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Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale: 89

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3041
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1790 (Jan. 19) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter endorsed "Pr favour Nereus, Capt Thompson" at bottom left, carried as endorsed by Ship Nereus from Liverpool Jan. 20th to New York arriving Mar. 20th, entered mails with "New-York * march*20" straightline and manuscript "Sh 2" rating for 2d stg. ship fee, Philadelphia "1/-" due in local currency ([2d stg. ship plus 4d stg. inland] x 1.67 inflation = 10d; 10d plus 2d delivery = 1/-); some separation at top, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 170.00
Sold...US$ 170.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:23:07 EST
Sold For 170

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3042
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1790 (Feb. 26) Antwerp, Belgium to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter, brownish London "MR, 3, 90" transit cds and matching "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "P 2/-" prepaid rating for two-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Queen Charlotte from Falmouth Mar. 6th to New York arriving Apr. 26th, New York "2 16" 2dwt 16gr due rating for two-times the 1dwt 8gr single rate of 60-100 miles, Philadelphia "1/4" due rating in local currency, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 230.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:23:27 EST
Sold For 0

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3043
Symbol:
Cat No: Dutch West Indies

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1791 (Dec. 20) St. Croix, DWI to Philadelphia Pa. Granite folded letter endorsed "p Brig Hannah, Capt Thos Kenney, DDC" at bottom left and manuscript "2d." (16 grains) at top right for ship fee; accompanied by 1843 ship letter from St. Croix to Newark N.J. with red Philadelphia cds and "Ship" handstamp, Very Fine pair.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 210.00
Sold...US$ 210.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:23:39 EST
Sold For 210

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3044
Symbol:

image 1793 (Aug. 3) Berne, Switzerland to Philadelphia Pa. Docketed folded cover endorsed "p The Pigou" in red manuscript at lower right, carried privately to London, then by private ship Pigou from London Sep. 2nd to Philadelphia arriving Oct. 31st, entered mails with bold strike of Philadelphia "4" cents due 12mm handstamp for port of arrival ship letter, fresh and Extremely Fine, a scarce use from Switzerland.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

The Philadelphia 12mm "4" rating handstamp is recorded from 1792-1799 with only fifteen recorded examples.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 270.00
Sold...US$ 270.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:24:26 EST
Sold For 270

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3045
Symbol:

image 1794 (Jan. 23) Kingston, Jamaica to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter endorsed "p Elizth. & Mary, Capt. Latimer" at lower left, carried as endorsed by ship Elizabeth & Mary to Philadelphia, entered mails with clear strike of Philadelphia "4" cents due 12mm handstamp for port of arrival ship letter, docketed as received Apr. 2nd; horizontal file fold, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

The Philadelphia 12mm "4" rating handstamp is recorded from 1792-1799 with only fifteen recorded examples.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 150.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:24:44 EST
Sold For 0

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3046
Symbol:

image 1794 (c., Mar. 1) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded cover with manuscript "Rec'd & forwarded, yr. hbleServt., F. Pigice" on flap and endorsed "Geo Barclay", sent unpaid by Ship George Barclay from London Mar. 1st 1794 to Philadelphia arriving May 1st (62 days), entered mails with bold strike of Philadelphia "4" cents due 8mm handstamp for port of arrival ship letter, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Philadelphia was the only city to use a handstamp 4 device. Four sizes of typeface were used to indicate this rate; a census records that all four comprise only 26 examples. The Philadelphia 8mm "4" rating handstamp is recorded from 1793-1794 with only fifteen recorded examples.
Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Opening US$ 525.00
Sold...US$ 525.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:25:14 EST
Sold For 525

