"Monrovia February 8th 1847" Dateline on Folded Letter to USA from Liberia President JJ Roberts, dateline on folded letter addressed to Benj Coates in Philadelphia, two+ page letter signed "J.J. Roberts", cover with blue Baltimore Apr 7 cds, "SHIP" and "12" handstamps, ms. "Barque Siberia Packet/ Capt. Goodmanson", some splits along the folds but still Fine and rare. rnLengthy letter discusses variety of topics, and Roberts notes "I am becoming, sir, more and more convinced of the impracticability of obtaining for the people of color in the United States equal rights." rnJoseph Jenkins Roberts was a native of Virginia and the son of free -½blacks-+ whose heritage was more than seven-eighths white. At the age of 20 he immigrated to Liberia with his mother and younger brothers, became a merchant, and also became an unofficial aide to the white governor of the colony, Thomas H. Buchanan, a member of the American Colonization Society, which sought the return of American freedmen to Africa. On Buchanan-+s death in 1842, Roberts was appointed the first black governor of the colony.rnBenjamin Coates was a Quaker reformer and publisher whose work toward the abolition of slavery led to a relationship with many prominent people connected to Liberia, including its president. The philosophical inclinations of Benjamin Coates were shaped in part by the abolitionist networks of his day. Coates was convinced that a new colony in West Africa, populated by black Americans, was the best strategy for ending slavery and giving African Americans a positive fresh start. In this regard, Coates was involved with the American Colonization Society, an organization which established the colony of Liberia to resettle free black Americans in West Africa Coates forged an alliance with African American Joseph Jenkins Roberts, who emigrated to Liberia in 1829, and became a symbol of the personal, financial, and economic opportunities that could be had in Africa. From the 1840s until Roberts' death in 1876, Coates and Roberts collaborated to encourage emigration, advising their black correspondents to emigrate, and encouraging their white associates tornhelp them do so. (Image)

CV. 900-1,200

1839/57 Folded Letters to USA, 13 letters addressed to Benjamin Coates in Philadelphia (2 incl one from Pres Roberts), Walter Lowrie in NY City (9) and two others in NY City, interesting content concerning variety of subjects - life in Liberia, political issues, disease incl smallpox, mission work, people of Liberia, etc., stampless covers with variety of US postmarks, some typical wear but a Fine lot of delightful narratives from Liberia during its early years (no photo)rnWalter Lowrie was a teacher, farmer, and politician from Butler County, Pennsylvania. He served in both houses in the state legislature and represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, where he served as chairman of the Committee on Finance during the 2nd session of the 17th Congress (1822-23). After his term as a Senator, Lowrie stayed on as Secretary of the Senate for eleven years. In 1836 he moved to New York City and went to work with the Missionary Board of the Presbyterian Church. He remained with them until his death in 1868.

CV. 4,000-5,000

1955 Sports Issue Printer's Proofs, six sheets of proofs printed on ungummed "waste paper"; two sheets with one side four panes of the 12c printed at 90-¦ angle over the light green color of the 3c; other side light green color of the 3c printed on remainders of pages intended for a work on processing cloth; four sheets with one side four panes of the 3c in red; other side with four panes of the 10c airmail in blue (one sheet a double impression) printed on remainders for a MacGregor sporting goods ad; Very Fine and undoubtedly unique (Image)

CV. 250-300

C77 var., 1954 $5 UNESCO Airmail, Imperforate plate proof, imperforate pane of six sheets of four with captions on ungummed paper and on glossy gummed paper, both with printer's crop marks in margins, Very Fine and scarce (see online scans)

