(Wrappers) 1783 (Aug. 12) Philadelphia Pa. to Norwich Conn. Folded letter with Philadelphia "13/AV" Franklin mark and matching partial "FREE" rating handstamp to Postmaster Dudley Woodbridge, original letter datelined "Phila. Augst. 12th. 1783" and reads "My Late Absence from this City has prevented your hearing from me upon the subject of News Papers; -if they are enclosed in Letters they pay the same Postage as if they were Letters; - the proper way of sending them is open, in the Case of the Post Rider (who receives a Perquisite for carrying them) & not to put them in the mail at all; - if they are sent in the mail they must paid for as Letters" and signed "Eben Hazard" as Postmaster General; mended tear, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM POSTMASTER GENERAL EBENEZER HAZARD CONCERNING THE HANDLING OF NEWSPAPERS.

Letter from Ebenezer Hazard, Postmaster to the Continental Congress, sent in reply to a local postmaster providing the definition of wrapper use: "…the proper way of sending them is open…" This distinction of "open" (visible) versus "closed" is applied here and was used until the cessation of wrappers. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Blood & Co., 1854 (1¢) bronze on lilac. Acid tied, "Blood's Despatch, Sep 5, 10½. A.M., 1856" cds on folded cover to local Philadelphia Post Office Box, entered mails with "Philadelphia, Sep 5" cds and matching bold "1" double-octagon rating handstamp for 1¢ drop rate; open at top and sides, Very Fine and unusual drop rate use.
Scott No. 15L14; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Hussey's Post, 1858, black on manila. Clear strike of handstamp and additional "PAID/G. HUSSEY" two-line handstamp on manila wrapper to New York City, pencil "X" at top right, Very Fine and choice.
Scott No. 87LUP2; $600.

Private local posts also delivered items in wrappers (identified by open ends), generally at the one cent rate before the Post Office issued stamped wrappers. Scott $600
(Image)

Scott $600

Wrapper, 1861, 1¢ blue on manila, die 1. Cancelled by blue "Wells. Fargo Cos Express, S. Frco. 18 Jun" double-circle datestamp and with matching "Paid" oval handstamp to Virginia City, Nevada Territory; soiling and flaws, Fine and rare, ex-Litchenstein.
Scott No. W21; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED NESBITT WRAPPER USE CARRIED BY WELLS FARGO EXPRESS, ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED CARRIED OUTSIDE THE MAILS. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

Wrapper, 1861, 1¢ blue on manila, die 1. Uprated with 2¢ black (73), nicely centered, tied by four-ring target cancel, matching "Port Royal, Va., 1863" cds to Gouverneur N.Y. at the 3¢ letter rate, Very Fine use at the letter rate, ex-Barkhausen (backstamp).
Scott No. W21; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wrapper, 1861, 1¢ blue on manila, die 1. Endorsed "By Adams Express, Thirty Dollars" at top with indicia cancelled by manuscript to the German Savings Bank in New York City, inside docketed from "Friedr. Rudolph Perl, Comp. B. 52d N.York, R Nov 23, 1863" and "$30.00, Exp. 50, Dep. $29.50", additional manuscript "$30.00" at bottom left crossed out and updated to "$29.50" with Adams express fee of 50¢ deducted, Very Fine and rare Civil War use of wrapper from Union Soldier via Adams Express.
Scott No. W21; Estimate $300 - 400.

THE ONLY RECORDED NESBITT WRAPPER USE CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS, ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED CARRIED OUTSIDE THE MAILS.

The Postal Act of August 31, 1852 required express companies to buy stamped envelopes for carrying mail and to cancel the envelope when used, even if it never entered the U.S. Post Office Department mails. The use of wrappers was likely done when shortages of printed frank entires occurred or were not available. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wrapper, 1861, 1¢ blue on manila, die 1. Uprated with 1¢ blue (63) tied by segmented cork cancel to local street address, Very Fine and choice in bright early manila paper shade, ex-Ackerman.
Scott No. W21; Estimate $200 - 300.

