Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

2005 Rarities of the World, Part One continued...

**Colonial and 18th Century Postal History**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
15		1762 Ship Letter from Martinique to Boston via Marblehead Mass. Two clear strikes of brownish-black "MARTINICO" straightline on back of October 1762 folded letter to Boston, ms. "MH Sh 2dwt." Marblehead Mass. port-of-entry postmark, some slight wear and toning, still Very Fine, an extremely rare inbound Colonial-era letter from French Martinique, accompanied by exhibit page giving detailed explanation of rate, Arthur White collection (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	5,000.00
16		WMS.URG. Brownish-black straightline with matching "Apr. 29" handstamp on back of a remarkably well-travelled folded cover in search of a Mrs. Marianna Hunter, first in London, England, then at Yorktown and Fredericksburg in Virginia, ms. "Sh" ship-letter marking and rates ("N8 + 2 = N10"), 1774 docketing, silked on both sides and small faults, still Fine for a Colonial-period letter, the Williamsburg straightline is very rare (ASCC $2,000) (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,150.00
17		WMS.URG. Brownish-black straightline handstamp on back of folded cover docketed as originating from England ("Bristol 24 June 1773") to Falmouth Va., endorsed "p. the Donald Capt. Ramsey Q.D.C.", ms. "Hptn. Sh" Hampton Va. port-of-entry postmark with red ms. "3.8" (dwt. gr.) rate, part of addressee's named scraped away causing small hole, neatly docketed "Recd. 20th Sept. 73", file fold and faint toning A VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD POSTMARK OF WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, ON AN INBOUND SHIP LETTER FROM ENGLAND. ASCC $2,000.00 (Image)	E. 2,500-3,500	0.00
18		BOSTON. Perfect strike of red straightline handstamp with matching "2/MR" Franklin mark on back of folded cover to New York, docketed "Anthony Farrington Boston the 2 March 1775, Received the 9th do. 1775", black "8/MR" Franklin mark, ms. "3dwt" and "1/8" rates, vertical file fold and some slight wear, Very Fine, this straightline is the scarce British Occupation postmark used by the Crown post office during the early months of "open rebellion", according to the ASCC it was used from Feb. 20, 1775, until June 5 of the same year, this example falls into that period but precedes the opening shots of the war at Lexington-Concord in April 1775, ASCC $1,000.00 (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	3,750.00
19		1776, Congressional Post. Folded cover addressed to Richard Henry Lee in Philadelphia, with sender's four-line instructions "To be forwarded from Fredericksbg. Post Office by the Northward Post", ms. "3.8" rate, archival notation that letter was dated Apr. 1776, silked on both sides, otherwise Fine, scarce war-period usage to this Founder and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, if the April 1776 date is correct, this letter was mailed during the first session of the Second Continental Congress (Image)	E. 750-1,000	1,000.00
20		PHILa. JULY 16. Straightline datestamp and ms. "3.8" rate on side flap of folded cover to Fredericksburgh Va., 1776 docketing, opened for display and silked on both sides, appears Fine, scarce Congressional Post usage from Philadelphia during the celebrated month of July 1776 (Image)	E. 750-1,000	900.00
21		"On the Service of the Commonwealth". Ms. endorsement at top of folded cover with "By Express" at bottom, addressed to "Capt. Nichs. Cabbel, of the 2nd Battn. of Minute Men, now in Amherst" (Amherst in Virginia), detailed docketing on side flap reads "Col. Charles Lewis to Capt. Nicholas Cabell, afterwards Col., Aug. 26th 1776 Express (II)", part of contents is included, discusses desperate need for supplies, somewhat worn and with tear at top clumsily repaired, still Fine, a fascinating and rare Revolutionary War usage by military express, for a history of Virginia's "Minute Men" and need for supplies, go to http://www.ang elfire.com/un/joneshistory/H2-R-A2.html and http://www.constitution.org/jw/acm_5-m.htm (Image)	E. 1,000-1,500	900.00
22		"Fredbg Way" and "Fredbg Free". Ms. markings on separate folded covers addressed to Richard Henry Lee, one docketed Oct. 1777 and addressed to Lee 'in Congress", other docketed Nov. 1777 from "E. Pendleton" to Lee at York Pa., both covers silked, still Fine, these are extremely rare manuscript markings from Fredericksburg to Lee while attending the Second Continental Congress session at York (Sep. 30, 1777- June 27, 1778), the Nov. 1777 "Free" cover is from Edmund Pendleton, a prominent Virginian who in 1752 was elected to the House of Burgesses and then elected a representative to each of five successive Virginia conventions (he was elected president of the last two), he attended the Continental Congress' of 1774 and 1775 while serving as President of Virginia Committee of Safety. In March 1777 Pendleton fell off his horse and dislocated his hip, giving him a lifetime physical handicap. This crippled him for the rest of his life though he continued to serve with the aid of crutches. He had been elected Speaker of the first House of Delegates the preceding year and though unable to attend the first 1777 session, the speakership was held for him until he recovered enough to return the following September (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,400.00
23		1777-88 Way Covers. Eight folded letters from original correspondences and offered for the first time, all but one to James Hunter at Fredericksburg or Portsmouth Va., extraordinary variety of manuscript Virginia "Way" markings incl. (in date order): Dec. 1777 Dumfries "Dumfr (way)", Feb. 1778 Alexandria "Alexa. Way 2" (with line thru "Way"), Feb. 1779 from Boston to Fredericksburg, forwarded to Petersburg with "Way 9", "Alexa forwd 2.16" and "[Total] 11.16" rates, Jan. 1778 "Wmsburg Way + NCastle 24 dwt", Apr. 1778 from Petersburg to Fredericksburg with "To Richmd. Way 2.16 [plus] 2.16 [=] 5.8" rates, 1786 "Fredbg. Way 3.8" endorsed "p. The Betsey Cap. Atkinson", Feb. 1788 with "FREDS BURG Feb. 18" straightline and ms. "Way 2.16", and Sep. 1788 "Way 2" docketed four days after Virginia statehood, file folds, some stains and faults to be expected, most are Very Fine and exhibit-worthy, although each of these covers would make a significant individual offering, we have chosen to offer the group and emphasize the rarity and significance of these early Virginia Way markings (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	12,500.00
24		EDENTON JUNE 3. Well-struck red straightline handstamp on folded cover from North Carolina to Portsmouth Va., ms. "Postpaid 2.", 1788 docketing on back, trivial file fold, Very Fine strike of this scarce Confederation Post marking, North Carolina became a state on Nov. 21, 1789, ASCC $1,250.00 (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,100.00

