Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

The Dr. John L. Robertson Collection of Free Franks continued...

**Presidents of the United States**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
4064		George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" and "on public service" on folded cover docketed Oct. 9, 1779, addressed in another hand to Brigadier General Hand at Fort Pitt, partial red wax seal on back, small tear at top, light horizontal file fold does not affect frank VERY FINE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON FREE FRANK AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, TO BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD HAND. Brigadier General Edward Hand was given command of Fort Pitt in Beaver County, Western Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1777. In 1779, Washington ordered General Sullivan to launch a major offensive against the Iroquois Confederation in reprisal for attacks against the Americans in the frontier region of New York and Pennsylvania. General Hand participated in this major campaign. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	14,500.00
4065		George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" as Commanding General of the Continental Army on March 1780 folded cover addressed to "His Excellency Joseph Reed Esq. President of the State of Pennsylvania", minor splitting along vertical file fold, gently cleaned VERY FINE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON FREE FRANK SENT AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY IN MARCH OF 1780. In March 1780, while Washington was camped at Morristown, the British conducted raids in New Jersey in the so-called "forage wars." With 1944 pen notation on back from Elmer Heise confirming authenticity. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	7,000.00
4066		George Washington. Free frank as President in the customary form "President U.S." on 1789 folded cover from New York to General Williams in Baltimore, two strikes of "N. York Sep. 17" and "Free" straightlines, docketed on back, intact wax seal, some splitting along folds, expertly restored VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK. After Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief, his non-private mail continued to arrive in great volumes. On April 28, 1784, his franking privilege was extended. Technically, he did not receive the right to free frank mail as President until the Act of March 3, 1792 (effective June 1, 1792, and just over three years into his first term), but he obviously began franking in his own particular way as soon as he took office. No other president ever franked the mail in this manner (without signing his name). (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	4,500.00
4067		George Washington. Free frank "President U.S." as President on December 3, 1793 folded letter written and signed by his secretary Tobias Lear from Philadelphia to Andrew Elicott in Georgetown Md., neat "3/DE" Franklin mark with matching "Free" handstamp VERY FINE. AN UNUSUALLY CLEAN AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF WASHINGTON'S "PRESIDENT U.S." FREE FRANK. The recipient was appointed Surveyor General to finish laying out the city of Washington after Pierre L'Enfant was dismissed. Ex Stevens (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	3,750.00
4068		George Washington. Bold free frank "G. Washington" as ex-President on folded cover addressed in his hand to Col. Clemson Biddle in Philadelphia, neat ms. "Alex 27 Apl." postmark, vertical file fold affects signature VERY FINE. A RARE FREE FRANK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AS EX-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Covers free franked by George Washington as President are marked "President/U.S" and are not signed. From our 2002 Rarities sale, where it realized $10,000 hammer. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	10,500.00
4069		John Adams. Free frank "Free John Adams" as Vice President on one-page autograph letter initialled "J.A.", datelined "New York July 15, 1789" to Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, partial strike of "N. York July 15" straightline and matching "Free" handstamp, leatter reads (in part): "I have read Dr. Rush's DeMoribus Germanorum with pleasure. As I am a great lover of paradoxes, when defended with ingenuity, I have read also the Phillippie against Latin and Greek with some amusement...What an ingrate was he to employ Art and Science to abuse them. And are you much better, to use the knowledge and skill you derived from Latin and Greek to slander those divine languages? Yours ut Supra, J.A.", faint age toning, light file folds do not affect free frank VERY FINE. A RARE JOHN ADAMS FREE FRANK AND AUTOGRAPH LETTER WITH INTERESTING COMMENTS CONCERNING SOME OF HIS VIEWS ON THE HUMANITIES. Due to a quirk of the Acts regarding franking privileges, John Adams enjoyed free-franking privileges during this time period due to his dual position as presiding officer of the U.S. Senate. Officially, the U.S. Post Office did not authorize free-franking privileges to either the President or Vice President until June 1, 1792. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	14,000.00
4070		John Adams. Free frank "J. Adams" and "Free" as ex-President on March 15, 1813 folded letter from his sister to Sylvester Gilbert in Hebron Conn., ms. "Quincy Ms. March 15" postmark, notation on cover from recipient "His handwriting S.G.", trivial splitting along folds, Very Fine example of Adams's frank (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	2,200.00
4071		John Adams. Free frank as ex-President "J. Adams" and "Free" in an infirm hand on 1814 folded cover from his wife, Abigail (as indicated by docketing), to Mrs. Elizabeth Peabody in Atkinson N.H., ms. "Quincy Ms. July 15th" postmark, trivial splitting along pressed-out file fold (does not affect franking), Very Fine, franking another person's mail was prohibited but seems to have been overlooked as Adams seems to have franked most of his family's mail (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	1,800.00
4072		Thomas Jefferson. Free frank "free Th. Jefferson Pr. U.S." as President on folded cover addressed in his hand to William Woodward in Philadelphia, bold strike of brownish "Washn. City Mar. 9" circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, vertical file fold thru signature (but not affecting its clarity) VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE THOMAS JEFFERSON FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. This is the most desirable form of Jefferson's free frank, because it includes the executive office designation. It is scarce in this exceptional condition. (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000	6,750.00
4073		Thomas Jefferson. Free frank "free Th. Jefferson" as ex-President on folded cover addressed in his hand to D.K. Minor in Richmond Vt., red "Char. V. SEP 5" circular datestamp, also clear strike of "Dead Letter G.P. Office" handstamp, light vertical file fold and some minor wear, Very Fine, scarce free frank (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	4,000.00
4074		James Madison. Clear free frank "James Madison" as President on 1812 folded letter from P.P. Morris to Anthony Morris in Philadelphia, brown "Wash. City Mar. 4" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, fresh and Very Fine, although Madison franked mail in several capacities, his Presidential frank is extremely scarce (Image)	E. 500-750	1,600.00

