Sale 1155 — United States and Confederate States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday, 9 May, 2017
Category — Colonial Florida
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
3066
St. Augustine, British Florida to Norfolk Va., 1767. Folded letter datelined "St. Augustine 20th April 1767" and addressed to Norfolk Va., red "Charles Town Ship 2ct Sterl." manuscript postmark, sent via ship to Philadelphia where it received a bold strike of red "PHILA/DELPHIA" two-line handstamp and red manuscript "Sh. 6" rate (4p plus 2p ship fee) applied for overland delivery to Norfolk, some minor soilingVERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED COVER FROM FLORIDA SENT THROUGH THE MAILS AND WITH A POSTAL MARKING. A WONDERFUL EXHIBITION ITEM.
Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in 1513, and it was ceded by Spain to the British in 1763 in exchange for Havana, which the British captured in 1762. According to the American Stampless Cover Catalog, no covers are known from this first period. The earliest recorded letter from Florida was datelined "Exiled Pensacola September 5, 1763" but was carried privately and has no postal markings. The cover offered here is the earliest known used from Florida carried in the mails with a postmark.
Described in American Stampless Cover Catalog on p. 48.
E. 10,000-15,000
21,000
3067
Pensacola, British Florida to England, 1768. Folded letter datelined "Pensacola 6th August 1768" and addressed to Pontefract, Yorkshire, England, originally rated "1/-" shilling which was crossed out, intended to be carried on the Falmouth packet Anna Teresa which was wrecked off the coast of Florida on July 28, so carried privately to England where rated "In all 5" (4p inland postage plus 1p ship's fee), bold "LONDON/SHIP LRE" handstamp and "15/NO" Bishop's mark, with typed transcript of contents sent by John Misdale (deputy distributor of stamps for stamp duty), some slight wearVERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF MAIL FROM PENSACOLA, AND A VERY RARE EARLY TRANSATLANTIC USE.
According to American Stampless Cover Catalog, the earliest recorded piece of mail thru Pensacola was a letter from New Orleans to Philadelphia sent thru Pensacola. The book does not note the earliest transatlantic use. This cover was intended to be carried on the Falmouth packet Anna Teresa which was wrecked off the coast of Florida on July 28; the rescued crew and mail were first taken to the Bahamas, then the crew was brought to St. Augustine on Aug. 5 and the mail was brought to Charlestown on Aug. 9.
E. 5,000-7,500
0
Back to Top3068
Inbound to St. Augustine, British Florida, 1770. Folded letter with no originating dateline except for "Dec. 5th" and docketed "Mrs. Anderson December 5th 1770", addressed to "His Excellency Governor Grant, St. Augustine by Charles Town South Carolina", bold strike of brown "CHARLES/TOWN" two-line handstamp with "6/DE" Bishop's marking, manuscript "1N" rating, interesting contents including "I wish I were able to send you some certain intelligence concerning war or peace, but our reports have so flacimated (?) that every three days we have a different story. The truth of the Spanish ultimatum given in by their ambassador is, that they will evacuate the Islands and we may retake possession and then treat about the right to them.", other contents discuss the French and their lack of neutrality as a facilitator of peace, Lord Chatham and Lord Grafton are also mentioned, light vertical file fold, Very Fine and attractive inbound cover with fascinating contents
E. 2,000-3,000
1,900
Back to Top3069
East Florida, 1771. Folded letter datelined "East Florida" and "By the Honble. John Moultrie Esq., Commander in Chief of His Majesty's said province for the time being", content is a leave of absence for six months, dated at St. Augustine on 29 July 1771, minor splitting along folds, Very Fine, a scarce document signed by Moultrie during the British Colonial period, ex Bogg
E. 750-1,000
0
Back to Top3070
"Pensacola 23rd Septr. 1771". Dateline on folded letter to Mobile Ala., manuscript "pr. Petit Jean" ship endorsement, Sep. 25 receipt and answer docketing, interesting content regarding the delivery of cattle for slaughter and the imminent arrival of Indians, small hole neat top, Fine, the earliest British Colonial period cover sent within British West Florida
E. 1,000-1,500
1,200
Back to Top3071