Civil War paper shortages caused the Post Office to look for less expensive paper sources for wrappers. Manila paper was made from plant material and has longer fibers (often 6 to 8mm) with dark brown inclusions. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wrapper, 1861, 1¢ blue on manila, die 1. Uprated with 1¢ blue (63), tied by "Norwich, Con, Jun 27" cds to New Haven Conn. at 2¢ circular rate; 1¢ trivial corner perf crease, Very Fine and scarce wrapper use.
Scott No. W21; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wrapper, 1864, 2¢ black on buff, die 4. Uncancelled addressed to Philadelphia Pa. street address, Very Fine, ex-Barkhausen. UPSS No. 118 $200.
Scott No. W55; $120; Estimate $150 - 200. Scott $120
Est. $150-200 (Image)

Scott $120
Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1864, 2¢ black on light manila, die 4. Wrapper front bearing 2¢ black, F. Grill (93) tied by circular cancel and New York partial "Paid All" exchange straightline to Bern, Switzerland; light file fold affecting indicia, Fine, a rare Blackjack stamp and wrapper combination, ex-Fosdyke.
Scott No. W57; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wrapper, 1870, 1¢ blue on manila. Wrapper uprated with 3¢ green (158), small flaws at bottom, tied by New York Circular Mail radial fancy cancel to Rotterdam, Holland, New York red "Paid All" straightline, blue Mayer, Brothers & Co. (5.22.74) merchant backstamp, carried as endorsed by NGL Lines Weser II from New York May 23rd to Southampton arriving on Jun. 2nd, Rotterdam (6.3) arrival backstamp; file folds, otherwise Very Fine and rare use.
Scott No. W77; Estimate $500 - 750.

Wrapper correctly prepaid at the 4¢ newspaper rate for under 4 oz. by closed mail via England. The New York red "Paid All" marking was used per treaty of 1868 with North German Union to indicate full prepayment to destination. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Wrapper, 1870, 1¢ blue on manila, double impression. Uprated with 3¢ green (158) tied by quartered cork cancels manuscript "Nov 15/75" dating to Portsmouth, Ohio at quadruple the 1¢ printed matter rate, turned inside out and used second time bearing 3¢ green (158) tied by four-ring target cancel to Chilicothe Oh.; file fold and some small flaws, Very Fine.
Scott No. W77 var.; Estimate $500 - 750.

A RARE USED DOUBLE IMPRESSION OF THE 1¢ REAY WRAPPER.

Reay produced high quality work and printing errors, such as the double impression here, are very uncommon. Reuse of postal stationery is much less common in the early 1870s than earlier in the Civil War time period when paper was scarce. This wrapper has a double impression of almost 1cm. Feeding a wrapper through the printing press twice is unusual. Possibly it was done because the first image was light due to lack of ink. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Wrapper, 1870, 1¢ blue on manila. Wrapper with printed Precancel "X" and advertising text from George S. Harris, Land Comm'r B. & M. R.R. Co., Burlington, Iowa to Hartford Ind.; folds and some soiling, open for display, Very Fine.
Scott No. W77; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wrapper, 1870, 1¢ blue on manila. Wrapper with illustrated The Poultry Argus, Miller & Clinton Publishers, Polo Ill. advertising design showing chicken, cancelled by cork cancel and matching "Polo Ill., Mar 12" cds to Boston Mass.; file fold and edge tear above indicia, otherwise Very Fine and attractive.
Scott No. W77; Estimate $200 - 300.

A number of companies printed a corner card with company name and address but a few went further to print advertising or an image on the wrapper. This is among the earliest seen on the Reay Issue of 1872 wrappers. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wrapper, 1870, 1¢ blue on manila. Wrapper with illustrated H & F. Blandy, Zanesville Oh. advertising showing Saw Mill, cancelled by brush stroke to Harrington N.C., Very Fine and early illustrated ad.
Scott No. W77; Estimate $150 - 200.

