Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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

**Confederate States**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
4250		Jefferson Davis. Free frank "F. Jeff Davis U.S.S." as U.S. Senator on cover addressed in his hand to Saxton's River Vt., red "Free Washington D.C. Aug. 4" circular datestamp, intact wax seal on back but indistinct impression, fresh and Very Fine (Image)	E. 750-1,000	1,200.00
4251		Jefferson Davis as Prisoner of War to his Wife. Cover addressed in the hand of the former President to his wife, "Mrs. Varina Davis, Augusta, Georgia," additionally Davis writes, "Politeness of Hon J. Speed U.S. Atty. Genl." in a tiny hand, Speed's signature is at upper right, "J. Speed Atty genl", which served as both free frank and censor's mark, originally datestamped Nov. 25, 1865, in Washington D.C., it was shortly thereafter marked "Advertised Dec. 5" and "UNCLAIMED", apparently by the Augusta office, though it eventually found its way to Mrs. Davis as there is an Augusta circular datestamp dated Jan. 5 on back, and the cover, according to Earl Antrim, was in the collection of Davis's grandson, Mr. Jefferson Hayes-Davis, cover with expertly repaired tear above Washington postmark and small restored nick at top right corner VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE CIVIL WAR USAGE, SENT BY JEFFERSON DAVIS, FORMER CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT AND IMPRISONED LEADER OF THE SOUTHERN REBELLION. Illustrated in Antrim, page 97. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	8,500.00
4252		Robert E. Lee. Endorsement "R E Lee" under "Engineer Department" written in another hand on 1837 folded cover as member of the Corps of Engineers, to Yuckertown N.J., red "Washington City D.C. Apr. 26" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, cover addressed and endorsed (in a different hand) "War Dept." and signed at top left, light file folds affect signature, Very Fine, unusual usage, Lee did not enjoy free franking privileges, he signed it as member of the Engineer Department but the free franking was allowed under the War Dept. franking signature (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	2,100.00
4253		Robert E. Lee. Field letter endorsement "R.E. Lee Genl." on undated orange cover to Genl. J.E.B. Stuart as Commander of Cavalry, marked "Confidential" at upper left indicating that the content was of military significance, all in Lee's hand, flap faults and light wrinkling VERY FINE. A RARE FIELD COVER FROM CONFEDERATE GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE TO GENERAL J.E.B. STUART. Robert E. Lee's letters sent from the field were enclosed in envelopes signed "R. E. Lee Genl". The letters and other important papers were carried by military courier, usually to Richmond to another officer under Lee's command. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000	7,500.00
4254		John H. Reagan. Postmaster General of the Confederate States, free frank "Jno H Reagan MC" as Congressman from Texas on buff cover to Austin Tex., no postal markings, slight wrinkles, Very Fine, ex Matz (Image)	E. 400-500	675.00
4255		James L. Orr. Free frank "James L. Orr CSS" on turned cover to Abbeville S.C., bold "Richmond Va. May 6" and "Due 10" handstamps, inside addressed to Abbeville and with "Paid 10" handstamp, pencil drawing of bird on one side flap, some toning spots, still Fine, the frank was not accepted in lieu of postage and so was charged 10c due, the sender was one of three Confederate commissioners to visit Washington for the surrender of U.S. forts in Charleston harbor, after the war he became Governor of South Carolina (Image)	E. 150-200	100.00
4256		Robert Toombs. Signed "R. Toombs Bg Genl." on cover addressed in his hand to Vice President Stephens in Richmond with "Orange C.H. Va. Mar. 24" circular datestamp and "Due 5" in arc, large pencil "1" indicating Richmond carrier service, 1862 docketing on back by Stephens, edge faults incl. light water staining at right just touching last letter in his signature, scarce (Image)	E. 200-300	500.00
4257		R.C. Shaklett P.M. Free frank on buff cover to Alexandria Va., clear strike of "Piedmont Station Va. Apr. 18 (1861) circular datestamp and "Free" handstamp, original letter enclosure from postmaster's brother (thus an illegal use of frank) with interesting comment "In regard to secession we have all been opposed to it until the last day or two, but I think it high time now for Va to act and to act decidedly in favour of her rights. Va has done everything in her power to avert this great calamity now upon our country and all to no purpose and in choosing between the North and South she must take the latter.", fresh and Very Fine, April 18th was the second day of Virginia's Independent Statehood -- only one other cover with a "Free" handstamp is known from any Independent State, from our Sale 795 (realized $2,200 hammer) (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,050.00
4258		B. N. Clements. Free frank and Chief of the Appointment Bureau of the Confederate States Post Office Dept. semi-official imprint on legal-size cover, "Richmond Va. Sep. 11, 1861" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, docketing at left indicates enclosure was a commission from Jefferson Davis, Very Fine (Image)	E. 100-150	400.00
4259		H. St. Geo. Offutt. Free frank and Chief of the Contract Bureau semi-official imprint on U.S. 3c Red Star Die entire to the postmaster at Leavenworth S.C., "Richmond Va. ? 12, 1863" circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, docketing indicates enclosure was an appointment for C. K. Weatherford, barely reduced at left, Very Fine (Image)	E. 300-400	450.00
4260		H. St. Geo. Offutt. Free frank and Chief of the Contract Bureau of the Confederate Post Office Department semi-official imprint on orange legal-size cover to the postmaster at Fredericksburg Va., well-struck "Richmond Va. Mar. 26" circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, pencil notation on front from sender indicates that he did not trust the mail and asking to have this letter to his father sent privately, trivial edgewear, Very Fine (Image)	E. 100-150	260.00

