Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

5,000 Years of Postal History: The Robert LeBow Collection continued...

**Stampless Markings & Unusual Usages**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
3006		Aaron Burr. Vice President, murdered Alexander Hamilton, one-page autograph letter signed, datelined "Albany 1 Oct. 1822", also with original outer folded cover addressed in his hand to Halsey Rogers in Caldwell N.Y., red Albany circular datestamp and ms. "10" rating, few light folds, Very Fine (Image)	E. 750-1,000	500.00
3007		War of 1812 -- The "Bottle Letter" from an Impressed American Sailor. Two items: the original "bottle letter" thrown overboard in 1806 by an American impressed into service aboard the British sloop of war, Pethel, and the 1808 transmittal letter reporting its discovery, the former is opened for display and, although it shows some effects of its ocean journey, is fully readable A UNIQUE AND HISTORIC ARTIFACT OF THE BRITISH IMPRESSMENT OF AMERICAN SAILORS, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL GRIEVANCES LEADING TO THE WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN IN 1812. "Lat. 10. Long 74 [Note: location off the Caribbean coast of South America] on Board the Pethel Sloop of War. I am American Born at Boston aged 26 years. Sailed from New York on Board the Brig Lyon Nov 26, 1805. Nothing Occured worthy of Remark for 14 days after. We lost sight of the Hook when at 6 o'clock in the Evening we was brought to by the above Vesel and after undergoing many Species of Insult myself & three others mainly Frederick Fenton, Simon Alongos & Aaron Stusio, all native Americans were ordered on board which we refused & on so doing was beaten & Kicked into the Boat, was then thrown into Irons for ten days, after which time was brought on Deck & Interrogated if we would enter in his Majesties Service with the Alternative of a good flogging and to live on bread and Water until we should comply with their Imperious mandates, after a short Consultation amongst us we agreed to enter & Embrace the first Opportunity that Occured to free us from the Slavery in which we was involved. Accordingly we Signified our Willingness to become the Tools of the Navy of his Britannic Majesty./Tis impossible to say any more as my watch on Deck is called. I must therefore conclude hoping that some Effectial mode of Redressing the grievances of American Tars will be thought of & put into Execution by our Govt./John Johnston/Jany. 10, 1806." The accompanying folded transmittal letter is datelined "Collectors Office, Baltimore 10 June 1806" from the Collector of Customs at Baltimore, R. Purviance, to David Gelston, Collector of Customs at New York. It bears a red "Balte. Md. Jun. 9" circular datestamp and ms. "34" rate. The letter reads: "Sir, The enclosed letter was handed to me this morning by William Jennett, Master of a coasting vessel, who found corked up in a Bottle on Shore, the State of North Carolina./As the writer, as well as the other sufferers, who were Impressed with him, sailed from your Port in the month of November last, in the Brig Lion, I hope you may have it in your power to furnish the necessary proofs for their relief./I have the honor to be very respectfully, Sir, you mo(st) ob(edient) serv(ant), R. Purviance, Coll." The receipt docketing reads "R Purviance 10 June 1806. No discovery can be made." Accompanied by P.S. No. 6 (Journal of Postal History) featuring the "Bottle Letter". (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000	25,000.00
3008		Millard Fillmore. Free frank "Free M. Fillmore M.C." as member of Congress on 1857 folded letter to Paris, France, blue "Buffalo N.Y. Jul. 15" oval datestamp and matching "Free" in scroll, endorsed "To go by the first Packet from N York to Havre" and with Havre transits, blue receiving backstamp, ms. due marking, fresh and Very Fine (Image)	E. 300-400	1,300.00
3009		Windsor Locks Ct. Feby. 28. Clear strike of red handstamp with date in ms., matching "Paid" in scroll on 1842 folded letter to Bath N.H., ms. rating at top right, fresh and Very Fine, attractive usage of this scarce pictorial handstamp (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,600.00
