Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**Presidents of the United States continued...**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
4086		Martin Van Buren. Defective folded cover addressed to Lawrence Van Buren in Kinderhook, notation in Van Buren's hand "Charge postage to M V Buren", red "24" rating for triple rate, red "Albany N.Y. Sep. 30" circular datestamp, second strike of "Albany Oct. 12" circular datestamp, unusual usage, sent while he was either a member of the State Senate or as Attorney General of New York, neither office had franking privileges, these are instructions to charge the postage to his account (Image)	E. 150-200	210.00
4087		Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Ithaca N.Y., 1c Blue (63) tied by "New-York May 9" duplex datestamp and target, small edge tear at upper right, still Very Fine, rare use of 1c 1861 to pay carrier fee on cover franked by an ex-President (franking privilege did not apply to carrier fees), ex Cole (Image)	E. 750-1,000	850.00
4088		Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Joseph Burnett & Co. in Boston, single 1c Blue (63) tied by red "U.S. Mail City Delivery" carrier datestamp, back of cover with "Held for Postage" straightline and "New-York May 6" duplex datestamp and target, same duplex (May 8) ties 1c Blue (63) pair that was added after post office notified sender, small stamp flaws, sealed tear to the right of stamps, otherwise Very Fine, Van Buren died in July 1862, the stamps were issued in August 1861, so this May 8 cover was mailed in 1862 and the frank was refused in error, ex Cole (Image)	E. 750-1,000	850.00
4089		William Henry Harrison. Free frank "Free W. H. Harrison" as President on cover front only to Henry J. Harrison at Coman's Well P.O. Va., red "Washington City D.C. Mar. 15" (1841) circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, docketed "18th March 1841" at left, with enclosure from Henry Harrison to Henry J. Harrison, letter comments on terrible weather in Washington (which was associated with the President getting pneumonia and dying) and on upcoming politics for the new President's term "Since the Fourth of March we have had a succession of bad weather. I was really in hopes that it was all over...Mrs. Harrison has not yet arrived here. She will probably be on in April: the severity of the weather will prevent her traveling before that time...Since the inauguration there has been a great deal of speculation how the public offices will be filled - the office seekers are almost innumerable", the front has been expertly restored with backflaps added and stain removed from left edge VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWO CONFIRMED FREE FRANKS OF WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON SENT DURING HIS BRIEF TERM AS PRESIDENT. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, AS THE LETTER DISCUSSES THE INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT LED TO HARRISON'S DEATH. William Henry Harrison assumed the office of President of the United States on March 4, 1841. He caught a cold at his inauguration ceremony, contracted pneumonia, and died on April 4, 1841, exactly one month after assuming office. Harrison has the distinction of being the first United States President to die in office. Harrison's brief period in office, combined with his illness, provided very little opportunity to produce letters or free-franked mail. According to our records, this is one of only two surviving presidential free franks of William Henry Harrison, and it is one of the few presidential signatures in private hands. The style of Washington D.C. datestamp, enclosed letter and docketing notations confirm this as an 1841 usage. Harrison had the free-franking privilege as Northwest Territorial delegate in 1800, as a member of Congress in 1816-19 and as a U.S. Senator in 1825-28. This particular style of Washington D.C. datestamp did not come into use until years after Harrison's 1825-28 franking privilege expired. It was used in 1841, and the combination of Harrison's frank and this datestamp usage could only occur after his inauguration in March 1841. Ex Joyce (Image)	E. 50,000-75,000	85,000.00
