R.I., other dated June 18 from Portsmouth N.H., regarding sale of tea and butter (apparently both relate to the same cask of tea), former toned with faint writing, latter slightly stained, still Fine, interesting pair of letters carried in New England during Revolutionary War
E. 200-300
0
Back to Top2010
(Military Express, 1781) "Public Service Jonth Trumbull." Manuscript endorsement with distinctive signature of Jonathan Trumbull (Governor of Connecticut 1769-84) on folded cover addressed in his hand to Nehemiah Hubbard "Late DQMG" (Deputy Quartermaster General) at Hartford, Trumbull's directive "P Express. You may make any return you please by y'Opportunity", Very Fine
E. 500-750
1,900
Back to Top2011
"New Rochelle Decr. 1777". Dateline on folded letter addressed to Comfort Sands with instructions "to be left at Samuel Loudon's printing office, Fish Kills", writer states "I desire Embree to wait your answer" referring to the private messenger who carried this letter, minor wear along folds, Very Fine, Cal Hahn notes that Samuel Loudon became Fishkill postmaster in June 1777 so "this has P.O. drop status"
E. 400-500
2,000
Back to Top2012
(Military Express, 1778) "Boston July 24th 1778". Dateline on folded letter from Miller & Tracy in Boston to Asa Waterman in Providence R.I., sender's directive "pr Express", writer reports an express arrived the previous evening, discusses shipments of provisions, postscript "Sent on 1000 Barrl. last week to Genl. Washington's Army", reinforced splits along folds, Fine, interesting example of private contractors using military express riders for military-related business, illustrated and discussed by Cal Hahn in Penny Post (July 2003)
E. 300-400
1,000
Back to Top2013
(Revolutionary War) 1777 Express Pay Order. Datelined "State of Connecticut, Windham Sep. 21st 1777" from Samuel Gray, Justice of the Peace, to John Lawrence, Treasurer, ordering payment to Elisha Abbe of Windham 22 shillings for "Carrying an Express from Windham to Hartford from Genl. Spencer to Govr. Trumbull", signed by Oliver Wolcott as auditor, signed and docketed on back, Very Fine
E. 200-300
200
Back to Top2014
(Revolutionary War -- French Military, 1781) Letter to Officer in 1st Royal Engineers under Rochambeau at Newport R.I. Folded letter in French datelined at Bordeaux, Feb. 25, 1781, from Jonathan Frere to "Monsieur D'Opterre, Capitaine en premiere au Corps Royal du Genie a l'Armee de Monsr. de Rochambeau a Newport Rodislan en Amerique Continentale a Newport", according to the writer this was sent by the Venus and enclosed another letter, intact red seal with signet ring impression, writer reports death of King of Prussia, declaration of war by Holland on England, mentions a nephew taken prisoner at Barbados, etc., Very Fine and rare French military letter from the American Revolutionary War, the recipient, Captain Henri Crublier d'Opterre, distinguished himself at the Siege of Yorktown and kept a manuscript account of the engagement (held at the Beinecke Library at Yale University)
E. 750-1,000
1,600
Back to Top2015
(Revolutionary War -- French Military, 1780) Letter to Officer in 1st Royal Engineers under Rochambeau at Newport R.I. Folded letter in French datelined at Apdan, Oct. 1, 1780, to "Monsieur le Chevelier D'Oyre, Capitaine aux Corps Royal" at Newport R.I., intact red seal with signet ring impression, the recipient was Capt. Francois-Ignace, Chevalier D'Oyre, writer notes the English are not ready to make peace, Very Fine, scarce French military letter during American Revolution
E. 750-1,000
1,600
Back to Top2016
Across the Lines from London to Boston, 1779. "London Mar. 26th 1779" dateline on folded letter from Joseph Green to Samuel Eliot in Boston, receipt docketing dated Dec. 22, 1779 indicates lengthy delay in getting mail through the American reverse blockade, Very Fine, an interesting letter from a well-known Boston Loyalist who left for England in 1775, mentions "all means of correspondence seem to be cut off"
E. 400-500
200
Back to Top2017
(Baltimore to Philadelphia, 1779) "16" dwt 1779 Inflation Rate. Manuscript rate on folded letter datelined Baltimore Feb. 19, 1779, to Philadelphia "at the corner of third & Arch streets" directive to carrier, slightly toned, Very Fine, no markings other than the "16" inflation rate
E. 300-400
3,250
Back to Top2018
(Philadelphia to Baltimore, 1779) "8" dwt 1779 Inflation Rate. Folded letter in French datelined Philadelphia, Oct. 26, 1779, to Baltimore with manuscript "8" dwt rate (1775 rates plus 50%, then doubled), Very Fine, scarce inflation rate per the Act of April 16, 1779
E. 300-400
1,100
Back to Top2019
(Philadelphia to Boston, 1779) "12" dwt 1779 Inflation Rate. Folded letter datelined Philadelphia, Oct. 12, 1779, to Boston with manuscript "12" dwt rate (1775 rates plus 50%, then doubled), Very Fine, scarce inflation rate per the Act of April 16, 1779
E. 300-400
3,000
Back to Top2020
(Revolutionary War -- British Privateers) "Philada. 19 Febr. 1779". Dateline on folded letter to William Vernon in Boston, directed to the "Admiralty" board but corrected to "Marine" board, sender's directive on back "Mr. Hastings will be pleased to forward this immediately", manuscript "12" dwt 1777 inflation rate, interesting letter concerning the capture of the brig Pitt by British privateers, slight wear and soiling along folds, otherwise Very Fine, scarce naval-related letter during the Revolutionary War
E. 400-500
650
Back to Top2021
(Revolutionary War -- British Occupation of New York) "Brooklyn 22d April 1779". Dateline on folded letter from Richard William Parkin to Seth Norton, Commissary Forage, Oyster Bay (Long Island), endorsed "On His Majesty's Service", letter orders Norton to take charge of the provisions at Oyster Bay and continue to issue forage and provisions, Very Fine, extremely scarce British military letter carried by express from occupied Brooklyn to Oyster Bay on Long Island, discussed in an article by Calvet M. Hahn in CCP March-April 1991
E. 1,000-1,500
3,250
Back to Top2022
Georgia to Scotland via British-Occupied New York, 1779. "Mount Pleasant Georgia Jan. 18th 79" dateline on folded letter from Charles Campbell to his father, Patrick Campell, in Inverary, Scotland, manuscript "1N" packet rate crossed out, re-rated with handstamped "In all" and ms. "1N6" (1sh6p) rate, "26/FE" London Bishop's mark on back, interesting one-page content mentions 71st Regiment (Fraser's Highlanders), also refers to the "fall" of Charles Cameron of the Light Company, Very Fine, a rare transatlantic letter from a British soldier in Georgia to Scotland (presumably via New York), this was carried through the American reverse blockade
E. 1,000-1,500
1,600
Back to Top2023
London to British-Occupied New York, 1780. Two folded letters from John Thornton in London to Thomas Mackaness, a British Loyalist, in New York City during the British occupation, one dated Feb. 12, 1780 with "15/FE" Bishop's mark, other dated Nov. 16, 1780, without handstamp, both have manuscript "1N" British packet charge, contents a mix of religion and business, one mentions a "running ship" (through American reverse blockade) and the possibility that Rev. John Lewis of Charles Towen (S.C.) was executed for treason against the Crown, faint stains or toning along folds, still Very Fine, accompanied by three later letters from Mackaness's wife to him in England after his return from America
E. 1,000-1,500
750
Back to Top