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
4108		Abraham Lincoln. Letter addressed to him in Springfield Ill., bearing 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (26) tied by large "Paid" grid, red "Boston Ms. Sep. 13, 1860" circular datestamp, docketed "Answered" at right, some toning, file folds affect stamp, still Fine, sent to Lincoln when he was a Republican candidate for the Presidency (Image)	E. 500-750	600.00
4109		Abraham Lincoln. Letter addressed to "Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, Washington D.C.", 3c Rose (65) tied by "Fond du Lac Wis. ? 23" double-circle datestamp, small toned spot, Very Fine, probably sent between July 1, 1863, and March 16, 1864, the brief period when mail to the President required postage (Image)	E. 500-750	350.00
4110		Andrew Johnson. Autograph endorsement "From the Pres" as President in pencil on cover to the Commissioner of Pensions, trivial soiling, Very Fine, Johnson used pencil most of the time when signing his free frank as President, this was carried outside of the mails, ex Hessel (Image)	E. 500-750	300.00
4111		Andrew Johnson. Autograph endorsement "From Andrew Johnson Ex Pres. US" as ex-President on cover to Baltimore Md., franked with 3c Green (147) tied by "Greenville Tenn. Feb. 5" circular datestamp and cork cancel, few cover tears and some toning, Fine, scarce usage sent after he was made aware of changes in the law regarding franking privileges (Image)	E. 500-750	400.00
4112		Andrew Johnson. Attempted free frank "Free Andrew Johnson Ex Pres. US" on cover to Atlanta Ga., bold "Greenville Tenn. Apr. 5" circular datestamp, toned spot at top right, repaired tear and stamp removed from top left, still Fine, an Act of Congress eliminated the franking privileges of all ex-Presidents as of July 1, 1863, after he left the Presidency he franked several covers, some of which had additional stamps (Image)	E. 500-750	525.00
4113		Andrew Johnson. Autograph endorsement "From Andrew Johnson USS" as Senator on cover to Greenville Tenn., 3c Green (158) tied by quartered square cork cancel, "Washington D.C. Apr. 14 5 P.M." circular datestamp, tears at top left affect endorsement and small piece replaced at top left, still Fine, scarce usage, he was re-elected to the Senate on March 4, 1875 and served only a short period of time before his death on July 31, 1875, very few covers are known from this period, this letter required postage as the franking privilege had been abolished (Image)	E. 500-750	300.00
4114		Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank "Executive U.S. Grant" as President on blue cover to General M.T. Force at Cincinnati O., partial strike of "Long Beach N.J. Jun. 18" circular datestamp, with original 3pp autograph letter signed, dated June 17, 1872, expressing regret at not being able to make a meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee due to his son's leaving for Europe, fresh and Very Fine, as a precursor to the Official stamps he would designate the branch (Executive) in his free franks (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	2,600.00
4115		Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank "U.S. Grant" as President on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in his hand to St. Louis Mo., neat "Washington D.C. Feb. 22" circular datestamp, small nick in top right corner, Very Fine, most official mail was signed by his secretary, here he crossed out the "Secretary" designation to indicate that he had signed it, ex "Crystal" (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	850.00
4116		Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank "U.S. Grant" as President on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in his hand to a member of the U.S. Legation in Paris, France, endorsed "Through State Dept." at lower left, virtually intact red wax seal of the President of the United States on back, barely reduced at right, two small waterstain spots, Very Fine, scarce usage to a foreign destination, this letter was routed via diplomatic courier and never entered the postal system (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	1,050.00
4117		Ulysses S. Grant. Autograph free frank "U.S. Grant" as President on 1873 Executive Mansion imprint cover to Paris, France, 3c Red, F. Grill (94) and 6c Carmine (148) tied by cork cancels, "Washington D.C. Feb. 9" circular datestamp, red "New-York" and blue French receiving datestamp, matching "10" decimes due handstamp, minor wear, stamps have pre-use faults and show traces of mucilage VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINERY TRANSATLANTIC COVER BEARING THE FRANK OF PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT DURING THE LAST MONTH OF HIS FRANKING PRIVILEGE. The odd mixed-issue franking and use of mucilage to affix the stamps probably reflect the sender's effort to locate 10c postage -- new or old -- for the rate to France. Grant's franking signature is applied here during the final month of executive franking privilege. Ex Morton Dean Joyce. From our 1995 Rarities sale, where it realized $10,500 hammer (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	9,000.00
4118		3c Executive (O12). Wide margins, slightly rounded corner at bottom left, tied by cork cancel, "Washington D.C. May 6 8 AM" circular datestamp on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in the hand of Rutherford B. Hayes to Edward F. Steel in Philadelphia, very minor wear, Very Fine, scarce use of 3c Executive (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	900.00

Presidents of the United States continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

