Other countries continued... Liberia continued... Lot Symbol Lot Description CV or Estimate 4011 cover 1841 (March 9): Entire letter from J. C. Smith in Timbo, Rivercress County to Rev. John Seys at Monrovia, carried privately and endorsed "Favoured by / Mr. J. H. Chaves" at bottom left. Fine and well-preserved with manuscript docketing "Smith / Native African Man" at right. The only recorded pre-philatelic internal letter within the colony, sent at a date when postal infrastructure within Liberia was virtually non-existent and correspondence between settlements was carried by private hand or missionaries. A unique and fascinating exhibition item of the utmost importance (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Currently...CHF 750.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4012 cover 1841 (Dec 18): Three-page entire letter from Monrovia to Rev. Archibald Alexander at the Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey, carried privately on the merchantman 'Saluda' to New York and endorsed "p. Politeness of Capt. Taylor", entered the mails with red "NEW-YORK / APR. 25" despatch cds and charged '10' cents due on arrival. Reverse with manuscript “12¢ postage paid at Mission House NY”, covering inland and ship charges, unusual accounting, with no “SHIP” handstamp applied. Some wear and damage to base and centrally at top, otherwise typical of such mail. An attractive and most interesting missionary letter to a prominent American theologian. Note: Archibald Alexander (1772-1851) was a prominent Presbyterian theologian who served as the first professor of Princeton Theological Seminary from 1812 to 1851. He was also one of the earliest supporters of the American Colonization Society, later becoming its vice president and wrote a comprehensive history of the society in 1846. The letter from newly arrived missionary Rev. Sawyer contains a vivid account of his troubled passage to Liberia: "Two days out from Norfolk we experienced a Gale of wind which for several hours threatened to sink us all in the deep. It was night & the sea was perfectly lashed with fury when the Captain called out the vessel is leaking rapidly. At such a time, how great the value of a well assured hope in Christ. The leaking part was found to be a mistake. Mr. Savage, the merchant mentioned above, was at the point of death in the midst of the Gale. This added greatly to the solemnity of the scene. He died that same evening. Three days before we arrived at this place the water failed. The anchor had been down but a little while when two Kroomen [African sailors] in one of their small canoes brought us 5 pails of good spring water". The letter goes on to request a Presbyterian mission to be established amongst the Kru people in the Cape Palmas region who Sawyer thinks "prepared to receive the Gospel" (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Currently...CHF 250.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4013 cover 1842 (May 6): Entire letter from Factory Island to Cincinatti, Ohio endorsed "Per Bg. Globe" and carried on that vessel to New York, struck with clear "NEW YORK / SHIP / MAY 6" cds in red and rated '27' Cents to pay in manuscript, the charge consisting of the 2 c. ship letter fee plus 25 c. inland rate over 400 miles. Adressees docketing at left. A very rare and outstandingly attractive missionsary entire being one of two known from Factory Island. Note: The sender of the letter, Wesley Johnson (1813-1844) was employed by the Colonization Society as a physician to the Governor and at this point running a boarding school in his yet unfinished house, for which he professes to see a bright future despite slow progress and a small number of pupils despite "the best terms I can offer and which require me to use a considerable amount of my own funds" as these are "yet to difficult for these poverty struck colonists". His pupils "some quick, others invincibly dull, on the whole a rather poor specimen of those in general living in the colony" would work for two hours in the mornings and evenings on the school farm being "taught a system of agriculture as novel here as theirs or that of the natives would be in New York or Ohio" and on Sunday went to church together "two miles over the water in canoes" to hear "frequently a good text stifled by a string of irrelevant & desultory observations, misquoted texts, frequently parts of several put together to teach what has no foundation in truth or sense". Scathingly he remarks of the colonists: "but for the superior advantages of their country they would all be in the wretched condition of your frontier "squatters" except a very few of the merchants and public officers". Provenance: Collection William Thomas Lockard, H. R. Harmer, Bethel, March 2008, lot 110 (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4014 cover 1842 (Oct): Entire letter from Settra Kroo, Cape Palmas to Mission House, New York, carried by American merchantman to Philadelphia where entered the mails with blue "PHILADELPHIA / PA / DEC 9" despatch cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp. Charged 12½ cents to pay in red ink on arrival or the 81 to 150 mile inland rate but not apparently charged the 2 c. ship fee. Vertical filing crease otherwise fine. An early letter written by American freed man Washington McDonogh from a small, newly established inland mission amongst the Kru people of Cape Palmas. Note: Previously a slave on the estate of John McDonogh of New Orleans, Washington McDonogh arrived in Liberia in the early 1840s where, as he recounts in this letter, he helped Rev. Sawyer run a school for colonists and local children in Settra Kroo. Provenance: Collection Philip Cockrill (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4015 cover 1844 (Oct 1): Entire letter from Sinoe to New York, addressed to Walter Lowrie, Corresponding Secretary, Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, carried by private vessel to Boston and entered the Mails with red "BOSTON MAR 22" despatch cds and matching "SHIP" handstamp. Rated 20¾ cents due, comprising 18¾¢ inland postage (150-400 mile rate) plus 2¢ ship fee. Two vertical filing folds. An early and scarce origin from Sinoe, showing a transit of nearly six months. The enclosure contains contemporary reference to difficulties with coastal shipping and landing of goods and includes a long list of provisions required (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Currently...CHF 200.