3010		Philadelphia Full-Rigged Ship Handstamp. Perfect bold strike in red of this elaborately detailed ship-letter handstamp with matching "Phila. 3 Jun" octagonal framed datestamp and ms. "14-1/2" rate on folded letter to Baltimore, datelined at St. Pierre, Martinique, Apr. 29, 1835, file fold and very minor paper dampening effects, still Very Fine, one of the most remarkable of all U.S. postal markings (Image)	E. 500-750	850.00
3011		U.S. Naval Lyceum. Clear strike at right of cover addressed to "U.S. Sloop 'Dale', Pacific Station" in care of the U.S Naval Lyceum in Brooklyn N.Y., blue ms. "Pomeroy O. July 4th" pmk. with matching "Paid 50" for double rate to N.Y., fresh and Very Fine, this oval handstamp depicting a full-rigged ship was applied to mail forward to naval personnel from the the U.S. Naval Lyceum in Brooklyn (Image)	E. 500-750	950.00
3012		"Saved from the Wreck of the Steamship Stella, April 2 '65". Red ms. endorsement with postmaster's signature on red and blue George Washington and Flag Patriotic cover with sender's notation "(Co)me and be drafted...can't see it" (probably a draft evader), originated in Peru and addressed to Union Me., red "Paid at Callao" crown-circle handstamp, "A Callao FE 27 65" British P.O. backstamp, "Forwarded by Crosby & Co. Ship Chandlers and Ship Agents, Callao, Peru" oval handstamp, Panama transit (Mar. 6), "Steamship 10" in circle applied at New York, red crayon "6", waterstained and stamp soaked off, still intact and highly exhibitable, our search for information on the Stella was unsuccessful, but clearly this is an extremely rare salvaged-mail cover and undoubtedly unique as a Civil War Patriotic usage (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	2,600.00
3013		U.S. to Lima, Peru. Two folded letters from the Leffingwell correspondence, both from New Haven Conn., Sep. 22 and Oct. 4, 1826, addressed to Lima and carried by private ship, former sent via Cape Horn with good content describing difficulty of sending letters to Peru, latter sent via Panama with notation by sender describing route to be taken ("in charge of Mr. Bartlett, Consul at Guayaquil") and "1-1/2" (reales) ms. rate for internal Peruvian postage due, Very Fine pair (Image)	E. 150-200	105.00
3014		1849, Arequipa (Peru) to Boston via Panama. Aug. 6, 1849 folded letter from traveling photographer R. H. Vance to Boston, red "30" due handstamp for 30c rate on inbound mail from Peru, letter requests more supplies but adds "Direct your letter to Lima, Peru S.A. to the care of Russel Dartnell Esq. You will have to get some merchant to forward it for you or it will not come by the way of Pannamar & if not it will perhaps be six months before it arrives to Lima," minor edge wear and small tear, Fine (Image)	E. 100-150	95.00
3015		1876 Postage Due Notice from Iquique (Peru). Printed card from Iquique Post Office to U.S. correspondent, informing them (in Spanish!) that a letter sent to an addressee in Iquique is being held subject to payment of 20 centavos postage due and requesting that they (the U.S. sender) advise the addressee to make payment, "Panama 26 No 1876 Transit" British P.O. datestamp, "12" debit handstamp, Callao backstamp, "New-York Due 19 Cts. Dec. 13" circular datestamp, Very Fine, interesting foreign-mail usage (the sender had to pay 19c to find out his addressee owed another 20 centavos!) (Image)	E. 100-150	250.00
3016		Steamer Rapides. Absolutely perfect strike of illustrated Mississippi River name-of-boat handstamp on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to Buchannan Carroll & Co. in New Orleans, faint red "New Orleans La. Dec. 20" circular datestamp and black "Steam" straightline handstamp, vertical file fold and two filing pinholes as usual for this correspondence, lightly cleaned EXTREMELY FINE. A PICTURE-PERFECT IMPRESSION OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF ALL STEAMBOAT MARKINGS. Our Levi records contain six genuine covers with the pictorial Steamer Rapides handstamp. The clarity of five of the six strikes suggests that the marking was appreciated in its own time and applied very carefully. (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	3,750.00

