U.S. Postal History

**Free Franks**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
1			(Congress) Schuyler Colfax. Free frank "Shuyler Colfax, Speak H Reps" signature as Speaker of the House on all-over 38th Congress shaded cover with "Congress, Washington D.C., Feb 24" cds addressed in his hand to Covington Ky., intact red "House of Representatives U.S." Eagle wax seal; light tone spot; reduced at right with small nick, F.-V.F. Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $110.00 Will close during Public Auction
2			(Congress) Sam Houston. Free frank "*Free, Sam Houston" signature as U.S. Senator, entered mails with "Washington D.C., Free, Jun 24, 1856" integral cds on cover to Yarmouth, Maine; flap torn ending in small edge tear, Very Fine.* Estimate; $750 - 1,000. A CHOICE SAM HOUSTON FREE FRANK AS U.S. SENATOR. Samuel "Sam" Houston (1793-1863) was a nineteenth-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He is best known for his leading role in bringing Texas into the United States. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $1,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
3			(Congress) Isaac E. Morse. 1845 ALS folded letter with ms. "Free, Isaac E. Morese, M.C., La" free frank, entered mails with red "Washington D.C., Feb 7" cds and "Free" straightline to Philadelphia Pa., letter mentions addressee's letter must have been seeking "Professor Morse of the Magnetic Telegraph" that refers to the famous Inventor of the Telegraph, fresh and Extremely Fine. Estimate; $150 - 200. Isaac Edward Morse (1809-1866) was an attorney and slaveholder who served as United States Congressman from Louisiana (1844-51) and Attorney General of Louisiana. He was born in Attakapas, Louisiana. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $120.00 Will close during Public Auction
4			(Senate) Stephen A. Douglas. Free frank "*Free, S.A. Douglas, U.S.S." signature, entered mails with "Washington D.C., Free, 27 Jan" integral cds on circa 1853 mourning* cover to George H. Foster at Charleston Mass.; faint wax seal stain, Very Fine. Estimate; $200 - 300. This mourning cover was sent from Senator Douglas to future Tammany Hall leader George Henry Foster. Stephen Douglas's first wife died Jan. 19th 1853, just 8 days before this letter was sent. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $300.00 Will close during Public Auction
5			(Senate) Robert James Walker. U.S. Senate 1835-1845, Secretary of the Treasury 1845-1849. 1840 folded ALS letter with "*Free, R.J. Walker, U.S. Senate" free frank, entered mails with red "Washington D.C. Jan 12" cds and "Free" handstamp addressed to Governor A.G. McNutt, Jackson Miss., letter concerns the security collateral of Agriculture Bank against money due the United States, fresh and Very Fine.* Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $250.00 Will close during Public Auction
6			(Senate) Daniel Webster. 1838 folded ALS letter with "*Danl Webster, U.S. Senate" free frank, entered mails with red "Washington D.C., Jun 3" cds and "Free" handstamp to Boston Mass., letter is family correspondence, Very Fine.* Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $200.00 Will close during Public Auction
7			(Executive) Richard Mentor Johnson. 9th Vice President of the United States 1837-1841. 1840 folded ALS letter with "Free, Rd W Johnson" free frank, entered mails with blue "Washington City D.C. May 9" cds with matching "Free" handstamp to John C. LeGrand, Baltimore Md., letter sends sincere thanks for friendship and pleasure to serve his friend; small internal tear, Very Fine. Estimate; $200 - 300. Richard Mentor Johnson (October 17 1780 - November 19, 1850) was an American lawyer, military officer and politician who served as the ninth vice president of the United States from 1837 to 1841 under President Martin Van Buren. He is the only Vice President elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment. Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives (1807-19, 1829-37) and Senate (1819-29). He began and ended his political career in the Kentucky House of Representatives. John Carroll LeGrand (1814-1861) was an American politician and jurist who served as chief judge of the supreme court of the U.S. state of Maryland, the Court of Appeals, and as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $600.00 Will close during Public Auction