CV. 150-200

SUBSTANTIAL LIBERIA COLLECTION/ ACCUMULATION. somewhat organized collection of 1000s of stamps, S/S, mini-sheets, etc. in four binders, mostly mint post-1940s (strongest 1950s/60s) issues and replete with errors incl color missing, varieties, proofs incl trial colors and progressive, airmails, officials, registry, colorful topicals - UN, sports, celebrities, wildlife, etc. browsing through the pages note useful groups of 1909/12 5c Ship proofs, imperfs, inverted center, 15c, 20c inverted centers, 1944/45 Revalued Airmails used assortment plus $1 on 50c on a reg cover to USA, 1947 Centenary imperf pairs, 1947 US Stamp Centenary S/S incl imperfs and specimens, 1948 1st Flight Airmails imperf blocks and spider press proofs, 1948/50 Presidents imperfs, frame and vignette proofs, errors incl 3c "Double Date" on cover, 1949 UPU Anniversary incl S/S, imperfs and specimens, 1953 Birds incl imperfs, part-perfs and color missing errors, 1954 UNICEF airmail incl S/S, imperfs, mini-sheets, proofs, 1955 Sports incl imperfs and proofs, 1956 FIPEX proofs (incl perf and imperf black proofs) and S/S imperfs, 1982 US Presidents Anniversary incl imperfs and S/S, etc. generally fresh and F-VF, includes a copy of Rogers "A Century of Liberian Philately" and set of photocopies of von Saleski "Liberia 1975 Specilaized Catalog"; a delightful and diverse collection containing much which is unusual and scarce (see online scans)

CV. 4,000-5,000

LIBERIA 1952 YEHUDI ASHMUN ISSUE SPECIALIZED COLLECTION. extensive group of this popular issue starting with 30 examples (mostly NH) of the S/S incl normals, various numbers of stamps omitted, different colors, followed by the issued stamps in singles and sheets incl specimens, sheets with vignette omitted (mostly imperf), die proof of 4c, inverted vignette on 25c, 50c, etc., generally fresh and F-VF (see online scans)

CV. 400-500

LIBERIA 1957 DIRECT AIRMAIL SERVICE ISSUE SPECIALIZED COLLECTION. includes blocks of four with "SPECIMEN" overprint, imperfs (incl multiples and sheets) and/or color missing, trial colors, die proofs, etc., generally fresh and Very Fine (see online scans)

CV. 400-500

LIBERIA BALANCE. note neat starter collection to 1976 in mounts on quadrille pages in two volumes with some 1950s/60s errors and varieties incl S/S, assortment of 1949 Ashmun issue specimen incl progressives, short stack of 1953 Birds and 1958 Tubman Visit sheets (not complete sets), some miscellany in a manila envelope incl 1992 US Presidents S/S, Apollo 17 imperf sets, etc., stock book of mint (many NH) and used with strength in 1950s/60s issues, etc. plus assortment of topicals, imperfs, etc., usual mixed condition, mostly F-VF

CV. 300-400

LIBERIA COLLECTION to 1936. on Schaubek pages with assorted first issue design (some forgeries as usual), Numerals, handful of postage due and registry, some "SPECIMEN" ovpts on 1896 issue, colorful 20th century issues incl officials, some airmails and ending with two pages of assorted "1921`" overprint issues, usual mixed condition, VG-VF

CV. 300-400

LIBERIA 1953 ROAD BUILDINGS ISSUES SPECIALIZED COLLECTION. 100s incl imperfs incl sheets, die proofs, used sheets, etc., mostly VF (see online scans)

CV. 250-300

LIBERIA 1st ISSUE FORGERIES COLLECTION. 99 items (incl those in multiples) on quadrille pages, includes a Spiro "used" block of 15 along with dozens of others, a rare set of black "proof" forgeries, etc., usual mixed condition, VG-VF; ex-Varaschini (see online scans)

CV. 250-300

LIBERIA ASSORTMENT many 100s from a missionary mix neatly sorted in Scott number order in 24 manila stock pages, commems, definitives, colorful topicals plus the air mails, a few semi-postals, souvenir sheets, registered, and officials, usual mixed condition, duplication, VG-VF

CV. 90-120