4108

Abraham Lincoln. Letter addressed to him in Springfield Ill., bearing 3c Dull Red, Ty. II (26) tied by large "Paid" grid, red "Boston Ms. Sep. 13, 1860" circular datestamp, docketed "Answered" at right, some toning, file folds affect stamp, still Fine, sent to Lincoln when he was a Republican candidate for the Presidency (Image)

E. 500-750

600.00

4109

Abraham Lincoln. Letter addressed to "Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, Washington D.C.", 3c Rose (65) tied by "Fond du Lac Wis. ? 23" double-circle datestamp, small toned spot, Very Fine, probably sent between July 1, 1863, and March 16, 1864, the brief period when mail to the President required postage (Image)

E. 500-750

350.00

4110

Andrew Johnson. Autograph endorsement "From the Pres" as President in pencil on cover to the Commissioner of Pensions, trivial soiling, Very Fine, Johnson used pencil most of the time when signing his free frank as President, this was carried outside of the mails, ex Hessel (Image)

E. 500-750

300.00

4111

Andrew Johnson. Autograph endorsement "From Andrew Johnson Ex Pres. US" as ex-President on cover to Baltimore Md., franked with 3c Green (147) tied by "Greenville Tenn. Feb. 5" circular datestamp and cork cancel, few cover tears and some toning, Fine, scarce usage sent after he was made aware of changes in the law regarding franking privileges (Image)

E. 500-750

400.00

4112

Andrew Johnson. Attempted free frank "Free Andrew Johnson Ex Pres. US" on cover to Atlanta Ga., bold "Greenville Tenn. Apr. 5" circular datestamp, toned spot at top right, repaired tear and stamp removed from top left, still Fine, an Act of Congress eliminated the franking privileges of all ex-Presidents as of July 1, 1863, after he left the Presidency he franked several covers, some of which had additional stamps (Image)

E. 500-750

525.00

4113

Andrew Johnson. Autograph endorsement "From Andrew Johnson USS" as Senator on cover to Greenville Tenn., 3c Green (158) tied by quartered square cork cancel, "Washington D.C. Apr. 14 5 P.M." circular datestamp, tears at top left affect endorsement and small piece replaced at top left, still Fine, scarce usage, he was re-elected to the Senate on March 4, 1875 and served only a short period of time before his death on July 31, 1875, very few covers are known from this period, this letter required postage as the franking privilege had been abolished (Image)

E. 500-750

300.00

4114

Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank "Executive U.S. Grant" as President on blue cover to General M.T. Force at Cincinnati O., partial strike of "Long Beach N.J. Jun. 18" circular datestamp, with original 3pp autograph letter signed, dated June 17, 1872, expressing regret at not being able to make a meeting of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee due to his son's leaving for Europe, fresh and Very Fine, as a precursor to the Official stamps he would designate the branch (Executive) in his free franks (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

2,600.00

4115

Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank "U.S. Grant" as President on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in his hand to St. Louis Mo., neat "Washington D.C. Feb. 22" circular datestamp, small nick in top right corner, Very Fine, most official mail was signed by his secretary, here he crossed out the "Secretary" designation to indicate that he had signed it, ex "Crystal" (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

850.00

4116

Ulysses S. Grant. Free frank "U.S. Grant" as President on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in his hand to a member of the U.S. Legation in Paris, France, endorsed "Through State Dept." at lower left, virtually intact red wax seal of the President of the United States on back, barely reduced at right, two small waterstain spots, Very Fine, scarce usage to a foreign destination, this letter was routed via diplomatic courier and never entered the postal system (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

1,050.00

4117

Ulysses S. Grant. Autograph free frank "U.S. Grant" as President on 1873 Executive Mansion imprint cover to Paris, France, 3c Red, F. Grill (94) and 6c Carmine (148) tied by cork cancels, "Washington D.C. Feb. 9" circular datestamp, red "New-York" and blue French receiving datestamp, matching "10" decimes due handstamp, minor wear, stamps have pre-use faults and show traces of mucilage

VERY FINE. AN EXTRAORDINERY TRANSATLANTIC COVER BEARING THE FRANK OF PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT DURING THE LAST MONTH OF HIS FRANKING PRIVILEGE.

The odd mixed-issue franking and use of mucilage to affix the stamps probably reflect the sender's effort to locate 10c postage -- new or old -- for the rate to France. Grant's franking signature is applied here during the final month of executive franking privilege.

Ex Morton Dean Joyce. From our 1995 Rarities sale, where it realized $10,500 hammer (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

9,000.00

4118

3c Executive (O12). Wide margins, slightly rounded corner at bottom left, tied by cork cancel, "Washington D.C. May 6 8 AM" circular datestamp on Executive Mansion imprint cover addressed in the hand of Rutherford B. Hayes to Edward F. Steel in Philadelphia, very minor wear, Very Fine, scarce use of 3c Executive (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

900.00