Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**Unusual Frankings and Usages**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
4220		Negative "Washington City" Horse & Rider Oval. Orange-red handstamp clearly struck on flap, matching red "Washington City D.C. Dec. 1" circular datestamp and "Free" handstamp on folded letter free franked "Free R. French" as Representative from Kentucky, datelined Washington D.C. Dec. 1, 1844, to his wife in Mount Sterling Ky., content mentions Texas annexation question. An enigmatic marking: the other known example of this Horse & Rider oval is also on a free-franked cover (Knapp Sale, Part 2, lot 1378), dated April 14, 1842, no explanation for its purpose or meaning has been determined, but it is a very distinctive and rare marking (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	3,250.00
4221		"Imitation" Free Franks. Two covers: first is May 7, 1837 folded letter from Pa. state Congressman attending state convention in Harrisburg and franked with reference to the convention, rated "25" for double rate which was apparently paid by the State Legislature, second is similar usage from June 9, 1842 but for 6c postage and franked by Thaddeus Stevens as Representative to Pa. State Legislature, fresh and Very Fine, unusual usages (Image)	E. 100-150	80.00
4222		10c Black (2). Three large margins, full to in at top, tied by blue "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 28" circular datestamp and three criss-crossed strikes of matching "Free" handstamp on blue 1849 Office of the Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette folded letter to "Hon. O. Cole M.C., Washington D.C.", 2pp autograph letter signed by Rufus King, contents discuss incoming Presidential administration (Zachary Taylor) and how quickly new appointments should be made, faint vertical file fold VERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL USAGE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, CANCELLED BY MULTIPLE STRIKES OF THE BLUE "FREE" CANCELLATION. THE ONLY RECORDED USAGE OF THE "FREE" HANDSTAMP ON AN 1847 COVER FROM MILWAUKEEE. The cover was allowed to be sent free of charge to a member of Congress. Use of the stamp was not necessary. It may have been affixed by the sender as an insurance policy, to ensure that the letter, with its important contents, would not be treated as unpaid by the post office (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	3,250.00
4223		10c Green, Ty. II, III (14, 15). Eight Ty. II, one Ty. III, the nine stamps in three strips of three -- two horizontal strips with large margins to just touched (Pos. 53-55R1, 73-75R1), one vertical strip with large sheet margin, ample other sides except cut in at bottom (Pos. 1/11/21R1) -- tied by multiple strikes of "Washington City D.C. Oct. 28, 1857" circular datestamp on legal-size Treasury Department, First Comptroller's Office, imprint cover to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Minister Jas. A. Pedeu, signed by Wiliam Medill, magenta "48" credit, red London transit, red New York backstamp, skillfully restored by pressing folds, lightening stains, and sealing small tears in stamps, however, the cover is basically intact and of Very Fine appearance -- a truly remarkable usage and one of the largest multiple frankings of the 10c 1855, at first glance appearing as a block, ex Rust (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	2,100.00
4224		15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Centered to top, rich color, tied by "Grafton W. Va. Mar. 14" double-circle datestamp on oversize United States Internal Revenue imprint cover sent registered to "Mouth of Seneca, Pendleton Co. N.Y.", free franked by Internal Revenue agent at top right, reduced at sides, cover quite worn, still Fine, unusual usage, the free frank paid domestic postage but the 15c stamp was necessary to pay the registry fee (Image)	E. 300-400	375.00
4225		Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Bronze on Black Glazed (15L17). Acid tied on folded cover addressed to William Meredith as Secretary of the Treasury in Washington D.C., blue "Philada. Pa. May 21" circular datestamp, endorsed "free" at top, Very Fine, Blood's fee paid with stamp, then sent free through the U.S. postal system (Image)	E. 150-200	75.00
4226		William H. Kelsey. Congressman from New York, free frank "W H Kelsey MC" as congressman on cover addressed to Mrs. Kelsey at Genesco N.Y., free frank used in combination with One Cent Despatch, Washington D.C., 1c Violet (112L1), ample margins to just touched at left, tied by "City Despatch Jun 16 9 P.M. 1856" company circular datestamp, second strike at bottom left, also with "Washington D.C. Jun. 17, 1856 Free" circular datestamp, pristine condition, Extremely Fine, an extremely rare combination of this local-post adhesive and congressional free frank, ex Grunin (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,600.00