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3047
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1794 (Oct. 17) Havana, Cuba to Newport R.I. Folded letter carried privately to Philadelphia, forwarder's endorsed "Philada. 8 Decemr. 1794. Recd under cover and forwarded by Post, Your Friends Elliston & John Perot", entered mails with Philadelphia brownish "8 DE" Franklin mark and manuscript "20" cent rating, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 150.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:25:26 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3048
Symbol:

image 1796 (Mar. 11) Montserrat to Newburyport Mass. "datelined folded letter endorsed "via Capt grice, philadelphia", sent unpaid by private ship, entered mails with partial Philadelphia "5 AP" Franklin mark and manuscript "Sh 26" rating for inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, letter of Stephen Holland headed "Moserate" and reads in part "…we were obliged to…go under the Le of Antegar the weather being thick & very dark at 10pm was Brought to by the gangers a British 74 gun ship & a small Schooner her tender & we were order'd on board with our papers…the Capt. whose name is Laforing…conceived that our property on board was of french & could not be american property & after that order'd us on board…to take us in to Antegar but the wind still being to the northward order'd us to Monserate whare we arrived at 3pm & Anchord in Plymouth Bay for adjudication…I was order'd on shore without Capt. Hoyt to be Examined & to go through the Interogatives…how the Business will turn god only knows for I don't know…"; docketed as received Apr. 11th, F.-V.F. and rare early incoming letter from Montserrat with news of ship seizure by British.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 220.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:25:41 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3049
Symbol:

image 1797 (Jun. 7) Kingston, Jamaica to Philadelphia Pa. via New York. Datelined folded letter addressed to George Thatcher at Congress, carried by private ship to New York, entered mails with "N. York June 7" straightline postmark and matching "Free" rating handstamp, red manuscript "Sh" ship rating, Very Fine and scarce Free ship use.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The addressee, George Thatcher (1754-1824) graduated from Harvard in 1776. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and was later elected by the District of Maine as a Federalist to every Congress from 1789 until his retirement in 1801. He once wrote "Parties are not necessary to the existence or support of political liberty". He did not think a Bill of Rights was necessary either.
Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 130.00
Sold...US$ 130.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:26:11 EST
Sold For 130

Italy, Italian States and Colonies
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3050
Symbol:

image 1797 (Oct. 13) Livorno, Italy to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter carried privately to Geneva, printed Swiss "Merle-d'Aubigné" forwarders label noted as received Oct. 19th and forwarded Oct. 21st, red London Paid (12.27) cds and manuscript "3/4" 3sh4d rating for two-times 8d inland London-Falmouth and 1s packet, carried by Packet Halifax from Falmouth Jan. 25th to New York arriving Mar. 10th, New York manuscript "20" cents due for two-times the 10¢ rating for 60-100 miles, docketed as received Mar. 12th; some wear, F.-V.F. and rare early Swiss forwarders use from Italy.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

The Dutilh & Wachsmuth firm started in 1790 and engaged in the coffee and sugar trade between the West Indies and Europe.

The Act of 1797, 37 Geo III was effective 5 January 1797 with the packet rate remaining 1s, but must include 8d inland postage from London, and inland postage to London if posted elsewhere.
Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 800.00
Sold...US$ 800.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:26:34 EST
Sold For 800

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3051
Symbol:

image 1800 (Feb. 6) Nassau, Bahamas to Philadelphia Pa. via New York. Datelined folded letter written and signed by Jacob Weiser to merchant Manuel Tyer with interesting content "…the Schooner Weymouth which is now called the Eliz. She was captured on her passage from Cape Francois to Baltimore by a French Privateer and afterwards re-captured by the U.S. Frigates General Green and Boston, put into this port in distress…thoroughly overhauled and now in compleat order.", cover endorsed "Via New York" at lower left, carried by private ship, entered mails with "New-York, Mar 14" clamshell postmark and red manuscript "Sh 14½" due rating for 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine and interesting privateering content.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 300.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:26:56 EST
Sold For 0

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3052
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1800 (Aug. 2) Amsterdam, Netherlands to Providence R.I. Datelined folded letter endorsed "pr. Ship Howard" at bottom left, entered mails with partial magenta "PHI, 13 OC" cds and matching small "SHIP" handstamp with red manuscript "36l rating for two-times 17¢ inland postage for under 300 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, docketed as received Oct. 17th, letter to the owners of Ship Mary Ann concerning delays, Very Fine, ex-Hugh Feldman.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

