Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Spanish-American War
John J. Pershing. Signature "J. J. Pershing" as Assistant Adjutant General on typed notice of general court martial to be convened Apr. 28, 1900, at Iligan, Island of Mindanao, accompanied by unrelated Philippines 2c entire with purple "Mil. Sta. Zamboanga Phil. Isles. Jun. 8, 1900" duplex datestamp to U.S., Fine and appealing Spanish-American War items, ex Risvold
Spanish Consulate in China, 1896. Legal-size official cover with red wax seal, addressed to "Exemo Senor Interdente General de Hacienda de los Islas Filipinas, Manila", purple "Consulado General Espana en China" oval handstamp on front and back, official signed endorsement on back datelined Shanghai, Sep. 11, 1896, slightly toned, small insect holes, otherwise Fine
"Manila Bay 13 June 98"—Mailed from Admiral Dewey's Fleet. Sender's bold manuscript endorsement at left on oblong buff cover to Mrs. M. A. Martin, Strasburg Pa., purple "U.S. Consulate Hong Kong" double-oval handstamp on back, sent in naval bag to the U.S. consulate where pair and block of four Hong Kong, 1891, 10c Violet on Red (44) tied by multiple strikes of "Hong Kong F JU 17 98" circular datestamp, San Francisco backstamp (Jul. 25), block scuffed along right margin, cover slightly creased, otherwise Fine, a rare cover from the U.S. naval fleet in Manila Bay shortly after Admiral Dewey defeated Spanish forces and before Manila was occupied, mail was sent to the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong, the stamps were applied by the consul to pay the six-times rate to the U.S.
Mailed from U.S. Naval Fleet, 1898. Multi-page letter (with transcription) datelined "Off the coast of Phillipine Isl June 29, 1898" from Edward H. Hampton, a soldier on board the S.S. Australia, one of three troop transports accompanying the U.S.S. Charleston from Honolulu to the Philippines—Hampton describes the trip past the Ladrone Islands (Marianas) and action between the Charleston and forts on Guam, also mentions "Dewey has been on board our ship already"—with original cover to Portland Ore., purple "U.S. Consulate Hong Kong" double-oval handstamp on back, Hong Kong, 1891, 10c Violet on Red (44) tied by blurry Hong Kong datestamp, Seattle and Portland backstamps, opened roughly at right affecting stamp, a rare cover from the U.S. naval fleet in Manila Bay shortly after Admiral Dewey defeated Spanish forces and before Manila was occupied, mail was sent to the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong
Manila, Philippines, to England via Hong Kong, 1898. Cover to C. P. Williams in Essex, England, blue "Stamped by Ker & Co. Manila" double-oval handstamp on back with Hong Kong, 1891, 20c on 30c Gray Green (61) tied by one of two strikes of "Hong Kong C JU 20 98" circular datestamp, Jul. 25 receiving datestamp, slight creasing and soiling, otherwise Fine, a rare cover with Hong Kong franking applied in Manila and carried through the U.S. naval blockade in Manila Bay shortly after Admiral Dewey defeated Spanish forces and before Manila was occupied
China, Boxer Rebellion, U.S. Naval Correspondence from Hong Kong, 1900. Eight covers with Hong Kong, 1891, 5c Ultramarine, 10c Violet on Red (40, 44), various frankings for 10c rate to Binghamton N.Y., all posted from the U.S.S. Don Juan de Austria in Hong Kong, one of three Spanish ships captured at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 and put into service in China during the Boxer Rebellion, all with original letters from sailor James J. Ryan, dated in 1900 including Apr. 18, just four days after U.S. flag was raised on the ship, all with excellent content including news of military events, one dated May 16 from quarantine due to outbreak of bubonic plague, condition of covers is average, but all of them are exhibit-worthy, and the letters are readable