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4016 cover 1845 (April 16): Entire letter from Governor Joseph J. Roberts at Monrovia to Benjamin Coates of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in Philadelphia, endorsed "Madonna" and carried privately by US merchant vessel via New York where entered the mails with red "NEW YORK / JUN 5" cds and straightline "SHIP", charged '27' cents due on arrival comprising the double rate of 25 c. inland postage for 90 to 150 miles plus 2 c. ship fee. Vercial filing fold, otherwise fine and well-preserved. Interesting contents disussing territorial expansion along the Liberian coast, increasing the crops under cultivation, particularly coffee, and new buildings going up in various settlements. A fine and historically important letter from the pen of Liberia's first president. Note: Joseph Jenkins Roberts was the first and seventh President of Liberia (1848-1856 and 1872-1876). Born free in Norfolk, Virginia, he emigrated to Liberia in 1829, opened a trading store in Monrovia and later engaged in politics. When Liberia became independent in 1847, Roberts was elected the first president, serving until 1856. In 1872 he was elected again to serve as Liberia's seventh president. Provenance: Collection Barbara Fosdyke Ray, Schulyer Rumsey, April 2011, lot 2538 (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 400.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4017 cover 1846 (Feb 10): Entire letter from Bassa Cove, Buchanan to Philadelphia, carried by private vessel to Great Britain, struck on arrival with boxed "LIVERPOOL / SHIP / 11 MY1846" in black (on reverse) and charged '8d.' ship letter rate with further 12 May transit on reverse. Returned for further postage upon the American destination being noticed, struck with boxed red "Returned for / Postage" and "Detained for Postage" and charged a further 1 s. packet rate to the US. Forwared again to Liverpool with red "Paid" (23 June) and black Liverpool transit (24 June) and carried by Cunard steamer 'Cambria' to Boston. Struck on arrival with circular '12' cents rate handstamp in blue indicating the charge of 10 cents inland rate plus 2 c. ship fee. Despite two vertical filing creases an interesting and very scarce entire via Great Britain and by pre-contract transatlantic mail to the US (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Currently...CHF 400.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4018 cover 1846 (March 22): Entire letter from Rev. James Eden, Monrovia to Secretary Walter Lowrie at Mission House, New York, carried privately by "the politeness of Hon. Mr. Semans of Liberia" as endorsed at lower left and entered the mails at New York with red “NEW YORK MAY 12 / 2 Cts." drop letter rate cds. Two vertical filing creases, otherwise fine and well-preserved. A unique and most interesting entire; the only recorded example of a Drop Letter rate charge on an item of mail originating from Liberia. Provenance: Collection Scott Gallagher (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 500.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4019 cover 1846 (Dec 9): Entire letter from James M. Priest, King Will’s Town (Kru Coast) to Walter Lowrie, Mission House, New York, rated “6” cents due in manuscript, representing the port of arrival rate, the letter addressed directly to the port of entry and carried by private vessel; no ship or arrival handstamp, the method of conveyance implied by the rate. A scarce and early missionary letter from the little-seen Liberian settlement of King Will’s Town, originating outside the formal postal system. The contents comprise a reflective and personal communication, expressing hardship and disappointment at being unable to secure passage back to America. Two vertical filing creases and signs of wear and aging, otherwise well preserved. A rare Liberia out-settlement usage of the missionary period. Provenance: Philip Cockrill Collection (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4020 cover 1847 (March 27): Entire from Rev. James Eden from Monrovia, Liberia, addressed to Walter Lowrie, Mission House, New York, carried outside the mails and entered the United States postal system at New Orleans, struck with clear blue “NEW ORLEANS JUN 2” circular datestamp, matching “SHIP” handstamp and large “12” due marking. The rating represents the standard 10 cents inland postage (over 300 miles) plus 2 cents ship fee, applied upon entry as an incoming ship letter. Complete with its original enclosure, a lengthy and highly informative missionary letter describing the transmission of the letter by "return of the expedition vessel", his reccuring illness "My life was dispared by the Doctors give me up to die", religious life, schooling, and the arrival of fellow