Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**The Civil War**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
4242		George McClellan. Successful unauthorized free frank "Hd Qts of the Army/Geo McClellan/Maj. Enl Comdg." on cover to Hartford Conn., partial "Washington D.C. Jan. 20" (1862) circular datestamp, Fine, because of his rank (he replaced Scott as Commanding General on Nov. 1, 1861), and because Scott's frank was recognized, it was probably assumed by Washington D.C. postal clerks that McClellan had the same privilege, but no mention is made in any of the official summaries in this period, to his credit, McClellan did not use the word "Free", nevertheless the cover was postmarked and went through the mails without any due markings, one other such cover, franked by Grant, is recorded by the ASCC, Vol. II, but the introduction to that section states: "No authority for Scott's Civil War era sucessors, McClellan and Halleck, has been found, nor have their franked covers been seen." A remarkable, and possibly unique, war-time usage (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	2,000.00
4243		Winfield Scott. U.S. General, presidential candidate, first commander of the Union forces in Civil War, free frank as Maj. General "Free Winfield Scott Major Genl., &c &c." at top right of cover to Charles King in Elizabethtown N.J., red "Washington Railroad Oct. 4" route agent's circular datestamp, slightly reduced at right and some edgewear, Very Fine, probably used around 1850 (Image)	E. 400-500	450.00
4244		Winfield Scott. U.S. General, presidential candidate, first commander of the Union forces in Civil War, envelope addressed in his hand and franked "Free - On public service" without signature, to Colonel E. D. Townshend, adjutant-general U.S. Army, at Washington D.C., magenta "Unpaid and Not Franked" circular handstamp, small piece of backflap missing, otherwise Very Fine, an extremely rare attempted free frank that was rejected by the post office for lack of signature, ex Grunin (Image)	E. 200-300	180.00
4245		Winfield Scott. U.S. General, presidential candidate, first commander of the Union forces in Civil War, free frank as Maj. General "Free Winfield Scott Lieut. Genl., &c &c." at top right of "Head Quarters of the Army, Official Business" imprint cover to Lieutenant E.W.H. Reade of the 8th Infantry, small sealed tear at top from opening and some overall wear, Very Fine (Image)	E. 400-500	400.00
4246		Adams Express Company N.Y. Perfectly clear blue double-circle handstamp on red and blue Col. Ellsworth Memorial Patriotic cover to Exeter N.H., Wells imprint, sent by "Freeman Conner, June 10, 1861" (in ms. at right), free franked by Congressman C. H. Van Wyck who franked a large quantity of mail for soldiers around the Washington D.C. area, red "New York Jun - 1861 Free" circular datestamp without day, backflap removed EXTREMELY FINE AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE. A SCARCE ELLSWORTH PATRIOTIC DESIGN AND PROBABLY THE ONLY EXTANT EXAMPLE CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS. Federal troops surrounding Washington D.C. at the beginning of the war relied on Adams for transmission of mail and valuables. This cover was carried by Adams to New York City and put into the mails for New Hampshire. From our Sale 795, where it realized $4,250 hammer (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	4,250.00
4247		William Helmick. Representative from Ohio (1859-61), blue Liberty and Smithsonian Institution Magnus Patriotic cover with free franked "W. Helmick" after his term had ended but before next session of Congress began and sent by a soldier to Grand Rapids Mich., with two illustrated enclosures incl. one matching the cover but in green and datelined "Camp of Instruction, Washington", in one enclosure sender writes "I am going to the city tomorroiw and I think I shall have a chance to get some envelopes franked, so they will go free, and if I do then I shall send you some more perhaps.", Washington D.C. circular datestamp, expertly repaired along right edge, otherwise Very Fine, fascinating usage (Image)	E. 300-400	150.00
4248		William Helmick. Representative from Ohio (1859-61), free frank "W Helmick M.C." on red General McClellan "The War For the Union" Patriotic cover to Grand Rapids Mich., bold "Washington D.C. Nov. 14, 1861" circular datestamp, with matching original enclosure which originally enclosed a leaf (possibly Maple) and showing toned outline, cover expertly restored along edges, Very Fine, Helmick obviously free franked this for a soldier who was stationed in the area (Image)	E. 200-300	100.00
4249		William Helmick. Representative from Ohio (1859-61), attempted free frank "W. Helmick M.C. after his term had ended and after next sesion of Congress had commenced, his free frank crossed out and free franked "Wm. Mitchell", on green "Green Mountain, Freedom and Unity, Vermont Loyal" Patriotic cover to Grand Rapids Mich., with original enclosure, neat "Washington D.C. Feb. 20, 1862" circular datestamp, some slight edgewear, Very Fine (Image)	E. 200-300	450.00