Stampless Markings & Unusual Usages

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

3006

Aaron Burr. Vice President, murdered Alexander Hamilton, one-page autograph letter signed, datelined "Albany 1 Oct. 1822", also with original outer folded cover addressed in his hand to Halsey Rogers in Caldwell N.Y., red Albany circular datestamp and ms. "10" rating, few light folds, Very Fine (Image)

E. 750-1,000

500.00

3007

War of 1812 -- The "Bottle Letter" from an Impressed American Sailor. Two items: the original "bottle letter" thrown overboard in 1806 by an American impressed into service aboard the British sloop of war, Pethel, and the 1808 transmittal letter reporting its discovery, the former is opened for display and, although it shows some effects of its ocean journey, is fully readable

A UNIQUE AND HISTORIC ARTIFACT OF THE BRITISH IMPRESSMENT OF AMERICAN SAILORS, ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL GRIEVANCES LEADING TO THE WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN IN 1812.

"Lat. 10. Long 74 [Note: location off the Caribbean coast of South America] on Board the Pethel Sloop of War. I am American Born at Boston aged 26 years. Sailed from New York on Board the Brig Lyon Nov 26, 1805. Nothing Occured worthy of Remark for 14 days after. We lost sight of the Hook when at 6 o'clock in the Evening we was brought to by the above Vesel and after undergoing many Species of Insult myself & three others mainly Frederick Fenton, Simon Alongos & Aaron Stusio, all native Americans were ordered on board which we refused & on so doing was beaten & Kicked into the Boat, was then thrown into Irons for ten days, after which time was brought on Deck & Interrogated if we would enter in his Majesties Service with the Alternative of a good flogging and to live on bread and Water until we should comply with their Imperious mandates, after a short Consultation amongst us we agreed to enter & Embrace the first Opportunity that Occured to free us from the Slavery in which we was involved. Accordingly we Signified our Willingness to become the Tools of the Navy of his Britannic Majesty./Tis impossible to say any more as my watch on Deck is called. I must therefore conclude hoping that some Effectial mode of Redressing the grievances of American Tars will be thought of & put into Execution by our Govt./John Johnston/Jany. 10, 1806."

The accompanying folded transmittal letter is datelined "Collectors Office, Baltimore 10 June 1806" from the Collector of Customs at Baltimore, R. Purviance, to David Gelston, Collector of Customs at New York. It bears a red "Balte. Md. Jun. 9" circular datestamp and ms. "34" rate. The letter reads:

"Sir, The enclosed letter was handed to me this morning by William Jennett, Master of a coasting vessel, who found corked up in a Bottle on Shore, the State of North Carolina./As the writer, as well as the other sufferers, who were Impressed with him, sailed from your Port in the month of November last, in the Brig Lion, I hope you may have it in your power to furnish the necessary proofs for their relief./I have the honor to be very respectfully, Sir, you mo(st) ob(edient) serv(ant), R. Purviance, Coll." The receipt docketing reads "R Purviance 10 June 1806. No discovery can be made."

Accompanied by P.S. No. 6 (Journal of Postal History) featuring the "Bottle Letter". (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

25,000.00

3008

Millard Fillmore. Free frank "Free M. Fillmore M.C." as member of Congress on 1857 folded letter to Paris, France, blue "Buffalo N.Y. Jul. 15" oval datestamp and matching "Free" in scroll, endorsed "To go by the first Packet from N York to Havre" and with Havre transits, blue receiving backstamp, ms. due marking, fresh and Very Fine (Image)

E. 300-400

1,300.00

3009

Windsor Locks Ct. Feby. 28. Clear strike of red handstamp with date in ms., matching "Paid" in scroll on 1842 folded letter to Bath N.H., ms. rating at top right, fresh and Very Fine, attractive usage of this scarce pictorial handstamp (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,600.00