4090		William Henry Harrison. Military endorsement "William Henry Harrison" and "On Public Service" on folded letter datelined "Camp Mieggs 27th Feby. 1813" to Lieut. H. Johnson, Assistant Quartermaster, in Pittsburgh, content is a request for ordnance and supplies (listed in another hand) with autograph letter signed and a post-script initialled by Harrison, datelined "Head Quarters Camp Meigs, 27th Feby. 1813", Harrison comments "I conceived that I had once cause to complain of you. It is but doing you justice to say that since that period your conduct has been entirely satisfactory -- your proceedings have been consonant to your Orders amd your arrangements have been manifested zeal and ability.", "Chillicothe March 10th" ms. postmark with "17" rate, minor overall soiling, Very Fine, unusual and rare, sent during the War of 1812, Harrison was Major General of Militia and also Indian Commissioner, neither post had franking privileges, this was carried by military courier under his frank to Chillicothe, where it entered the mails and was charged normal postage of 17c (for distance of 150-300 miles) to Pittsburgh (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	3,750.00
4091		William Henry Harrison. Free frank "Free W.H. Harrison" on undated folded cover to Philadelphia, expertly sealed tear at top affects franking but is unobtrusive, Very Fine, probably franked as Senator (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	1,500.00
4092		John Tyler. Free frank "J. Tyler" as ex-President on mourning cover addressed by his wife, Julia Gardiner Tyler, to her younger sister, Margaret, in New York, neat "Chas. City C.H. Va. 17th April 1846" ms. postmark, minor wear, Very Fine, the mourning cover is in memory of Mrs. Tyler's father, David Gardiner, who was one of eight spectators killed on Feb. 28, 1844, when the "Peacemaker", a bow gun on the steam frigate Princeton'blew up during a demonstration for dignitaries -- Tyler and his much younger wife-to-be were below deck at the time and were unharmed (they were married on June 26, 1844) (Image)	E. 300-400	475.00
4093		John Tyler. Free frank "J. Tyler" as ex-President on cover to Miss Rebecca Jones in Richmond Va., with original 4pp enclosure from his wife datelined "Sherwood Forest April 9th 1861" and reading in part "The legislature has adjourned and it is thought the Convention will soon. And what will Virginia do? I wonder! We are in a terrible fix I think", blue "Norfolk Va. Apr. 13" double-circle datestamp and matching "Steamboat" handstamp, ms. "Supposed to be the autograph of Ex Pres. Tyler", small tear at top from opening, Very Fine, by the time this letter reached Norfolk from Tyler's plantation at Sherwood Forest, Fort Sumter had fallen and the Civil War had begun (Image)	E. 200-300	1,000.00
4094		John Tyler. Folded letter addressed to John Taylor as President in Washington D.C., bold strike of "Brownsville Pa. Apr. 26" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, contents request sender's son be discharged from the service, handwritten note inside from Tyler, vertical file fold at left ending in small tear at top left affecting datestamp, Very Fine (Image)	E. 200-300	400.00
4095		James K. Polk. Bold free frank "Free J.K. Polk" as President on cover apparently addressed in his hand to "The Hon. Ralph J. Ingersoll, U.S. Minister, St. Petersburgh, Russia", red "OT/4 JY 4/1848" London transit backstamp, Aachen transit, red ms. "6" for 6p due G.B., "18" for 18sgr due applied in Aachen as restatement of total British postage to Russia by Prussian Mails of 1sh9p (21p), small "69" on back for total postage due of 69 Russian kopecks, intact red wax seal on back, expertly restored VERY FINE APPEARANCE. PROBABLY A UNIQUE USE OF POLK'S PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK ON A TRANSATLANTIC COVER TO RUSSIA. President Polk's signature was probably used to authenticate the use of a consular diplomatic pouch to England, where it was put into the mails and charged foreign postage. Accompanied by typed analysis by Richard Winter (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	2,800.00
4096		Zachary Taylor. Endorsed "Z. Taylor Bt. Br. Genl. U.S.A." on legal-size folded cover to the Adjutant General of the U.S. Army in Washington D.C., docketed at left "Rec'd. July 2nd. 1844 and laid before the Sec. of War July 2nd 1844", faint horizontal file fold away from signature, Very Fine, Taylor did not enjoy franking privileges at this time, this was sent free under the privilege of the recipient (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	1,500.00