Charlestown S.C. to London, 1772, Discussing Florida. Folded letter datelined "Charlestown May 3rd 1772" on last page, from British army officer Richard Maitland to his brother, Alexander, in England, contents include (Mr. Gordon) "is to claim redress for vast tracts of land which was private property in East Florida under the Spanish Government and which they had a right to dispose of by the treaty of peace...he is therefore going to beg redress by receiving an adequate sum of money or something else in lieu of those vast tracts taken from him without his consent", endorsed "pr favor of Mr. John Gordon", vertical file fold, Very Fine and fascinating letter
E. 200-300
250
Back to Top3072
"St. Augustine 20th June 1776." Dateline on receipt for account of sundry government services including "Express from St. Augustine to St. Mary’s", signed by Alexander Macdonald, fresh and Very Fine
E. 400-500
0
Back to Top3073
St. Augustine, British Florida to British Occupied New York, 1776, American Blockade Run via British Packet. Folded letter datelined "St. Augustine 30 July 1776" to New York, receipt docketing of July 2, 1777, bold "1N" packet rate, light file fold and minor soiling, Very Fine and scarce, during the transit of this cover the British drove Washington out of New York City and occupied the city (until 1783), by the time this cover reached New York nearly a year after it was mailed, the American Privateer blockade of British occupied New York was in operation, this is a wonderful illustration of the difficulty of sending mail during the Revolutionary War
E. 2,000-3,000
1,800
Back to Top3074
St. Augustine, British Florida to England, 1777, American Blockade Run. Folded letter datelined "St. Augustine 23rd July 1777" and addressed to Berwick, England, endorsed "per favor of Capt. McLeod" at lower left, neat "1" (1p ship) and "8" (8p inland) manuscript ratings, brown "DOVER/SHIP LRE" handstamp and "25/SE" Bishop's mark on back, sender is trying to buy the recipient's farm in Florida which is getting run down, Very Fine and rare use from British Florida to England during the Revolutionary War, the American Privateer blockade was active off British enclaves beginning in 1775, including Florida and the West Indies, this is a rare example of mail from Florida to England that ran the blockade
E. 2,000-3,000
1,600
Back to Top3075
East Florida, 1777, Prize Court. Document datelined "East Florida" (likely St. Augustine) on Nov. 25, 1777, from the judge of the court of the Vice Admiralty to the marshal of the court, advertising a motion against a seized vessel named the Hope or the Maria Saraphique and asking anyone with an interest in the boat to step forward by a certain date or else the boat and its contents will be forfeit, the judge was Robert Catherwood, who came to Florida in 1764 as a doctor, Very Fine and interesting Revolutionary War Prize Court document
E. 500-750
0
Back to Top3076
Pensacola, British Florida to England, 1779, American Blockade Run. Folded letter with docketing "Saml. Fontenell Pensacola April 9 & 10 May Recd. 26 July, Ansd. 2 Nov. 1779" (originally two letters were enclosed), addressed to London, England, neat "DEAL/SHIP LRE" handstamp and "24/IY" Bishop's marking, manuscript due marking, Very Fine and rare use from British Florida to England during the Revolutionary War, the American Privateer blockade was active off British enclaves beginning in 1775, including Florida and the West Indies, this is a rare example of mail from Florida to England that ran the blockade, Fontenell and three partners purchased an estate of 1,000 acres in West Florida in 1775
E. 2,000-3,000
2,100
Back to Top3077
St. Augustine, British Florida to Madeira, 1783. Folded latter datelined "St. Augustin 18th May 1783" and addressed to Madeira, business contents, receipt docketing of Dec. 5 (six months later), light vertical file fold, Very Fine use carried outside of the mails sent shortly after the Revolutionary War hostilities and the American Privateer blockade ended
E. 500-750
300
Back to Top3078
Spanish West Florida, 1807, "Pinckneyville MT. Au10". Well-struck straightline datestamp on folded letter to Cincinnati O., datelined "Bayou Sara (Florida) July the 25th 1807", red manuscript "Way 26" for 25c over-500 miles rate plus 1c way fee, minor edge toning and small nicks, Very Fine example of this scarce territorial marking on a cover from Spanish West Florida, carried on the Natchez Trace mail route, sent to the same person who received the Fort Adams cover offered in lot 3079
E. 2,000-3,000
1,500
Back to Top3079
Spanish West Florida, 1807, "F*Adams*Aug17". Clear strike of straightline datestamp on folded letter to Cincinnati O., datelined "Bayou Sara (Florida) August 13th 1807", red manuscript "25" cents rate for over-500 miles rate (no way fee charged), couple small edge nicks, Very Fine example of this scarce territorial marking on a cover from Spanish West Florida, sent to the same person who received the Pinckneyville cover offered in lot 3078
E. 2,000-3,000
1,500
Back to Top