missionaries in Liberia. Condition typical for the period, with vertical file folds, some separation to the wrapper and minor wear, but fine overall. A particularly desirable and early example of Liberian mail, notable for its unusual routing via New Orleans, a scarce port of entry compared with the far more typical Northern ports such as New York or Baltimore. Note: Rev. Eden passed away several months later on June 1, 1847 Provenance: Collection Barbara Fosdyke-Ray, Schulyer Rumsey, San Francisco April 2011, lot 2540 (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4021 cover 1848 (Aug 13): Entire letter from missionary J. H. Connelly, Settra Kroo (Cru Coast, Cape Palmas) to Walter Lowrie at Mission House, New York, carried privately by American merchant vessel to Baltimore where entered the mails with blue "BALTIMORE / Md. / JAN 22" despatch cds and matching straight-line "SHIP", charged '12' cents due on arrival representing 10 cents double inland rate plus 2 c. ship fee. The eight-page report from missionary J. H. Connelly discusses the difficulties he is encountering in persuading the local population to abandon "their long established heathenish customs", gives a detailed account of a recent trip to the interior as well as his own health suffering from attacks of "yellow jaundice". A marvellous missionary letter with fascinating in-depth content sent from a small missinoary outpost. Note: Connelly reports the difficulies of the local missionary school reduced to "from 3 to 10 scholars. I cannot account for its being so small lately only by the natives discovering that it is calculated in its nature and tendency to overturn their long established heathenish customs. The church is also nearly neglected by the town people. The natives have seen that we have continually been very arduous for them to go to church, hence they have thought that we would hire them to go and they have been in a habit of asking pay from us to attend church. They have treated us the same way in our attempts to keep them from drinking. In some such way they treat all our efforts to do them good [...] I went lately to the bush country. Mr. McDonogh and one native man named Demmo went with me. We left Nanna Kroo on the 11 th of June and went up the east side of Nanna Kroo River, which is of considerable size. Our road was a path a foot wide and round at the bottom. It was difficult to avoid falling down in consequence of it. This led from plantation to plantation and from town to town and through fields of rice and cassada without fences. We passed continually over gravelly hills rich and fruitfull also branches and creeks. All the uncultivated land is covered with a complete jungle interspersed with large trees. The plantations are small towns consisting of all the women and children belonging to one man. The man also frequently has boys or young men under his care and those boys may have wives" (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Currently...CHF 500.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4022 cover 1849 (Oct 29): Entire letter from Edina, Grand Bassa to Walter Lowrie in New York, endorsed "Care of Rev. R. C. Gurley" and carried privately to Washington, D. C. where entered into the US mail with red "WASHINGTON D. C. / JAN 3 / 5 Cts." despatch cds indicating the inland rate for under 300 miles. Two vertical filing folds, otherwise fine and well preserved. A rare early entire from Edina and the sole recorded example of early Liberian mail routed via Washington D.C. Provenance: Collection Philip Cockrill (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4023 cover 1852 (July 6): Entire letter written from Rev. James M. Priest on board a ship anchored off Grand Bassa (Buchanan) to Walter Lowrie, Secretary to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions in New York, carried by American merchant vessel and charged on arrival at port of entry rate with black '6' cents due marking. A fine and rare entire with interesting contents. Note: The letter contains a newly arrived missionary's detailed report of the state of the church in Liberia and concludes: "The church is in a bad way at Monrovia! It is anything besides what we could wish there has been in it. It is governed more by Wimin than men because they have no men scarcely" (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Currently...CHF 150.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4024 cover 1853 (Sept 9): Entire letter from Lower Buchanan, Grand Bassa County to New York, carried by British West African Steamship Company packet from Fernando Po to Plymouth with red "PLYMOUTH / PACKET LETTER" (Sep. 9) transit cds on reverse, hence to Liverpool with blue "LIVERPOOL" transit (Sep. 10) als on reverse and by Cunard Steamer 'Africa' to New York with "NEW YORK / BR. PKT. / SEP. 23" arrival on obverse. Credited "60 Cts." in manuscript to Great Britain and assessed with handstruck '65' Cents to pay including the US local delivery rate. An interesting and very rare entire, the earliest known to be sent by British Packet and one of only four recorded before the 1858 convention with Great Britain. Note: The letter contains newly arrived freed man missionary Simon Harrison's first report to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions secretary, Walter Lowrie in New York, giving details of a 'pleasant passage' despite being 'visited with the Measels' and having 'the misfortune to loose 8 souls' and his arrival in Lower Buchanan where "a lot is secured for us but no building erected thereon". Provenance: Collection Barbara Fosdyke-Ray, Schuyler Rumsey, San Francisco