Presidents of the United States continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

4086

Martin Van Buren. Defective folded cover addressed to Lawrence Van Buren in Kinderhook, notation in Van Buren's hand "Charge postage to M V Buren", red "24" rating for triple rate, red "Albany N.Y. Sep. 30" circular datestamp, second strike of "Albany Oct. 12" circular datestamp, unusual usage, sent while he was either a member of the State Senate or as Attorney General of New York, neither office had franking privileges, these are instructions to charge the postage to his account (Image)

E. 150-200

210.00

4087

Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Ithaca N.Y., 1c Blue (63) tied by "New-York May 9" duplex datestamp and target, small edge tear at upper right, still Very Fine, rare use of 1c 1861 to pay carrier fee on cover franked by an ex-President (franking privilege did not apply to carrier fees), ex Cole (Image)

E. 750-1,000

850.00

4088

Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Joseph Burnett & Co. in Boston, single 1c Blue (63) tied by red "U.S. Mail City Delivery" carrier datestamp, back of cover with "Held for Postage" straightline and "New-York May 6" duplex datestamp and target, same duplex (May 8) ties 1c Blue (63) pair that was added after post office notified sender, small stamp flaws, sealed tear to the right of stamps, otherwise Very Fine, Van Buren died in July 1862, the stamps were issued in August 1861, so this May 8 cover was mailed in 1862 and the frank was refused in error, ex Cole (Image)

E. 750-1,000

850.00

4089

William Henry Harrison. Free frank "Free W. H. Harrison" as President on cover front only to Henry J. Harrison at Coman's Well P.O. Va., red "Washington City D.C. Mar. 15" (1841) circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, docketed "18th March 1841" at left, with enclosure from Henry Harrison to Henry J. Harrison, letter comments on terrible weather in Washington (which was associated with the President getting pneumonia and dying) and on upcoming politics for the new President's term "Since the Fourth of March we have had a succession of bad weather. I was really in hopes that it was all over...Mrs. Harrison has not yet arrived here. She will probably be on in April: the severity of the weather will prevent her traveling before that time...Since the inauguration there has been a great deal of speculation how the public offices will be filled - the office seekers are almost innumerable", the front has been expertly restored with backflaps added and stain removed from left edge
VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWO CONFIRMED FREE FRANKS OF WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON SENT DURING HIS BRIEF TERM AS PRESIDENT. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, AS THE LETTER DISCUSSES THE INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT LED TO HARRISON'S DEATH.
William Henry Harrison assumed the office of President of the United States on March 4, 1841. He caught a cold at his inauguration ceremony, contracted pneumonia, and died on April 4, 1841, exactly one month after assuming office. Harrison has the distinction of being the first United States President to die in office.
Harrison's brief period in office, combined with his illness, provided very little opportunity to produce letters or free-franked mail. According to our records, this is one of only two surviving presidential free franks of William Henry Harrison, and it is one of the few presidential signatures in private hands.
The style of Washington D.C. datestamp, enclosed letter and docketing notations confirm this as an 1841 usage. Harrison had the free-franking privilege as Northwest Territorial delegate in 1800, as a member of Congress in 1816-19 and as a U.S. Senator in 1825-28. This particular style of Washington D.C. datestamp did not come into use until years after Harrison's 1825-28 franking privilege expired. It was used in 1841, and the combination of Harrison's frank and this datestamp usage could only occur after his inauguration in March 1841.
Ex Joyce (Image)