Confederate States

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

4250

Jefferson Davis. Free frank "F. Jeff Davis U.S.S." as U.S. Senator on cover addressed in his hand to Saxton's River Vt., red "Free Washington D.C. Aug. 4" circular datestamp, intact wax seal on back but indistinct impression, fresh and Very Fine (Image)

E. 750-1,000

1,200.00

4251

Jefferson Davis as Prisoner of War to his Wife. Cover addressed in the hand of the former President to his wife, "Mrs. Varina Davis, Augusta, Georgia," additionally Davis writes, "Politeness of Hon J. Speed U.S. Atty. Genl." in a tiny hand, Speed's signature is at upper right, "J. Speed Atty genl", which served as both free frank and censor's mark, originally datestamped Nov. 25, 1865, in Washington D.C., it was shortly thereafter marked "Advertised Dec. 5" and "UNCLAIMED", apparently by the Augusta office, though it eventually found its way to Mrs. Davis as there is an Augusta circular datestamp dated Jan. 5 on back, and the cover, according to Earl Antrim, was in the collection of Davis's grandson, Mr. Jefferson Hayes-Davis, cover with expertly repaired tear above Washington postmark and small restored nick at top right corner

VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE CIVIL WAR USAGE, SENT BY JEFFERSON DAVIS, FORMER CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT AND IMPRISONED LEADER OF THE SOUTHERN REBELLION.

Illustrated in Antrim, page 97. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

8,500.00

4252

Robert E. Lee. Endorsement "R E Lee" under "Engineer Department" written in another hand on 1837 folded cover as member of the Corps of Engineers, to Yuckertown N.J., red "Washington City D.C. Apr. 26" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, cover addressed and endorsed (in a different hand) "War Dept." and signed at top left, light file folds affect signature, Very Fine, unusual usage, Lee did not enjoy free franking privileges, he signed it as member of the Engineer Department but the free franking was allowed under the War Dept. franking signature (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

2,100.00

4253

Robert E. Lee. Field letter endorsement "R.E. Lee Genl." on undated orange cover to Genl. J.E.B. Stuart as Commander of Cavalry, marked "Confidential" at upper left indicating that the content was of military significance, all in Lee's hand, flap faults and light wrinkling

VERY FINE. A RARE FIELD COVER FROM CONFEDERATE GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE TO GENERAL J.E.B. STUART.

Robert E. Lee's letters sent from the field were enclosed in envelopes signed "R. E. Lee Genl". The letters and other important papers were carried by military courier, usually to Richmond to another officer under Lee's command. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

7,500.00

4254

John H. Reagan. Postmaster General of the Confederate States, free frank "Jno H Reagan MC" as Congressman from Texas on buff cover to Austin Tex., no postal markings, slight wrinkles, Very Fine, ex Matz (Image)

E. 400-500

675.00

4255

James L. Orr. Free frank "James L. Orr CSS" on turned cover to Abbeville S.C., bold "Richmond Va. May 6" and "Due 10" handstamps, inside addressed to Abbeville and with "Paid 10" handstamp, pencil drawing of bird on one side flap, some toning spots, still Fine, the frank was not accepted in lieu of postage and so was charged 10c due, the sender was one of three Confederate commissioners to visit Washington for the surrender of U.S. forts in Charleston harbor, after the war he became Governor of South Carolina (Image)

E. 150-200

100.00

4256

Robert Toombs. Signed "R. Toombs Bg Genl." on cover addressed in his hand to Vice President Stephens in Richmond with "Orange C.H. Va. Mar. 24" circular datestamp and "Due 5" in arc, large pencil "1" indicating Richmond carrier service, 1862 docketing on back by Stephens, edge faults incl. light water staining at right just touching last letter in his signature, scarce (Image)

E. 200-300

500.00

4257

R.C. Shaklett P.M. Free frank on buff cover to Alexandria Va., clear strike of "Piedmont Station Va. Apr. 18 (1861) circular datestamp and "Free" handstamp, original letter enclosure from postmaster's brother (thus an illegal use of frank) with interesting comment "In regard to secession we have all been opposed to it until the last day or two, but I think it high time now for Va to act and to act decidedly in favour of her rights. Va has done everything in her power to avert this great calamity now upon our country and all to no purpose and in choosing between the North and South she must take the latter.", fresh and Very Fine, April 18th was the second day of Virginia's Independent Statehood -- only one other cover with a "Free" handstamp is known from any Independent State, from our Sale 795 (realized $2,200 hammer) (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,050.00

4258

B. N. Clements. Free frank and Chief of the Appointment Bureau of the Confederate States Post Office Dept. semi-official imprint on legal-size cover, "Richmond Va. Sep. 11, 1861" circular datestamp and matching "Free" handstamp, docketing at left indicates enclosure was a commission from Jefferson Davis, Very Fine (Image)

E. 100-150

400.00

4259

H. St. Geo. Offutt. Free frank and Chief of the Contract Bureau semi-official imprint on U.S. 3c Red Star Die entire to the postmaster at Leavenworth S.C., "Richmond Va. ? 12, 1863" circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, docketing indicates enclosure was an appointment for C. K. Weatherford, barely reduced at left, Very Fine (Image)

E. 300-400

450.00

4260

H. St. Geo. Offutt. Free frank and Chief of the Contract Bureau of the Confederate Post Office Department semi-official imprint on orange legal-size cover to the postmaster at Fredericksburg Va., well-struck "Richmond Va. Mar. 26" circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, pencil notation on front from sender indicates that he did not trust the mail and asking to have this letter to his father sent privately, trivial edgewear, Very Fine (Image)

E. 100-150

260.00