Philadelphia was the first city in the United States to introduce a "SHIP" handstamp, and this type was used until 1804. New York put a similar postmark into use in 1806.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 200.00
Sold...US$ 200.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:27:44 EST
Sold For 200

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3053
Symbol:

image 1803 (Jul. 21) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter with clear strike of "Post-Paid Ship-Letter, London, JUL 21, 1803" double-circle postmark and red manuscript "11" pence prepaid rating for one half of the 1/10 packet rate, carried as endorsed by Ship Pigou from London Jul. 22nd to Philadelphia arriving Sep. 7th, Philadelphia red "6" in circle due handstamp; soiled, Fine.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THIS LONDON POSTMARK ON A LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA.

Prepayment of ship letters was not permissible until 1799. Act 39 Geo III c 76 allowed private ships to carry mail for the post office at "not less than half the packet rate". This was amended by GPO notice in 1803 to be exactly half the packet rate, and required letters to be held in sealed bags. Prepaid ship letters are very rare, as letters were normally sent unpaid.
Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 290.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:27:57 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3054
Symbol:

image 1804 (Mar. 8) Cape Town, South Africa to Portsmouth N.H. Docketed folded cover carried by Ship Perseverance from Cape Town Mar. 8th to Philadelphia Pa. arriving May 3rd, entered mails with bold magenta "PHI, MY, 4" cds and matching "SHIP" arc handstamp with magenta "22" rating for 20¢ inland 300-500 miles plus 2¢ ship fee; top center flaw, Very Fine, The Earliest Recorded Use of this "SHIP" arc handstamp..
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 180.00
Sold...US$ 180.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:28:29 EST
Sold For 180

France and French Colonies
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3055
Symbol:

image 1805 (Jul. 24) St. Pierre, Martinique to Philadelphia Pa. Datelined folded letter endorsed "p Schooner Roebuck via Philadelphia", carried as endorsed by private ship, entered mails with brownish red "6" in dotted circular rating handstamp for 6¢ ship rate to port, Very Fine and exceptionally rare marking.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

We have not seen another example of this dashed ship rating handstamp, which is usually seen with a solid circle.
Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 220.00
Sold...US$ 220.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:28:56 EST
Sold For 220

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3056
Symbol:

image 1806 (Jul. 2) Amsterdam, Netherlands to Providence R.I. Datelined folded letter carried by private ship into Philadelphia, entered mails with brownish "PHI, 8 SE" cds and matching arc "SHIP" handstamp with "27" rating for two-times 12½¢ inland postage for 90-150 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

This Philadelphia "SHIP" arc handstamp was used from 1804 to 1817.
Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 230.00
Sold...US$ 230.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:29:28 EST
Sold For 230

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Peri

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3057
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1807 (Feb. 13) Philadelphia Pa. to Leeds, England. Datelined folded letter sent unpaid by private ship, endorsed "Latona" but crossed out and sent on Ship Abigail from Philadelphia Feb. 14th to Hull, entered mails with "Ship Letter, Hull" crown oval and manuscript "1/10" 1s10d due rating for two-times 7d inland plus 4d ship fee; some edge flaws and fold splitting, F.-V.F. and rare, Illustrated in Robertson, ex-Allan Robertson.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Private ships were often the wiser choice for senders in British colonies, as they could offer a more direct route - and very possibly a faster one - than sending a letter via the GPO in London.
Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 575.00
Sold...US$ 575.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:30:09 EST
Sold For 575

Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1811-1815 War of 1812 P

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3058
Symbol:

image 1811 (Apr. 8) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter endorsed "p Essex Frigate", carried as endorsed by Frigate Essex from Cowes May 6th to Annapolis arriving Jul. 1st, entered mails with sharp strike of "ANNAPOLIS, Md. July 1." straightline and matching "SHIP" handstamp with manuscript "14½" due rating for 12½¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, docketed as received July 4th.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS "ANNAPOLIS, MD." STRAIGHTLINE POSTMARK.

