United States and Confederate States Postal History

**Presidents of the Continental Congress**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
2001		John Hancock. Signer of Declaration of Independence, delegate from Massachusetts, free frank "John Hancock" and "on Publick Service" as President of Continental Congress on folded cover addressed in his hand "To The Honble Nicholas Cooke Esq., governor of the State of Rhode Island at Providence", receipt docketing on flap indicates Sep. 14, 1777 origin date "enclosing Resolve of Congress to forward one of the states battalions to Peekskill", mostly intact red wax seal on back, light vertical file fold ending in tear at bottom, some overall acidification causing slight brittleness and edgewear FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE JOHN HANCOCK FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. THIS WAS SENT JUST FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS ADJOURNED TO MOVE TO LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA. On September 11, 1777, the British defeated Washington's forces at the Battle of Brandywine, and British troops started advancing towards Philadelphia. On the 18th, just four days after this was mailed, the Continental Congress adjourned, moving to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The British marched into Philadelphia on September 26. The Continental Congress convened for a day in Lancaster before moving to York, where they remained until late June 1778. The docketing refers to the movement of American troops to Peekskill, which was a strategic location in Westchester County N.Y., whose mills provided gunpowder, leather, wood, flour and other critical supplies, which could be transported on the Hudson River to garrisons preventing the British from reaching Albany. Its importance led to British raids, including one in early 1777. On October 6, 1777, British forces successfully attacked two forts in the area and made their way as far north as Kingston before being recalled. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $6,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
2002		Henry Laurens. President of the Continental Congress (1777-78), delegate from South Carolina (1777-80), free frank "On public service Henry Laurens" as President of Continental Congress on folded cover addressed in his hand to "His Excellency Richard Caswell Esquire, Governor of No. Carolina at New Bern", receipt docketing reads "A letter from the Honl. Henry Laurens Esq. enclosing an Order of Congress for prohibiting the exporting of provisions, dated 13th Feby. 1778", expertly silked along folds FINE. A RARE FREE FRANK OF HENRY LAURENS AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, SENT FROM YORK, PENNSYLVANIA WHILE THE BRITISH OCCUPIED PHILADELPHIA. Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Continental Congress when Hancock resigned due to poor health. This free frank sent to his home state, to the first governor of North Carolina, is a wonderful artifact. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $3,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
2003		Samuel Huntington. Delegate to the Continental Congress, Signer of Declaration of Independence, President of the Continental Congress (1779-81), Lieutenant Governor & Chief Judge of Superior Court of Connecticut (1784-86), Governor of Connecticut (1786-1796), free frank "S. Huntington" as President of the Continental Congress on cover addressed in his hand to "His Excellency The Governor of New Jersey at Mount Holly", docketed on flap "letter from President Huntington 11 Dec. 1779", some faults expertly restored and expertly silked FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FREE FRANK OF SAMUEL HUNTINGTON AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. Huntington was President of the Continental Congress when the Articles of Confederation was ratified. His free frank as President is extremely rare. Ex Siskin (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $4,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
2004		Elias Boudinot. Commissary General for prisoners, President of Continental Congress (1782-83), delegate from New Jersey (1777-78, 1781-83), trustee of Princeton University, first director of the U.S. Mint (1795-1805), free frank "free Elias Boudinot" as President of Continental Congress on folded cover addressed in his hand to "His Excellency William Livingston Esq., Governor of New Jersey, Trenton", docketed "Letter from Mr. Elias Boudinot 5 March 1782", minor splitting along folds, Very Fine, a very rare free frank as President of Continental Congress, Boudinot was elected to the position in November 1782 for a one-year term, on April 15, 1783, he signed the Preliminary Articles of Peace (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $2,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
2005		Thomas Mifflin. Merchant and politician, member of Continental Congress (1774-75 and 1782-84), President of Continental Congress (Nov. 1783-June 1784), Governor of Pennsylvania (1790-99), delegate to Constitutional Convention, signer of Constitution, "Mifflin" free frank as President of Continental Congress on folded cover addressed in his hand to "His Excellency Governor Clinton, New York", clear papermaker's watermark, docketed "25 Feby 1784 from the presedt. Congress", intact wax seal with 13 stars and "E Pluribus Unum", some slight wear, Very Fine, very rare, Siskin reported only two Mifflin free franks, especially desirable as President of the Continental Congress, he accepted George Washington's resignation as commander-in-chief on behalf of Congress on Dec. 23, 1783 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $4,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
2006		Richard Henry Lee. Signer of the Declaration of Independence, delegate from Virginia (Continental Congresses of 1774-80, 1784-87), president of Continental Congress (Nov. 30, 1784-Nov. 23, 1785), U.S. senator from Virginia (1789-82), free frank "R. H. Lee" as president of Continental Congress on folded cover to "Mr. Michael Prager, Merchant in Philadelphia", light strike of "N. YORK June 6" and "FREE" handstamps, docketed "Recd. June 7th 1785, Answd. June 9", some toning, edges skillfully reinforced with document tape VERY FINE. A RARE RICHARD HENRY LEE FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. Lee is perhaps best known for the Lee Resolution, the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for independence from Great Britain, which led to the Declaration of Independence. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $6,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
2007		Arthur St. Clair. Major General in Continental Army, delegate from Pennsylvania (1785-87), President of the Continental Congress (Feb. 2, 1787-Nov. 4, 1787), and the first Governor of the Northwest Territory, free frank "Free Ar. St. Clair" as president of Continental Congress on folded cover addressed to "Colonl. Hodgson, Company of Military Stores, Philada.", light strikes of "N. YORK Oct. 24" and "FREE" handstamps, docketed "Letter from General St. Clair 23 Octo. 1787, Rec'd 25th", two vertical file folds including one affecting free frank, still Very Fine, rare during the period when St. Clair served as President of the Continental Congress, during his term the Northwest Ordnance was passed, which created the Northwest Territory (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $2,000.00 Will close during Public Auction