Kewriga Auctions Sale

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U.S. Postal History continued...

Free Franks continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

(Secretary of the Treasury) Oliver Wolcott. Free frank "Free Oliv. Wolcott" as Secretary of the Treasury on 1800 folded letter with "Wash. City, Dec 1" bold cds and matching "FREE" rating handstamp to Customs Collector at Bath, District of Massachusetts; file fold, some toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Oliver Wolcott Jr was the 2nd Secretary of the Treasury Feb. 3, 1795 - Dec. 31, 1800. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $275.00
Will close during Public Auction

(Secretary of the Treasury) Albert Gallatin. 4th Secretary of the Treasury (1801-1814). Folded cover free franked "Albert Gallatin" and endorsed "Treasury Department at top right, entered mails with "Washington City, Apr 26" cds and matching "Free" handstamp to Customs Collector, Gloucester Mass., endorsed "Circular, from the Secy. of the Treasury Information that a 3d. supplementary Embargo act…April 26. 1808"; some mild tone spotting, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $110.00
Will close during Public Auction

(Secretary of the Treasury) Albert Gallatin. 1808 folded letter free franked "Albert Gallatin" and endorsed "Treasury Department at top right, entered mails with "Washington City, May 5" cds and matching "Free" handstamp to Receiver of Public Monies, Zanesville, Ohio, handwritten dated circular concerning the abuse by companies formed to purchase public lands; leafs split, Fine, ex-Parker.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $190.00
Will close during Public Auction

(Secretary of War) Henry Dearborn. Secretary of War (1801-1809). 1807 folded cover with "War Department, H Dearborn" free frank entering mails with sharp "Washington. City, Dec 11" cds and "Free" rating handstamp to Columbia S.C.; file folds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $200.00
Will close during Public Auction

(War) Jefferson Davis. President of the Confederacy. Clear "Jefferson Davis, Sec of War" free frank as Secretary of War at top of cover with "Washington Cy. D.C. 'Free' Jan 6, 1857" integral cds to Boston, Mass.; minor edge toning at bottom, Very Fine, ex-Antrim.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Jefferson Davis was the U.S. Secretary of War (1853-57) under President Pierce. as Sec. of War, he appointed Montgomery Miegs to the position of Engineer in charge of the construction of the U.S. Capitol dome. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $700.00
Will close during Public Auction

(War) Robert E. Lee. Bold signature "R E Lee" on folded cover headed "War Dept.", entered mails with red "Washington D.C. Apr. 16" cds and matching "FREE" straightline to Captain William A. Eliason, Corps of Engineers at Old Point Comfort Va., manuscript "Engineer Department" in a different hand at top and another military endorsement from a Capt. Harris, April 15, 1837 docketing on back states that the letter was from "Lieut. R. E. Lee" and was an acknowledgement of his receipt of powers of attorney for the first quarter of 1837; slightly toned file folds are inconsequential, Very Fine, ex-Creighton C. Hart, Ambassador Middendorf, David Bernstein.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000.

A RARE ROBERT E. LEE FREE FRANK AS A LIEUTENANT IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY SENT EARLY IN HIS CAREER.

This cover was franked early in Robert E. Lee's career as a U.S. Army officer. After graduating from West Point in 1829, Lee served in various engineering assignments before he was posted to the chief engineer's office in Washington D.C., from 1834-37. This letter was written near the end of that assignment. Shortly afterward he was assigned to supervise the engineering works for the St. Louis harbor and the upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

(War) Robert E. Lee. Signature "R E Lee" as member of the Corps of Engineers under "Engineer Department" endorsement, entered mails with red "Washington City D.C. Apr 26" cds and matching "FREE" handstamp on 1837 folded cover to Tuckertown N.J., cover addressed and endorsed in a different hand "War Dept." and signed at top left; light file folds affect signature, Very Fine, ex-Dr. Robertson.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF ROBERT E. LEE'S SIGNATURE ON AN 1837 ENGINEER DEPARTMENT COVER.

