Revolutionary War

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ANNAPOLIS STRAIGHTLINE MARKING, INTRODUCED DURING THE TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY POST.

From early 1774 until late 1775 various post offices ceased operating as part of the British Parliamentary postal system and introduced new markings. The pencil notation is accurate (as confirmed by the nearly identical cover in lot 2736), which makes this one of the two earliest recorded examples of the red "ANNAPOLIS" straightline (the ASCC reports an example dated Aug. 18, 1775).

ASCC Vol. 3 value $2,500 (Image)

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ANNAPOLIS STRAIGHTLINE MARKING, INTRODUCED DURING THE TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY POST.

From early 1774 until late 1775 various post offices ceased operating as part of the British Parliamentary postal system and introduced new markings. The 1775 year-dated docketing makes this the earliest recorded example of the red "ANNAPOLIS" straightline (the ASCC reports an example dated Aug. 18, 1775). The sender, Richard Lloyd, of Kent, Maryland, was a signer to the "Declaration of the Association of the Freemen of Maryland" in July 1775. The "Patuxent" in the docketing refers to the Patuxent River in Maryland.

ASCC Vol. 3 value $2,500 (Image)

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "CHESTER*TOWN" STRAIGHTLINE, INTRODUCED DURING THE TRANSITION FROM THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM TO THE CONGRESSIONAL POST.

This cover pre-dates the Siskin cover with the ASCC-listed "CHESTER*T SEPT 19" straightline, which was described as the only recorded example (Sep. 19, 1775). The marking on the cover offered here has "Town" spelled out and the date applied separately. Evidently the letters "own" were removed to make room for the date. The Congressional Post was formed by the Resolution of July 26, 1775, so this cover represents a much earlier use of the new marking than previously reported, prior to the official creation of the Congressional Post. (Image)

FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE "CHESTER*T" STRAIGHTLINE, INTRODUCED DURING THE TRANSITION AWAY FROM THE BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM, WITH THE 6-PENCE CONGRESSIONAL POST RATE IMPLEMENTED PRIOR TO THE RESOLUTION OF JULY 26, 1775, WHICH OFFICIALLY CREATED THE CONGRESSIONAL POST.

This cover pre-dates the Siskin cover with the same ASCC-listed "CHESTER*T SEPT 19" straightline, which was described as the only recorded example (Sep. 19, 1775). The Congressional Post was formed by the Resolution of July 26, 1775, so this cover represents an early use of the new marking and anticipatory use of the 6p rate, prior to the official creation of the Congressional Post. (Image)

A FASCINATING COVER, COMBINING THE EXTREMELY RARE GEORGETOWN, MARYLAND, STRAIGHTLINE WITH A REMARKABLE SERIES OF RATE MARKINGS. TRULY A UNIQUE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PERIOD COVER.

Although the "GEORGE*TOWN*S" straightline is listed in the American Stampless Cover Catalog under South Carolina, it is generally accepted that the marking was used at Georgetown, Maryland, during the transition from the British Parliamentary Post system to the Congressional Post. On that basis, the basic rate from Georgetown to Philadelphia in 1775 would have been 2dwt (or 6p) for a distance of 60-100 miles. When this cover was weighed at Georgetown, it was marked "4-1/2 Oz", but rated "5/ Sterg. postage paid" in error. A 4-1/2 ounce letter should have been prepaid at 18x the 2dwt rate (36dwt=108p, or 9sh). Evidently, the mistake was caught by the Philadelphia post office, which marked the letter "underchargd 4/-" and noted the correct "9/" rate. The red "15/2" at upper left indicates the total amount of postage due in local currency if the letter had arrived without any prepayment (36dwt=108p x 1.67 inflation factor=180p plus 2p carrier fee, or 15sh2p). However, the "To pay 6/10" represents the difference between the total postage charge and the prepaid amount (5sh=20dwt=60p x 1.67 inflation factor=100p, therefore 182p - 100p=82p, or 6sh10p more to pay). After these calculations, all but the original rate markings were then crossed out!

Siskin reported two covers with this straightline marking, excluding this cover. His weaker strike on an ordinary 2dwt cover realized $3,250 hammer. (Image)

A FINE-APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE "PRINCE*TON" STRAIGHTLINE USED WITH THE 8-PENCE CONGRESSIONAL POST RATE. AN OUTSTANDING COVER FROM THE 1774-1775 TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

Very few examples of the "PRINCE*TON" straightline are known. It was first used during the transitional Congressional Post period (ASCC earliest date 7/5/1775, latest 9/11/1775). This cover with the 8p Congressional Post rate is especially desirable. ASCC Vol. 3 value $2,000 (Image)