Presidents of the United States

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

4064

George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" and "on public service" on folded cover docketed Oct. 9, 1779, addressed in another hand to Brigadier General Hand at Fort Pitt, partial red wax seal on back, small tear at top, light horizontal file fold does not affect frank

VERY FINE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON FREE FRANK AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, TO BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD HAND.

Brigadier General Edward Hand was given command of Fort Pitt in Beaver County, Western Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1777. In 1779, Washington ordered General Sullivan to launch a major offensive against the Iroquois Confederation in reprisal for attacks against the Americans in the frontier region of New York and Pennsylvania. General Hand participated in this major campaign. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

14,500.00

4065

George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" as Commanding General of the Continental Army on March 1780 folded cover addressed to "His Excellency Joseph Reed Esq. President of the State of Pennsylvania", minor splitting along vertical file fold, gently cleaned

VERY FINE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON FREE FRANK SENT AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY IN MARCH OF 1780.

In March 1780, while Washington was camped at Morristown, the British conducted raids in New Jersey in the so-called "forage wars."

With 1944 pen notation on back from Elmer Heise confirming authenticity. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

7,000.00

4066

George Washington. Free frank as President in the customary form "President U.S." on 1789 folded cover from New York to General Williams in Baltimore, two strikes of "N. York Sep. 17" and "Free" straightlines, docketed on back, intact wax seal, some splitting along folds, expertly restored

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK.

After Washington resigned as Commander-in-Chief, his non-private mail continued to arrive in great volumes. On April 28, 1784, his franking privilege was extended. Technically, he did not receive the right to free frank mail as President until the Act of March 3, 1792 (effective June 1, 1792, and just over three years into his first term), but he obviously began franking in his own particular way as soon as he took office. No other president ever franked the mail in this manner (without signing his name). (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

4,500.00

4067

George Washington. Free frank "President U.S." as President on December 3, 1793 folded letter written and signed by his secretary Tobias Lear from Philadelphia to Andrew Elicott in Georgetown Md., neat "3/DE" Franklin mark with matching "Free" handstamp

VERY FINE. AN UNUSUALLY CLEAN AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF WASHINGTON'S "PRESIDENT U.S." FREE FRANK.