8			(Executive) Millard Fillmore. 13th President 1850-53. Bold free frank "*M. Fillmore" signature as President entered mails with red "Washington D.C., Free, Oct 3" attached-rate cds on circa 1850 cover to New York City; internal cut and corner tear, flap missing, otherwise fresh and Very Fine.* Estimate; $200 - 300. Fillmore served in Washington from 1833-1835 and 1837-1843 while a member of the House of Representatives and 1849-1850 while Vice President. He became President on July 9, 1850, following the death of President Taylor. He failed to get the Whig presidential nomination in 1852 and returned to his Buffalo home after leaving the White House on March 3, 1853. The Washington D.C. Free attached-rate cds was only used in 1850. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $350.00 Will close during Public Auction
9			(Executive) Orville E. Babcock. Presidential Secretary 1869-1877. Free frank "O.E. Babcock" as Presidential Secretary on Executive Mansion imprint cover with "Washington D.C., Free, Apr 8" cds to Fort Lee N.J.; original Ebbitt House lettersheet datelined April 5th 1871 from Joseph W. Fabens, Ambassador to Nicaragua to his wife; some cover wear and soiling, F.-V.F. Estimate; $150 - 200. Orville Elias Babcock (1835-1884) was an American engineer and general in the Union Army during the Civil War. An aide to General Ulysses S. Grant during and after the war, he was President Grant's military private secretary at the White House, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds for Washington D.C., and a Florida-based federal inspector of lighthouses. Babcock continued to serve as lighthouse inspector under Grant's successors Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur. (Image1) (Image2) (Image3)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $140.00 Will close during Public Auction
10			(Executive) Executive Mansion. Blue imprint cover with penalty imprint at left, entered mails with bold "Washington D.C. May 23, 1881" duplex with "4" in three-rings cancel to Cleveland Oh.; reduced at right, wrinkling, Fine and rare use during the Garfield administration. Estimate; $150 - 200. The Garfield administration was only from March 4th to September 19th 1881. On July 2, 1881, Charles J. Guiteau, a disappointed and delusional office seeker, shot Garfield at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington D.C. The wound was not immediately fatal, but an infection caused by his doctors' unsanitary methods in treating the wound killed Garfield on September 19. (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $240.00 Will close during Public Auction
11			(Interior) Dewitt C. Laurence, Chief Clerk of Patent Office 1849-50. Free frank "*Dewitt C. Laurence" signature on 1850 U.S. Patent Office imprint envelope to Cincinnati Oh., red "Washington D.C. Nov 25" cds with attached "Free" rating, original 1850 enclosure rejecting patent claim, pencil "Opened by Mistake, E. Eaiton" on reverse, Cincinnati red "ADV. 2" advertised due rating handstamp, sent to DLO with "P.O. Dept. Dead Letter Office" circular handstamp with ms. "May/ 8 1851" dating; red Patent Office wax seal; cover tear and light wax seal stain, reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F.,* ex-Graham. Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $120.00 Will close during Public Auction
12			(Interior) Office of the Librarian Congress. Penalty imprint on mourning cover with sharp "Washington, D.C. '5' Oct 12, 1881" cds to Chicago Ill.; some edgewear, Very Fine and scarce Garfield mourning use. Estimate; $300 - 400. The black mourning border was added to Library of Congress stationery after President Garfield died on Sept. 19, 1881. (Image1)	Est. $300-400 SOLD for $650.00 Will close during Public Auction
13			(Secretary of the Navy) William Jones. Secretary of the Navy (Jan. 19, 1813 - Dec. 1, 1814). 1813 folded letter with "*W Jones" free frank as Secretary of the Navy endorsed "Navy Deptmt" entering mails with "Wash. City, Dec 5" cds and "Free" rating handstamp to Hartford Ct., letter signed by Jones acknowledges $1,000 requisition from Navy agent, Very Fine and scarce Jones free franked as Sec. of the Navy.* Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1) (Image2)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $275.00 Will close during Public Auction
14			(Postmaster General) James Campbell. Postmaster General 1853-57. Neat "James Campbell, P.N.G." free frank, entered mails with "Washington D.C., Free, 7 Apr" integral cds to his wife in Philadelphia Pa.; light wax seal stain, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $120.00 Will close during Public Auction