Lee did not himself enjoy free franking privileges. He signed this cover as member of the Army's Engineer Department - the free franking was allowed under the War Department franking signature. (Image1)

Est. $3,000-4,000
SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

(War) Alexander Byrdie Dyer. 1815-1874. Ordnance Department imprint with printed "A.B. Dyer" free frank on buff cover with "Washington D.C., Free, Jun 2 '65" cds to Nashville Tenn., reverse with overall drawing in blue and black with maze home; reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

A.B. Dyer served in the Florida Indians Wars as a Lieutenant of Artillery and in 1838 transferred to the ordnance Department of the Army invading Mexico under Stephen W. Kearny, he took part in the suppression of an insurrection at Taos and the affair at Santa Cruz de Rosales near Chihuahua City under Sterling Price who, like Braxton Bragg, became a prominent Confederate General.

His contributions to the Union cause were "great" and ranged from the donation of his patented "Dyer Shell" to resistance to the threats of "political demagogues" by who was surrounded. At the end of the war, he was breveted Major General in the regular Army "for faithful, meritorious and distinguished services in the Ordnance Department." No native-born Southerner had so distinguished a Civil War career in the Union Army. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $110.00
Will close during Public Auction

1861 (Nov. 6) Washington D.C. to local address, forwarded to Dead Letter Office. Legal-size Quartermaster General's Office free franked envelope with "Washington D.C. Nov 6, 1861" cds addressed to Lieut. W.H. Beaumont, 3rd Regt N.J. Mil., Washington D.C., pencil "Not at 3d New Jersey" note, bold "Dead Letter Office, Jan 17, 1862" cds, docketed "Property account examined and sent to 3d auditor for settlement" on reverse; top edge tears, Very Fine, ex-Turner.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $140.00
Will close during Public Auction

(War) Montgomery C. Meigs. Free frank handstamp, entered mails with partial "Washington D.C 'Free' Sep 3 '64" cds on Quartermaster General's Office imprint cover to Capt. S.S. Soule, Comd'g Co. "D", 1st Cav. of Col, Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory, blue "Denver City, Oct 22" cds with matching "Missent" framed handstamp; slight stains, reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F. and scarce Denver missent use.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

While overseeing the construction of the dome of the Capitol, Montgomery Meigs became Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army on 15 May 1861 and continued until retirement on 6 February 1882. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $120.00
Will close during Public Auction

(War) Montgomery C. Meigs. Free frank handstamp with "Washington D.C Sep 10" cds on Quartermaster General's Office imprint cover to Franklin, Kentucky, manuscript "Advertised", "Unclaimed" and "4" cent, bold "Dead Letter Office, U.S. Nov 12, 1866" double-circle datestamp; some wrinkling, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

While overseeing the construction of the dome of the Capitol, Montgomery Meigs became Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army on 15 May 1861 and continued until retirement on 6 February 1882. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

(Treasury) Treasury Free Franks - Treasurers, Registers and Solicitors. Group of 44 covers comprising Treasurers (20): Samuel Meredith, Thomas Tucker (4), John Campbell, two "Brownout" period with "charge Treasury of the U. S., WBR" frank, Samuel Casey, Francis E. Spinner (one written and six printed franks), Michael Nourse as Acting Tres., William B. Randolph as Acting. Tres. (2), and two Edward O. Graves as Chief Clerk of Treasurer; Registers and Solicitor (24): Joseph Nourse (4), Thomas L. Smith (5), Ransom H. Gillet, Daniel Graham, Finlay Bigger (2), L.E. Chittenden, Michael Norse and C.T. Jones as Acting Register; Solicitors: Virgil Maxcy, Charles B. Penrose, Ransom H. Gillet, John C. Clark, F.B. Streeter, Edward Jordan (2 incl. one printed) and Clerk B. F. Pleasants; some faults, F.-V.F. group, ex-Richard Graham.
Estimate; $300 - 400.
View a PDF of images for this lot (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