The recipient was appointed Surveyor General to finish laying out the city of Washington after Pierre L'Enfant was dismissed.

Ex Stevens (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

3,750.00

4068

George Washington. Bold free frank "G. Washington" as ex-President on folded cover addressed in his hand to Col. Clemson Biddle in Philadelphia, neat ms. "Alex 27 Apl." postmark, vertical file fold affects signature

VERY FINE. A RARE FREE FRANK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AS EX-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Covers free franked by George Washington as President are marked "President/U.S" and are not signed. From our 2002 Rarities sale, where it realized $10,000 hammer. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

10,500.00

4069

John Adams. Free frank "Free John Adams" as Vice President on one-page autograph letter initialled "J.A.", datelined "New York July 15, 1789" to Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, partial strike of "N. York July 15" straightline and matching "Free" handstamp, leatter reads (in part): "I have read Dr. Rush's DeMoribus Germanorum with pleasure. As I am a great lover of paradoxes, when defended with ingenuity, I have read also the Phillippie against Latin and Greek with some amusement...What an ingrate was he to employ Art and Science to abuse them. And are you much better, to use the knowledge and skill you derived from Latin and Greek to slander those divine languages? Yours ut Supra, J.A.", faint age toning, light file folds do not affect free frank
VERY FINE. A RARE JOHN ADAMS FREE FRANK AND AUTOGRAPH LETTER WITH INTERESTING COMMENTS CONCERNING SOME OF HIS VIEWS ON THE HUMANITIES.
Due to a quirk of the Acts regarding franking privileges, John Adams enjoyed free-franking privileges during this time period due to his dual position as presiding officer of the U.S. Senate. Officially, the U.S. Post Office did not authorize free-franking privileges to either the President or Vice President until June 1, 1792. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

14,000.00

4070

John Adams. Free frank "J. Adams" and "Free" as ex-President on March 15, 1813 folded letter from his sister to Sylvester Gilbert in Hebron Conn., ms. "Quincy Ms. March 15" postmark, notation on cover from recipient "His handwriting S.G.", trivial splitting along folds, Very Fine example of Adams's frank (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

2,200.00

4071

John Adams. Free frank as ex-President "J. Adams" and "Free" in an infirm hand on 1814 folded cover from his wife, Abigail (as indicated by docketing), to Mrs. Elizabeth Peabody in Atkinson N.H., ms. "Quincy Ms. July 15th" postmark, trivial splitting along pressed-out file fold (does not affect franking), Very Fine, franking another person's mail was prohibited but seems to have been overlooked as Adams seems to have franked most of his family's mail (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

1,800.00

4072

Thomas Jefferson. Free frank "free Th. Jefferson Pr. U.S." as President on folded cover addressed in his hand to William Woodward in Philadelphia, bold strike of brownish "Washn. City Mar. 9" circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, vertical file fold thru signature (but not affecting its clarity)

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE THOMAS JEFFERSON FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

This is the most desirable form of Jefferson's free frank, because it includes the executive office designation. It is scarce in this exceptional condition. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

6,750.00

4073

Thomas Jefferson. Free frank "free Th. Jefferson" as ex-President on folded cover addressed in his hand to D.K. Minor in Richmond Vt., red "Char. V. SEP 5" circular datestamp, also clear strike of "Dead Letter G.P. Office" handstamp, light vertical file fold and some minor wear, Very Fine, scarce free frank (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

4,000.00

4074

James Madison. Clear free frank "James Madison" as President on 1812 folded letter from P.P. Morris to Anthony Morris in Philadelphia, brown "Wash. City Mar. 4" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, fresh and Very Fine, although Madison franked mail in several capacities, his Presidential frank is extremely scarce (Image)

E. 500-750

1,600.00