The Civil War

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

4242

George McClellan. Successful unauthorized free frank "Hd Qts of the Army/Geo McClellan/Maj. Enl Comdg." on cover to Hartford Conn., partial "Washington D.C. Jan. 20" (1862) circular datestamp, Fine, because of his rank (he replaced Scott as Commanding General on Nov. 1, 1861), and because Scott's frank was recognized, it was probably assumed by Washington D.C. postal clerks that McClellan had the same privilege, but no mention is made in any of the official summaries in this period, to his credit, McClellan did not use the word "Free", nevertheless the cover was postmarked and went through the mails without any due markings, one other such cover, franked by Grant, is recorded by the ASCC, Vol. II, but the introduction to that section states: "No authority for Scott's Civil War era sucessors, McClellan and Halleck, has been found, nor have their franked covers been seen." A remarkable, and possibly unique, war-time usage (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

2,000.00

4243

Winfield Scott. U.S. General, presidential candidate, first commander of the Union forces in Civil War, free frank as Maj. General "Free Winfield Scott Major Genl., &c &c." at top right of cover to Charles King in Elizabethtown N.J., red "Washington Railroad Oct. 4" route agent's circular datestamp, slightly reduced at right and some edgewear, Very Fine, probably used around 1850 (Image)

E. 400-500

450.00

4244

Winfield Scott. U.S. General, presidential candidate, first commander of the Union forces in Civil War, envelope addressed in his hand and franked "Free - On public service" without signature, to Colonel E. D. Townshend, adjutant-general U.S. Army, at Washington D.C., magenta "Unpaid and Not Franked" circular handstamp, small piece of backflap missing, otherwise Very Fine, an extremely rare attempted free frank that was rejected by the post office for lack of signature, ex Grunin (Image)

E. 200-300

180.00

4245

Winfield Scott. U.S. General, presidential candidate, first commander of the Union forces in Civil War, free frank as Maj. General "Free Winfield Scott Lieut. Genl., &c &c." at top right of "Head Quarters of the Army, Official Business" imprint cover to Lieutenant E.W.H. Reade of the 8th Infantry, small sealed tear at top from opening and some overall wear, Very Fine (Image)

E. 400-500

400.00

4246

Adams Express Company N.Y. Perfectly clear blue double-circle handstamp on red and blue Col. Ellsworth Memorial Patriotic cover to Exeter N.H., Wells imprint, sent by "Freeman Conner, June 10, 1861" (in ms. at right), free franked by Congressman C. H. Van Wyck who franked a large quantity of mail for soldiers around the Washington D.C. area, red "New York Jun - 1861 Free" circular datestamp without day, backflap removed

EXTREMELY FINE AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE. A SCARCE ELLSWORTH PATRIOTIC DESIGN AND PROBABLY THE ONLY EXTANT EXAMPLE CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS.

Federal troops surrounding Washington D.C. at the beginning of the war relied on Adams for transmission of mail and valuables. This cover was carried by Adams to New York City and put into the mails for New Hampshire.

From our Sale 795, where it realized $4,250 hammer (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

4,250.00

4247

William Helmick. Representative from Ohio (1859-61), blue Liberty and Smithsonian Institution Magnus Patriotic cover with free franked "W. Helmick" after his term had ended but before next session of Congress began and sent by a soldier to Grand Rapids Mich., with two illustrated enclosures incl. one matching the cover but in green and datelined "Camp of Instruction, Washington", in one enclosure sender writes "I am going to the city tomorroiw and I think I shall have a chance to get some envelopes franked, so they will go free, and if I do then I shall send you some more perhaps.", Washington D.C. circular datestamp, expertly repaired along right edge, otherwise Very Fine, fascinating usage (Image)

E. 300-400

150.00

4248

William Helmick. Representative from Ohio (1859-61), free frank "W Helmick M.C." on red General McClellan "The War For the Union" Patriotic cover to Grand Rapids Mich., bold "Washington D.C. Nov. 14, 1861" circular datestamp, with matching original enclosure which originally enclosed a leaf (possibly Maple) and showing toned outline, cover expertly restored along edges, Very Fine, Helmick obviously free franked this for a soldier who was stationed in the area (Image)

E. 200-300

100.00

4249

William Helmick. Representative from Ohio (1859-61), attempted free frank "W. Helmick M.C. after his term had ended and after next sesion of Congress had commenced, his free frank crossed out and free franked "Wm. Mitchell", on green "Green Mountain, Freedom and Unity, Vermont Loyal" Patriotic cover to Grand Rapids Mich., with original enclosure, neat "Washington D.C. Feb. 20, 1862" circular datestamp, some slight edgewear, Very Fine (Image)

E. 200-300

450.00