A number of companies printed a corner card with company name and address but a few went further to print advertising or an image on the wrapper. This is among the earliest seen on the Reay Issue of 1872 wrappers. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1874, 1¢ dark blue on manila, die 1. Cancelled by complete strike of Waterbury Ten-Petaled Leaf (Rohloff L-20) to Wolcott Ct.; tear at left, Very Fine and rare Waterbury fancy cancel.
Scott No. W112; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Wrapper, 1874, 1¢ dark blue on manila, die 1. Wrapper with illustrated "Sunnyside Nurseries" advertising showing "Lee's Favorite" potato, indicia with rich color and cancelled by bold three-section circular grid cancel to Eugene Ind., Very Fine.
Scott No. W112; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1874, 1¢ light blue on manila, die 2. Wrapper with illustrated red "Spirit of '86" advertising showing soldier, lion and horse, cancelled by cork to Baton Rouge La., Very Fine and beautiful.
Scott No. W120; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1874, 2¢ brown on manila, die 1. Wrapper cancelled by circular cancel addressed to Philadelphia Pa., Very Fine and scarce used wrapper. UPSS No. 301.
Scott No. W126; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1874, 2¢ vermilion on manila, die 1. Wrapper with bright color and cancelled by circular four-bar grid cancel to Auburn N.Y., Very Fine and choice. UPSS No. 302 $5,000.
Scott No. W127; $5,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED USED EXAMPLE OF THIS WRAPPER.

There are up to 10 recorded mint examples of this wrapper including some in poor condition. This is the only recorded used example. Scott $5,000
(Image)

Scott $5,000

Wrapper, 1875, 2¢ vermilion on manila, die 5. Cancelled by New York Circular Mail circle of wedges fancy cancel to Amsterdam, Holland, Very Fine and scarce New York foreign mail use.
Scott No. W148; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Wrapper, 1875, 2¢ vermilion on manila, die 5. Cancelled by light San Francisco Cal. and showing New York red "Paid All" straightline to Berlin, Germany; file fold, otherwise Very Fine and scarce use.
Scott No. W148; Estimate $150 - 200.

The New York exchange office "Paid All" handstamp was used per treaty to indicated prepayment of postage to destination. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1881, 2¢ vermilion on manila, die 8. Cancelled by "Philadelphia Pa." third-class oval to Germany, Landau Pfalz (10.16) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice.
Scott No. W158; Estimate $400 - 600.

THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE DIE 55 VERMILION WRAPPER. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Wrapper, 1883, 2¢ red on manila. Wrapper with illustrated John A. Salzer's Plant and Seed Catalog advertising design showing plant, cancelled by target cancel to Berea, Ohio; small tear at left, otherwise Very Fine, This is the only recorded example with illustrated advertising..
Scott No. W235; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Wrapper, 1887, 1¢ blue on manila. Wrapper enclosing January 1892 Chicago Stamp News showing World's Fair Packets advertisement, cancelled by Chicago third-class oval to Southampton, Great Britain, sharp strike of purple "Saved from wreck of S.S."Eider."" framed handstamp; some faults from emersion in sea water, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott No. W301; Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED WRAPPER CARRIED ON THE NORTH GERMAN LLOYD STEAMSHIP "EIDER" WRECK USE.

This wrapper was onboard the North German Lloyd S.S. "Eider", a German luxury passenger liner traveling from New York and bound for Bremen via Southampton with 227 passengers and 167 crew. She ran aground about half a mile from shore off St. Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wright in the English Channel during in a dense fog on Sunday night. January 31st 1892. The captain believed that the liner would ride off the bar with the tide. Some of the cargo was jettisoned. At 7am the next day, a lifeboat approached "Eider" to warn that a gale was approaching. The captain felt sure that tugs would arrive in time and asked the lifeboat to carry some of the mail bags ashore instead of the passengers. As conditions worsened all passengers and crew were removed with no loss of life; however, the ship was lost. The mail was taken charge of by officials from the Newport Post Office. Two markings were used, one in German for mail bound for Bremen and the scarcer one in English (Saved from wreck of S.S. "Eider") for mail bound to Southampton. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500