Washington D.C. - Free Frank Collection, 1800-1860s. Collection of over 54 mostly on pages, includes Robert Morrow as Assist. Private Secretary to President Johnson, Ruben Mussey as Mil. Sec. of President Johnson, 1801 Henry Dearborn as Sec. of War, 1839-40 c. Joel R. Pinsett as Sec. of War, 1800 Oliver Wolcott Jr. as Sec. of the Treasury, 1800 John W. Steele as Comptroller of the Treasury, good group of Post Office Dept., large group (26) of Interior Commissioners of Pensions; some faults, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $500 - 750.
View a PDF of images for this lot (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

Stampless Mail

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

1790 (Dec. 13) Alexandria, D.C. to Philadelphia Pa. Folded letter with sharp "ALEXA. DECR 13" straightline and "2" rating, Philadelphia "1/" local currency rating; some fold toning, minor docketing on face, Very Fine strike.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

1793 (Jul. 15) Cadiz, Spain to Philadelphia Pa. via Alexandria Ship. Datelined folded letter with "ALEX Aug 29" straightline and ms. "Sh 19" ship rating, letter concerning shipments with some interesting content "…advice from Italy that the Crops in Sciily & other states are exceedingly abundant & that very strict prohibition has been issued to prevent any being sent to France. They had a mind to do it they cannot as very large English & Spanish Fleet are cruising in the Mediterranean who have block'd up in a manner all the French ports thereabouts…"; file fold through rating, erosion hole, Fine and scarce early Alexandria ship letter.
Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)

Est. $300-400
SOLD for $240.00
Will close during Public Auction

1793 (Jul. 5) Georgetown, D.C. to Newburyport, Mass. Datelined folded letter with "Geo. Town July 5" manuscript postmark with matching "25" cent rating on 1793 folded letter to Newburyport Mass.; light right half toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A RARE EARLY USE FROM THE GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA POST OFFICE.

Georgetown was the only the settlement in the District of Columbia that has a post office at this time. Washington was not opened until 1795. At that time it was known as "Washington in the State of Maryland", even though it came under the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia office. (Image1)

Est. $500-750
SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

1796 (Aug. 16) London, England To Washington, D.C. Folded letter datelined "Great Bath Street, August 16, 1796" and addressed to "John Douglas, Stone Cutter, at the Capital Citty of Washington, Mary Land", entered mails with Philadelphia "24 OC" Franklin mark and manuscript "Sh 16½" ship letter rating, letter from Douglas's sister with good content describing her difficulty of finding a husband and advising her brother not to get a wife there, "for by your description of the women, they are not very agreeable creatures" and suggesting she come to America where she could get a husband asking whether "the people have any particular form of religion"; small paper loss at top edge and partial fold separations, Fine, A scarce and very early use to a Washington D.C. stone cutter engaged in the construction of government buildings that were not occupied until 1800.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $140.00
Will close during Public Auction

1799 (Sep. 1) Alexandria, Va. to Boston, Mass. via Washington D.C. Docketed folded cover with boldly struck "Wash-City Sep 1" cds in brownish black with manuscript "20" rating addressed to John Hancock in Boston Ma., docketed from Alexandria via the post, Extremely Fine early strike of the first Federally-issued cds.
Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)

Est. $200-300
SOLD for $240.00
Will close during Public Auction

1802 (Jan. 15) Washington D.C. to Chester County Pa., forwarded to Lancaster Pa. Datelined folded letter with "Washn. City, Jan 15" cds and ms. "25" cent rating to Chester County Pa., manuscript "Chester forwarded" postmark and "10" rating totaled to "34"; small spindle hole, Very Fine forwarded use.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1) (Image2)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

1856 (Sep. 10) Washington, D.C. to Hagerstown, Md. Folded letter with intense red "City of Washington, Sep 10" cds and ms. "10" rating, fresh and Extremely Fine gem.
Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)

Est. $150-200
SOLD for $120.00
Will close during Public Auction