Colonial and 18th Century Postal History

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

1762 Ship Letter from Martinique to Boston via Marblehead Mass. Two clear strikes of brownish-black "MARTINICO" straightline on back of October 1762 folded letter to Boston, ms. "MH Sh 2dwt." Marblehead Mass. port-of-entry postmark, some slight wear and toning, still Very Fine, an extremely rare inbound Colonial-era letter from French Martinique, accompanied by exhibit page giving detailed explanation of rate, Arthur White collection (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

5,000.00

WMS.URG. Brownish-black straightline with matching "Apr. 29" handstamp on back of a remarkably well-travelled folded cover in search of a Mrs. Marianna Hunter, first in London, England, then at Yorktown and Fredericksburg in Virginia, ms. "Sh" ship-letter marking and rates ("N8 + 2 = N10"), 1774 docketing, silked on both sides and small faults, still Fine for a Colonial-period letter, the Williamsburg straightline is very rare (ASCC $2,000) (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,150.00

WMS.URG. Brownish-black straightline handstamp on back of folded cover docketed as originating from England ("Bristol 24 June 1773") to Falmouth Va., endorsed "p. the Donald Capt. Ramsey Q.D.C.", ms. "Hptn. Sh" Hampton Va. port-of-entry postmark with red ms. "3.8" (dwt. gr.) rate, part of addressee's named scraped away causing small hole, neatly docketed "Recd. 20th Sept. 73", file fold and faint toning

A VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE BRITISH COLONIAL PERIOD POSTMARK OF WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, ON AN INBOUND SHIP LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

ASCC $2,000.00 (Image)

E. 2,500-3,500

0.00

BOSTON. Perfect strike of red straightline handstamp with matching "2/MR" Franklin mark on back of folded cover to New York, docketed "Anthony Farrington Boston the 2 March 1775, Received the 9th do. 1775", black "8/MR" Franklin mark, ms. "3dwt" and "1/8" rates, vertical file fold and some slight wear, Very Fine, this straightline is the scarce British Occupation postmark used by the Crown post office during the early months of "open rebellion", according to the ASCC it was used from Feb. 20, 1775, until June 5 of the same year, this example falls into that period but precedes the opening shots of the war at Lexington-Concord in April 1775, ASCC $1,000.00 (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

