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| Lot | Sym. | Lot Description | Est/Cat | Realized |
| 1° |  |
 "On His Majesty's Service, R N. Colden". Manuscript free frank and address in Colden's hand to postmaster at Newport R.I., printed notice from R. N. Colden, Secretary of the Colonial General Post Office, dated
Nov. 10, 1774, requesting copies of official correspondence, pay vouchers and postal receipts, copies of this notice were sent to all Colonial post offices at the time questions of loyalty to the Crown arose - although the notices and responses
are discussed in official minutes of Deputy Postmaster General meetings, actual examples are extremely rare - Very Fine (Image Magnifier) |
E. 3,000-4,000 | 3,250.00 |
| 2° | |
 Forwarded By Harnden's Express From Boston. Circular handstamp in black on printed notice of Harnden's relocation to No. 8 Court Street in Boston, with additional and important autograph letter signed by
William F. Harnden, announcing commencement of Cunard steam service and Harnden's express from Boston to New York, dated Mar. 23, 1840, and addressed to editor of Courier & Enquirer in New York City, stating "I will receive your English
papers from the Steamers and forward them to you at New York by my Express... P.S. The above duty will be free of any charge.", diagonal folds in lettersheet, Very Fine and extremely rare original announcement in Harnden's own hand for the
express service tied to Cunard sailings (Image Magnifier) |
E. 1,500-2,000 | 1,400.00 |
| 3° | |
Charles M. Willard, Ludlow Mass. Red and black printed circular to postmaster at Seal Cove Me. from Charles M. Willard, manufacturer of postmarking devices ("Improved Post Office Stamps...Engraved on Box Wood"), a fascinating advertisement, beginning with a citation of S. R. Hobbie's observation of the British wooden postmarking devices (Asst. P.M.G. Hobbie was sent to England in 1847 to study the British postal system and recommend reform measures to Congress - Willard quotes Hobbie's discourse on the merits of wood markers vs. metal), Willard then knocks his former supplier (and now competitor), A. N. Zevely, criticizing Zevely's metal devices and his refusal to supply red ink because of its higher cost, the first page shows a beautiful display of markings (3c, 5c and 10c rates, "Paid", "Free", "Ludlow Mass." etc.) reproduced in red, as well as a "Ludlow Mass. Jun. 1" cds and "Paid" printed in red on the address panel, Extremely Fine and rare | E. 1,500-2,000 | 1,300.00 |
| 4° | |
Zachary Taylor. Autograph endorsement "Referred to Mr. Meredith to be acted on as he may think best. Respectfully Z.T." on buff cover addressed to "The President", circular bronze on black glazed seal of "Magnetic Telegraph Company/Office/Cor. Louisiana/avanue [sic] & Six St./Washington", with original enclosure on printed New York & Washington Telegraph form, received at Washington D.C. office, datelined "Buffalo May 23d 1849" from Millard Fillmore to President Taylor, expressing his surprise at the appointment of a collector and using influence to have the appointment withdrawn until Fillmore's colleagues reach the capital, Fillmore's name is signed in the telegraph operator's hand at bottom, Extremely Fine, an outstanding presidential autograph usage during the earliest years of the telegraph - Taylor died two years into office, and his presidential documents are scarce in any form | E. 3,000-4,000 | 2,500.00 |
| 5° | |
U.S. EXPRESS/BUFFALO/AUG 8. Three-line handstamp in deep blue, matching "FREE" in fancy frame on 1842 folded letter addressed to the postmaster, S. G. Andrews, at Rochester, from his sister in Buffalo EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS MARKING FROM THE INCEPTION OF UNITED STATES 1842 EXPRESS MAIL. In 1842 the United States Post Office, under P.M.G. Charles A. Wickliffe's authority, established an express mail service as a counter-offensive measure to the competitive threat posed by private package express and independent mail companies. Three routes were designated for the new service: New York-Boston (by steamboat and railroad), under William F. Harnden's authority, New York-Albany-Troy (by steamboat) and Albany-Rochetser-Buffalo (by railroad) under the authority of E. Jerome Humphrey. By making two private expressman agents of the U.S. post office, Wickliffe hoped to challenge Pomeroy & Co. and other independent mail carriers who were perceived as a greater threat to the postal monopoly on mail carriage. Original announcements for the new U.S. Express Mail advertised a commencement date of July 20, 1842, but later published notices for Humphrey's branch of the express specifically stated that service would commence "On and after the 8th [August]." The earliest date of use of the more familiar "U.S. Express Mail" circular datestamp is September 30th, and there are no other examples of Albany-Rochester express mail dated as early as August 8th. This singular example of the straightline marking was mailed free to the Rochester postmaster on August 8th, the advertised commencement date, and could possibly represent a first day of the service |
E. 3,000-4,000 | 6,250.00 |
| 6° | |
"The Sun" Newspaper and Foreign Letter Office, New-York, United States. 7-line black on pink label affixed to Jan. 1844 folded cover to "Madame Chevalier (Veuve), au Vercher Maison des Frere Imbert. Charpeutiers - Rive de Gier, Loire, France", carried outside the mails from New York to France, red "Outre-Mer Le Havre" cds and ms. "10" rate, Very Fine, extremely scarce forwarding label and remarkably tied on cover | E. 500-750 | 1,050.00 |
| 7° | |
Full-Rigged Ship. Magnificent detailed strike of this pictorial handstamp in red, matching bold "Phila. 23 Feb." in octagonal double-lined frame on incoming 1834 folded ship letter from Valparaiso to Providence R.I., ms. "Ship Hanover" written below datestamp, ms. "20-3/4" rate (18-3/4c plus 2c ship fee), Extremely Fine, a perfect strike of this beautiful marking | E. 1,500-2,000 | 4,500.00 |
| 8° | |
Windsor Locks CT. Marvelous detailed strike in red of this illustrated stampless marking, depicting a canal boat, ms. "June 20" date and "18-3/4" rate on 1842 folded letter to Bath N.H., Extremely Fine, one of the choicest strikes extant | E. 1,000-1,500 | 1,500.00 |