Unusual Frankings and Usages

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

4220

Negative "Washington City" Horse & Rider Oval. Orange-red handstamp clearly struck on flap, matching red "Washington City D.C. Dec. 1" circular datestamp and "Free" handstamp on folded letter free franked "Free R. French" as Representative from Kentucky, datelined Washington D.C. Dec. 1, 1844, to his wife in Mount Sterling Ky., content mentions Texas annexation question. An enigmatic marking: the other known example of this Horse & Rider oval is also on a free-franked cover (Knapp Sale, Part 2, lot 1378), dated April 14, 1842, no explanation for its purpose or meaning has been determined, but it is a very distinctive and rare marking (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

3,250.00

4221

"Imitation" Free Franks. Two covers: first is May 7, 1837 folded letter from Pa. state Congressman attending state convention in Harrisburg and franked with reference to the convention, rated "25" for double rate which was apparently paid by the State Legislature, second is similar usage from June 9, 1842 but for 6c postage and franked by Thaddeus Stevens as Representative to Pa. State Legislature, fresh and Very Fine, unusual usages (Image)

E. 100-150

80.00

4222

10c Black (2). Three large margins, full to in at top, tied by blue "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 28" circular datestamp and three criss-crossed strikes of matching "Free" handstamp on blue 1849 Office of the Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette folded letter to "Hon. O. Cole M.C., Washington D.C.", 2pp autograph letter signed by Rufus King, contents discuss incoming Presidential administration (Zachary Taylor) and how quickly new appointments should be made, faint vertical file fold

VERY FINE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL USAGE OF THE 10-CENT 1847 ISSUE, CANCELLED BY MULTIPLE STRIKES OF THE BLUE "FREE" CANCELLATION. THE ONLY RECORDED USAGE OF THE "FREE" HANDSTAMP ON AN 1847 COVER FROM MILWAUKEEE.

The cover was allowed to be sent free of charge to a member of Congress. Use of the stamp was not necessary. It may have been affixed by the sender as an insurance policy, to ensure that the letter, with its important contents, would not be treated as unpaid by the post office (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

3,250.00

4223

10c Green, Ty. II, III (14, 15). Eight Ty. II, one Ty. III, the nine stamps in three strips of three -- two horizontal strips with large margins to just touched (Pos. 53-55R1, 73-75R1), one vertical strip with large sheet margin, ample other sides except cut in at bottom (Pos. 1/11/21R1) -- tied by multiple strikes of "Washington City D.C. Oct. 28, 1857" circular datestamp on legal-size Treasury Department, First Comptroller's Office, imprint cover to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Minister Jas. A. Pedeu, signed by Wiliam Medill, magenta "48" credit, red London transit, red New York backstamp, skillfully restored by pressing folds, lightening stains, and sealing small tears in stamps, however, the cover is basically intact and of Very Fine appearance -- a truly remarkable usage and one of the largest multiple frankings of the 10c 1855, at first glance appearing as a block, ex Rust (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

2,100.00

4224

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Centered to top, rich color, tied by "Grafton W. Va. Mar. 14" double-circle datestamp on oversize United States Internal Revenue imprint cover sent registered to "Mouth of Seneca, Pendleton Co. N.Y.", free franked by Internal Revenue agent at top right, reduced at sides, cover quite worn, still Fine, unusual usage, the free frank paid domestic postage but the 15c stamp was necessary to pay the registry fee (Image)

E. 300-400

375.00

4225

Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa., (1c) Bronze on Black Glazed (15L17). Acid tied on folded cover addressed to William Meredith as Secretary of the Treasury in Washington D.C., blue "Philada. Pa. May 21" circular datestamp, endorsed "free" at top, Very Fine, Blood's fee paid with stamp, then sent free through the U.S. postal system (Image)

E. 150-200

75.00

4226

William H. Kelsey. Congressman from New York, free frank "W H Kelsey MC" as congressman on cover addressed to Mrs. Kelsey at Genesco N.Y., free frank used in combination with One Cent Despatch, Washington D.C., 1c Violet (112L1), ample margins to just touched at left, tied by "City Despatch Jun 16 9 P.M. 1856" company circular datestamp, second strike at bottom left, also with "Washington D.C. Jun. 17, 1856 Free" circular datestamp, pristine condition, Extremely Fine, an extremely rare combination of this local-post adhesive and congressional free frank, ex Grunin (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,600.00