E. 50,000-75,000

85,000.00

4090

William Henry Harrison. Military endorsement "William Henry Harrison" and "On Public Service" on folded letter datelined "Camp Mieggs 27th Feby. 1813" to Lieut. H. Johnson, Assistant Quartermaster, in Pittsburgh, content is a request for ordnance and supplies (listed in another hand) with autograph letter signed and a post-script initialled by Harrison, datelined "Head Quarters Camp Meigs, 27th Feby. 1813", Harrison comments "I conceived that I had once cause to complain of you. It is but doing you justice to say that since that period your conduct has been entirely satisfactory -- your proceedings have been consonant to your Orders amd your arrangements have been manifested zeal and ability.", "Chillicothe March 10th" ms. postmark with "17" rate, minor overall soiling, Very Fine, unusual and rare, sent during the War of 1812, Harrison was Major General of Militia and also Indian Commissioner, neither post had franking privileges, this was carried by military courier under his frank to Chillicothe, where it entered the mails and was charged normal postage of 17c (for distance of 150-300 miles) to Pittsburgh (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

3,750.00

4091

William Henry Harrison. Free frank "Free W.H. Harrison" on undated folded cover to Philadelphia, expertly sealed tear at top affects franking but is unobtrusive, Very Fine, probably franked as Senator (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

1,500.00

4092

John Tyler. Free frank "J. Tyler" as ex-President on mourning cover addressed by his wife, Julia Gardiner Tyler, to her younger sister, Margaret, in New York, neat "Chas. City C.H. Va. 17th April 1846" ms. postmark, minor wear, Very Fine, the mourning cover is in memory of Mrs. Tyler's father, David Gardiner, who was one of eight spectators killed on Feb. 28, 1844, when the "Peacemaker", a bow gun on the steam frigate Princeton'blew up during a demonstration for dignitaries -- Tyler and his much younger wife-to-be were below deck at the time and were unharmed (they were married on June 26, 1844) (Image)

E. 300-400

475.00

4093

John Tyler. Free frank "J. Tyler" as ex-President on cover to Miss Rebecca Jones in Richmond Va., with original 4pp enclosure from his wife datelined "Sherwood Forest April 9th 1861" and reading in part "The legislature has adjourned and it is thought the Convention will soon. And what will Virginia do? I wonder! We are in a terrible fix I think", blue "Norfolk Va. Apr. 13" double-circle datestamp and matching "Steamboat" handstamp, ms. "Supposed to be the autograph of Ex Pres. Tyler", small tear at top from opening, Very Fine, by the time this letter reached Norfolk from Tyler's plantation at Sherwood Forest, Fort Sumter had fallen and the Civil War had begun (Image)

E. 200-300

1,000.00

4094

John Tyler. Folded letter addressed to John Taylor as President in Washington D.C., bold strike of "Brownsville Pa. Apr. 26" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, contents request sender's son be discharged from the service, handwritten note inside from Tyler, vertical file fold at left ending in small tear at top left affecting datestamp, Very Fine (Image)

E. 200-300

400.00

4095

James K. Polk. Bold free frank "Free J.K. Polk" as President on cover apparently addressed in his hand to "The Hon. Ralph J. Ingersoll, U.S. Minister, St. Petersburgh, Russia", red "OT/4 JY 4/1848" London transit backstamp, Aachen transit, red ms. "6" for 6p due G.B., "18" for 18sgr due applied in Aachen as restatement of total British postage to Russia by Prussian Mails of 1sh9p (21p), small "69" on back for total postage due of 69 Russian kopecks, intact red wax seal on back, expertly restored

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. PROBABLY A UNIQUE USE OF POLK'S PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK ON A TRANSATLANTIC COVER TO RUSSIA.

President Polk's signature was probably used to authenticate the use of a consular diplomatic pouch to England, where it was put into the mails and charged foreign postage. Accompanied by typed analysis by Richard Winter (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

2,800.00

4096

Zachary Taylor. Endorsed "Z. Taylor Bt. Br. Genl. U.S.A." on legal-size folded cover to the Adjutant General of the U.S. Army in Washington D.C., docketed at left "Rec'd. July 2nd. 1844 and laid before the Sec. of War July 2nd 1844", faint horizontal file fold away from signature, Very Fine, Taylor did not enjoy franking privileges at this time, this was sent free under the privilege of the recipient (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

1,500.00