15			(Postmaster General) Gideon Granger. 7th Postmaster General (1801-1814). 1806 folded cover with "*Granger PMG" free frank endorsed "General Post Office" entering mails with "Washington. City, Dec 9" cds and "Free" rating handstamp to Columbia S.C., Very Fine.* Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $250.00 Will close during Public Auction
16			(Post Office) Alexander N. Zevely. Third Assitant Postmaster General 1859-1869. ALS letter signed "*A.N. Zevely, Third Asst. P.M. Genl" on Dec. 19, 1862 illustrated Post Office Department letterhead with building vignette to David Price, Postmaster of Newark N.J., regarding having been directed by the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish him with $1000 in postage currency for a like sum in U.S. notes, "The amount of postage currency thus obtained, is to be used for change in the redemption of postage stamps and in the legimitate business of your office.", accompanied by yellow "Post Office Department, Office Business" oval imprint envelope with bold "Washington D.C. Dec 19, 1862" cds to the Postmaster, Newark N.J.; reduced at left, Very Fine and interesting letter in the study of postage currency during the Civil War when there was a shortage of coins for change.* Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1) (Image2) (Image3)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $230.00 Will close during Public Auction
17			(State) Robert S. Chew. State Department Chief Clerk 1855-73. Free frank "R.S. Chew, C.C." chief clerk signature and partial blue "Department of State, U.S.A." straightline at top edge of incoming cover bearing France, 1867, Napoleon III Laureate, 80c rose on pinkish (36) tied by six-section grid cancel duplexed with "Washington D.C. Feb 27" cds to Hartung & Co., New York N.Y., Very Fine and early diplomatic pouch use. Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000. Mail from this correspondence as per the content was sent via diplomatic pouch through the State Department in Washington D.C. Robert S. Chew was a career officer at the Dept. of State entering service as a junior Clerk in the 1830s and died in office as Chief Clerk in 1873. (Image1)	Est. $1,500-2,000 SOLD for $1,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
18			(State) John Forsyth. 13th Secretary of State 1834-1841. Bold free frank "*John Forsyth" signature, entered mails with bold red "City of Washington, May 17" cds and "Free" straightline on Department of State imprint folded cover addressed to the Governor of Rhode Island, an Extremely Fine gem.* Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $425.00 Will close during Public Auction
19			(State) John Forsyth. 13th Secretary of State 1834-1841. Cover sent by William W. Chew, U.S. Consul of St. Petersburg, Russia via diplomatic pouch to Washington D.C. where endorsed "Department of State" and free franked "*Wm Forsyth" as Secretary of State, entered mails with red "Washington City, D.C., Mar. 27" cds and "Free" handstamp to Benjamin Chew, Germantown Pa., 1839 docketing; horizontal file fold, otherwise Very Fine and scarce.* Estimate; $200 - 300. William White Chew (1803-1851) led a more public life than most of his borthers, serving as Vice-Consul of Colombia in Philadelphia during the early 1830s, and later as Secretary to the American Legation in St. Petersburg, Russia when George Mifflin Dallas held the post of chargé d'affaires. Upon Dalls's return to the United States, Chew was appointed as chargé d'affaires. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $200.00 Will close during Public Auction
20			(State) James Monroe. 7th Secretary of State 1811-1817. Free frank "*Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State on circa 1816 folded cover endorsed "Dept of State", entered mails with "Washn. City Jul 15" cds and light "Free" rating handstamp to Joel R. Poinsett, Philadelphia Pa.; no left flap, Very Fine and choice,* ex-Richard Graham. Estimate; $750 - 1,000. The addressee, Joel Poinsett, was in Philadelphia preparing for a tour of the American West - Ohio, Kentucky, Tennesse. He was back from serving in South America 1809-1816, and afterwards in the South Carolina legislature 1816-20, U.S. Congress 1821-25 and Secretary of War 1837-41. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $600.00 Will close during Public Auction