This sailing was a prelude to the War of 1812. Anglo-American relations had been worsening since the 1790s, due to harassment of American merchant vessels engaged in "neutral trade" with France during Britain's war with France.

In 1811 President Madison recalled the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Thomas Pinckney, and replaced him with J. Smith as Charges des Affairs — a position of lower rank. The 46-gun U.S. Frigate Essex was sent to England to transport Pinckney home to Annapolis. She put into Cowes on the Isle of Wight, just offshore from the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, to where Pinckney is reported to have traveled from London and met for a long conference with Smith.

This letter was carried on the last voyage of the Frigate
Essex to Europe before the War. She took 23 prizes during the war before being trapped in the harbor of Valparaiso and captured by the British. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Opening US$ 2,600.00
Sold...US$ 2,600.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:30:50 EST
Sold For 2600

United States
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1811-1815 War of 1812 P

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3059
Symbol:

image 1813 (Oct. 23) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England via Gibraltar. Datelined folded letter by cartel ship through the mid-Atlantic blockade from Philadelphia Nov. 22nd to Madeira, then by Packet Montague from Madeira Jan. 2nd to Scilly arriving Jan. 14th, driven ashore in gale, processed through London's Foreign Letter Office on Jan. 25, 1814 with strike of "Foreign JA 25, 1814" double-circle datestamp on flap, manuscript "5/2" for double the 2s7d packet rate from Madeira less 2p Foreign Office rebate, Very Fine and rare Cartel Ship use through Blockade, ex-Arnell, Walske.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

Cartel ship advertised for Madeira at 25¢ per letter as fee to Captain. From Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, Nov. 19, 1813, p. 3: "Letter bags for England and Ireland will be forwarded on Monday Evening next the 22d inst. from the Marchants' Coffee House, by a vessel for Madeira from whence they will be sent to those places by a respectable house at Madeira". London's Foreign Letter Office processed mail to and from the European Continent, letters handled by this office were entitled to a 2p deduction from the published rates.

Privateering threatened packets to New York, so service was halted in March 1813. By GPO notice of 11 March 1814: "HM pkts having ceased to go to NY you are to cease receiving letters with pkt postage to the USA. Only ship letter bags may occasionally be sent." Britain announced the blockade of Delaware River on 5 February 1813, New York Harbor on 26 May 1814, and Boston Harbor on 25 April 1814.

Reference: "British Long Distance Mail Packets 1793-1815", by Tabeart, C., 2019, Illustrated and Discussed on p. 412.
Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 725.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:31:05 EST
Sold For 0
Great Britain and British Commonwealth
Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1811-1815 War of 1812 P

Sale No: 89
Lot No: 3060
Symbol:
Cat No: Stampless

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image 1814 (Jun. 25) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. via Boston. Folded cover docketed on back "Bainbridge & Brown London" and endorsed "P. Cartel" at bottom, clear strike of red "Paid Ship Letter, London, Ju 25, 1814" crown cds and red manuscript "2/2" for two-times the 1s1d rate, carried through the New England blockade by cartel ship to Boston (began April 25, 1814), Boston red "SHIP" straightline and manuscript "42" cents due for double 20¢ plus 2¢ ship fee; minor soiling, Very Fine and rate, ex-Walske.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

AN OUTSTANDING CARTEL SHIP COVER SENT THROUGH THE NEWLY INSTITUTED BRITISH NEW ENGLAND BLOCKADE.

Letter was sent for half the 2 shilling 2p packet rate, as the British post office "Paid Ship Letter" service would forward mail at the 1s1d ship rate by cartel ships to the United States.

Reference: "British Long Distance Mail Packets 1793-1815", by Tabeart, C., 2019, Illustrated and Discussed on p. 435.
Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Opening US$ 1,800.00
Sold...US$ 1,800.00


Closed..Oct-05-2019, 13:31:26 EST
Sold For 1800

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