3,750.00

1776, Congressional Post. Folded cover addressed to Richard Henry Lee in Philadelphia, with sender's four-line instructions "To be forwarded from Fredericksbg. Post Office by the Northward Post", ms. "3.8" rate, archival notation that letter was dated Apr. 1776, silked on both sides, otherwise Fine, scarce war-period usage to this Founder and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, if the April 1776 date is correct, this letter was mailed during the first session of the Second Continental Congress (Image)

E. 750-1,000

1,000.00

PHILa. JULY 16. Straightline datestamp and ms. "3.8" rate on side flap of folded cover to Fredericksburgh Va., 1776 docketing, opened for display and silked on both sides, appears Fine, scarce Congressional Post usage from Philadelphia during the celebrated month of July 1776 (Image)

E. 750-1,000

900.00

"On the Service of the Commonwealth". Ms. endorsement at top of folded cover with "By Express" at bottom, addressed to "Capt. Nichs. Cabbel, of the 2nd Battn. of Minute Men, now in Amherst" (Amherst in Virginia), detailed docketing on side flap reads "Col. Charles Lewis to Capt. Nicholas Cabell, afterwards Col., Aug. 26th 1776 Express (II)", part of contents is included, discusses desperate need for supplies, somewhat worn and with tear at top clumsily repaired, still Fine, a fascinating and rare Revolutionary War usage by military express, for a history of Virginia's "Minute Men" and need for supplies, go to http://www.ang elfire.com/un/joneshistory/H2-R-A2.html and http://www.constitution.org/jw/acm_5-m.htm (Image)

E. 1,000-1,500

900.00

"Fredbg Way" and "Fredbg Free". Ms. markings on separate folded covers addressed to Richard Henry Lee, one docketed Oct. 1777 and addressed to Lee 'in Congress", other docketed Nov. 1777 from "E. Pendleton" to Lee at York Pa., both covers silked, still Fine, these are extremely rare manuscript markings from Fredericksburg to Lee while attending the Second Continental Congress session at York (Sep. 30, 1777- June 27, 1778), the Nov. 1777 "Free" cover is from Edmund Pendleton, a prominent Virginian who in 1752 was elected to the House of Burgesses and then elected a representative to each of five successive Virginia conventions (he was elected president of the last two), he attended the Continental Congress' of 1774 and 1775 while serving as President of Virginia Committee of Safety. In March 1777 Pendleton fell off his horse and dislocated his hip, giving him a lifetime physical handicap. This crippled him for the rest of his life though he continued to serve with the aid of crutches. He had been elected Speaker of the first House of Delegates the preceding year and though unable to attend the first 1777 session, the speakership was held for him until he recovered enough to return the following September (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,400.00

1777-88 Way Covers. Eight folded letters from original correspondences and offered for the first time, all but one to James Hunter at Fredericksburg or Portsmouth Va., extraordinary variety of manuscript Virginia "Way" markings incl. (in date order): Dec. 1777 Dumfries "Dumfr (way)", Feb. 1778 Alexandria "Alexa. Way 2" (with line thru "Way"), Feb. 1779 from Boston to Fredericksburg, forwarded to Petersburg with "Way 9", "Alexa forwd 2.16" and "[Total] 11.16" rates, Jan. 1778 "Wmsburg Way + NCastle 24 dwt", Apr. 1778 from Petersburg to Fredericksburg with "To Richmd. Way 2.16 [plus] 2.16 [=] 5.8" rates, 1786 "Fredbg. Way 3.8" endorsed "p. The Betsey Cap. Atkinson", Feb. 1788 with "FREDS BURG Feb. 18" straightline and ms. "Way 2.16", and Sep. 1788 "Way 2" docketed four days after Virginia statehood, file folds, some stains and faults to be expected, most are Very Fine and exhibit-worthy, although each of these covers would make a significant individual offering, we have chosen to offer the group and emphasize the rarity and significance of these early Virginia Way markings (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

12,500.00

EDENTON JUNE 3. Well-struck red straightline handstamp on folded cover from North Carolina to Portsmouth Va., ms. "Postpaid 2.", 1788 docketing on back, trivial file fold, Very Fine strike of this scarce Confederation Post marking, North Carolina became a state on Nov. 21, 1789, ASCC $1,250.00 (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,100.00