April 2011, lot 2528 (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4025 cover 1853 (Dec 8): Entire letter from Greenville, Sinoe County to New York, carried by British Packet from Fernando Po to Plymouth where struck with boxed "SHIP LETTER" in black, transferred via London with red transit cds on reverse to Liverpool and thence by Collins Line steamer 'Atlantic' to New York with clear "NEW YORK / AM. PACKET / JAN 27" arrival cds on obverse. Initially rated at '24' c. or 1 s. West African packet rate to the UK, corrected on arrival to a total of '45' c. to pay to include the 16 c. transatlantic rate under the 1848 Anglo-American convention and 5 c. local delivery. A rare and striking entire being the earliest recorded via Great Britain and by American Packet to the United States (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Currently...CHF 400.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4026 cover 1854 (Feb. 6): Entire letter from Monrovia to New York, carried by British West African Steamship Companynpacket from Fernando Po to Plymouth with red "PLYMOUTH / PACKET LETTER" (3 March) and London GPO (4 March) transit cds's on reverse, onward via Liverpool and by Collins Line Steamer 'Pacific' with "NEW-YORK / AM. PKT. / MAR 24" arrival on obverse. Initially rated at '24' c. or 1 s. West African packet rate to the UK, corrected on arrival to a total of '45' c. to pay to include the 16 c. transatlantic rate under the 1848 Anglo-American convention and 5 c. local delivery. One of only four recorded entires sent via Great Britain prior to Liberia's 1858 postal convention with the UK. Provenance: Collection Barbara Fosdyke-Ray, Schuyler Rumsey, San Francisco April 2011, lot 2544 (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 150.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4027 cover 1854 (Nov 14): Entire letter from Monrovia to Philadelphia endorsed "via Salem" but carried instead by American merchantman to Holmes Hole, Mass. where handed in as a ship letter, struck with very fine "HOLMES HOLE / Ma. / JAN 31" cds in red and rated "ship 7" Cents to pay in manuscript, the charge consisting of 5 c. inland rate plus 2 c. ship fee. The sole recorded Liberian entire carried via the small Massachussetts port of Holmes Hole, known today as Vineyard Haven, Mass.; unique and of marvellously fresh and fine appearance. Provenance: Collection William Thomas Lockard, H. R. Harmer, Bethel, March 2008, lot 119 (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 500.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4028 cover 1857 (Aug 22): Entire letter from White Plains, Montserrado County to Rev. William Coppinger, Colonization Rooms, Philadelphia, carried by private vessel and entered the United States mails with blue "BALTIMORE OCT 5 Md." circular datestamp, large "SHIP" handstamp, and matching “5” cents due marking, all in blue, showing the single rate of 3c inland postage plus 2c ship fee. Two vertical filing creases, otherwise attarctive and with clear and well-struck markings. The letter forms part of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions correspondence and provides insight into local economic activity, referring to the development of a lumber mill and its impact on the surrounding community. A fine and rare entire from a small inland settlement. Provenance: Collection Barbara Fosdyke-Ray, Schuyler-Rumsey, San Francisco April 2011, lot 2548 (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Get Market Data for [Liberia Collection] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census Currently...CHF 300.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4029 cover 1859 (June 5): Cover from Cape Palmas to Morristown, New Jersey, carried by American merchant vessel to New York where handed in as a ship letter and struck with "NEW YORK / SHIP / AUG. 25 / 5 Cts." cds. in black, the 5 Cents charge including 3 c. inland rate and 2 c. ship letter fee. "MORRISTOWN / N. J. / AUG. 26. 1859" arrival also on front. A scarce and attractive entire still containing the original four-page letter from the personal correspondance between missionary Seth Hoffmann and Eva Weld in Morristown (Image 1) (Image 2) (All Images) Currently...CHF 250.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM 4030 cover 1861 (Feb): Entire letter sent fully prepaid from Harper to South Haven, Michigan endorsed "Per Steamer, via England. Paid", struck on despatch with circular "HARPER / LIBERIA" handstamp (Cockrill: Type CP.1) with manuscrpit 'Paid' in brown ink at centre, carried by African Steamship Company packet to Liverpool with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 12 FE 61 / 2A" transit on obverse and thence by Inman Line steamer 'Edinburgh' to New York with "NEW YORK AM. PKT. / 5 / MAR 2" arrival cds in black denoting 5 Cents US inland charge. Fully pre-paid in cash at the 33 Cents rate under the 1858 convention, credited '1/3½' d. (=31 c.) to Great Britain in brown ink consisting of 4 d. ship fee to the UK and 1 d. transit plus the '16' c. transatlantic rate and 5 c. inland postage credited to the US in red crayon under the 1848 Anglo-American convention. A very rare early usage of the Harper handstamp with manucript 'Paid'. Reference: Illustrated in: John Sacher, "Liberia: The Early Post Offices and Stamps", The London Philatelist, Vol. 101, Nov. 1992, p. 322 (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (All Images) Currently...CHF 750.00 Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM Previous Page, Next Page or Return to Table of Contents

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