3010

Philadelphia Full-Rigged Ship Handstamp. Perfect bold strike in red of this elaborately detailed ship-letter handstamp with matching "Phila. 3 Jun" octagonal framed datestamp and ms. "14-1/2" rate on folded letter to Baltimore, datelined at St. Pierre, Martinique, Apr. 29, 1835, file fold and very minor paper dampening effects, still Very Fine, one of the most remarkable of all U.S. postal markings (Image)

E. 500-750

850.00

3011

U.S. Naval Lyceum. Clear strike at right of cover addressed to "U.S. Sloop 'Dale', Pacific Station" in care of the U.S Naval Lyceum in Brooklyn N.Y., blue ms. "Pomeroy O. July 4th" pmk. with matching "Paid 50" for double rate to N.Y., fresh and Very Fine, this oval handstamp depicting a full-rigged ship was applied to mail forward to naval personnel from the the U.S. Naval Lyceum in Brooklyn (Image)

E. 500-750

950.00

3012

"Saved from the Wreck of the Steamship Stella, April 2 '65". Red ms. endorsement with postmaster's signature on red and blue George Washington and Flag Patriotic cover with sender's notation "(Co)me and be drafted...can't see it" (probably a draft evader), originated in Peru and addressed to Union Me., red "Paid at Callao" crown-circle handstamp, "A Callao FE 27 65" British P.O. backstamp, "Forwarded by Crosby & Co. Ship Chandlers and Ship Agents, Callao, Peru" oval handstamp, Panama transit (Mar. 6), "Steamship 10" in circle applied at New York, red crayon "6", waterstained and stamp soaked off, still intact and highly exhibitable, our search for information on the Stella was unsuccessful, but clearly this is an extremely rare salvaged-mail cover and undoubtedly unique as a Civil War Patriotic usage (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

2,600.00

3013

U.S. to Lima, Peru. Two folded letters from the Leffingwell correspondence, both from New Haven Conn., Sep. 22 and Oct. 4, 1826, addressed to Lima and carried by private ship, former sent via Cape Horn with good content describing difficulty of sending letters to Peru, latter sent via Panama with notation by sender describing route to be taken ("in charge of Mr. Bartlett, Consul at Guayaquil") and "1-1/2" (reales) ms. rate for internal Peruvian postage due, Very Fine pair (Image)

E. 150-200

105.00

3014

1849, Arequipa (Peru) to Boston via Panama. Aug. 6, 1849 folded letter from traveling photographer R. H. Vance to Boston, red "30" due handstamp for 30c rate on inbound mail from Peru, letter requests more supplies but adds "Direct your letter to Lima, Peru S.A. to the care of Russel Dartnell Esq. You will have to get some merchant to forward it for you or it will not come by the way of Pannamar & if not it will perhaps be six months before it arrives to Lima," minor edge wear and small tear, Fine (Image)

E. 100-150

95.00

3015

1876 Postage Due Notice from Iquique (Peru). Printed card from Iquique Post Office to U.S. correspondent, informing them (in Spanish!) that a letter sent to an addressee in Iquique is being held subject to payment of 20 centavos postage due and requesting that they (the U.S. sender) advise the addressee to make payment, "Panama 26 No 1876 Transit" British P.O. datestamp, "12" debit handstamp, Callao backstamp, "New-York Due 19 Cts. Dec. 13" circular datestamp, Very Fine, interesting foreign-mail usage (the sender had to pay 19c to find out his addressee owed another 20 centavos!) (Image)

E. 100-150

250.00

3016

Steamer Rapides. Absolutely perfect strike of illustrated Mississippi River name-of-boat handstamp on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to Buchannan Carroll & Co. in New Orleans, faint red "New Orleans La. Dec. 20" circular datestamp and black "Steam" straightline handstamp, vertical file fold and two filing pinholes as usual for this correspondence, lightly cleaned

EXTREMELY FINE. A PICTURE-PERFECT IMPRESSION OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF ALL STEAMBOAT MARKINGS.

Our Levi records contain six genuine covers with the pictorial Steamer Rapides handstamp. The clarity of five of the six strikes suggests that the marking was appreciated in its own time and applied very carefully. (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

3,750.00