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United States Postal History and Confederate States continued...

Presidential Free Franks
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
2113   ImageGeorge Washington. One-page letter signed "G. Washington", letter in an aide's hand datelined "Head Quarters West point 14 Nov. 1779", reads: "Sir, I have recd. your ? of the 11th and am obliged by the intelligence it contains. Should you attain a confirmation be pleased to inform me and of the time which the fleet sails. Should the other embarkation which you mention take place, I shall be obliged to you for endeavoring to know of what Corps it is composed. I am Sir, your most obt. Serv." and signed, manuscript "Col. Seely" at lower left, some expert silking along folds

VERY FINE. A RARE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LETTER SIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON AT WEST POINT IN 1779, DISCUSSING SENSITIVE INFORMATION RELATING TO MOVEMENT OF THE BRITISH FLEET. A WONDERFUL HISTORICAL ITEM.

George Washington considered West Point to be a strategically important location, from which the British could potentially control the Hudson River and split the colonies. In 1778 the Americans began building permanent fortifications. In June 1779, two smaller forts twelve miles away were overtaken by the British but were quickly recaptured.

The same day this letter was written, Washington wrote another to Congress (source: George Washington Papers, Series 3, Varick Transcripts, 1775-1785, Subseries 3A, Continental Congress, 1775-1783, Letterbook 5: Nov. 2, 1779 - Feb. 27, 1781). In that letter, Washington discusses Count D'Estaing and his hopes that operations to the south would have proceeded at a faster pace, allowing D'Estaing's fleet and forces to land to contribute to a possibly decisive victory. Washington also writes that it is getting too late in the season for a decisive victory, and he asks Congress to decide whether the cooperation should be abandoned. It is clear the letter to Congress was prompted by the information received on the 11th, to which the letter offered here was Washington's reply. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States George Washington]

E. $ 12,000-15,000

SOLD for $11,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2114 c ImageGeorge Washington. Free frank "G Washington" and "Free" on folded cover docketed Morristown (N.J.) March 1, 1777, addressed to Captain Benjamin Tallmadge at Wethersfield Conn., lightly toned file folds and some minor wear and staining

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE GEORGE WASHINGTON FREE FRANK AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, SENT FROM WINTER ENCAMPMENT IN NEW JERSEY IN EARLY 1777.

Following the victories at the Battles of Trenton in December 1776 and Princeton in January 1777, Washington led his troops to nearby Morristown. The forces remained there for the duration of winter, from January until May 1777.

Captain and later Major Tallmadge is known for his service as an officer in the Continental Army during the War. He acted as leader of the Culper Ring, a celebrated network of spies in British-occupied New York, dramatized in the television series "Turn." He also led a successful raid across Long Island that culminated in the Battle of Fort St. George. Following the war, Tallmadge was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Federalist Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Tallmadge). (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States George Washington]

E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $7,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2115 c ImageJohn Adams. Free frank "J. Adams" in a clear and steady hand as ex-President on folded cover to William Meredith in Philadelphia, clear strike of "Boston Ms. Jun. 27" (1806) circular datestamp with matching "Free" handstamp, 1806 docketing on flap indicating the contents came from Thomas Boylston Adams, the third and youngest son of John and Abigail Adams, writing from Quincy Mass., faint vertical file fold touches free frank but this is inconsequential

FRESH AND VERY FINE JOHN ADAMS FREE FRANK, MAILED FIVE YEARS AFTER THE END OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

The Act of March 2, 1799, granted ex-Presidents free franking privileges. President Washington used this privilege for only a little more than nine months, until his death on December 14, 1799. When John Adams sent this letter, he was the only living ex-President.

Illustrated in Chronicle No. 264 (p. 324) (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States John Adams]

E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2116 c ImageJohn Adams. Large bold free frank "Free John Adams" on undated folded cover to the Rev. J. Belknap in Boston, partial strike of New York straightline and matching "Free"

VERY FINE AND CHOICE JOHN ADAMS FREE FRANK.

The recipient, Jeremy Belknap, was an American clergyman and historian, known for his History of New Hampshire, which was published in three volumes between 1784 and 1792. This work is regarded as the first modern history written by an American, and embodied a new rigor in research, annotation, and reporting (source: Wikipedia). Belknap died in 1798, so this free frank could have been sent while Adams was President (or Vice President) (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States John Adams]

E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $13,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2117 c ImageThomas Jefferson. Free frank "free Th. Jefferson" on folded cover addressed in his hand to Mr. Edward Hall at Norfolk Va., red "Charlottesville Feb. 21" circular datestamp and additional manuscript "Free", small age spots and some wear

FINE COVER WITH A BOLD THOMAS JEFFERSON FREE FRANK.

Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the same day that fellow founding father, long-time friend and one-time political enemy, John Adams died, and 50 years to the day after the celebrated "signing" of the Declaration of Independence (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Thomas Jefferson]

E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2118 c ImageJames Madison. Bold free frank "Free James Madison" as ex-President on immaculate folded cover addressed in his hand to Professor Ticknor in Boston, "Orange CH Apl. 6, 1825" manuscript postmark and matching "Free", light file fold, Very Fine and choice signature (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States James Madison]

E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2119 c ImageDolley Madison. Widow of James Madison, free frank "Free D P Madison" on two-page signed folded letter to Mary Cutts in Washington D.C., "Orange C.H. Va. Dec. 12" circular datestamp, "F" for "Free" applied by postmaster, long interesting contents with references to Henry Clay, John J. Crittenden, Mrs. Martin Van Buren and the death of one of the Adams' children: "Your last from Quincy filled me with sorrow for those dear friends the Adams' whose precious flower has departed & has early to bloom in Heaven!" etc., Very Fine, a wonderful letter and free frank from former First Lady Dolley Madison, ex Dr. Robertson (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Dolley Madison]

E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2120   ImageJames Monroe. Free frank "James Monroe" as President on archivally mounted cover front only, addressed in Monroe's hand to Boston Mass., 1823 docket at left, fresh and fine (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States James Monroe]

E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction
2121   ImageJohn Quincy Adams. Free frank "J. Q. Adams" in a shaky script on cover front only addressed to Mrs. Ann Adams in Quincy Mass., "Washington City D.C. Mar. 26" circular datestamp and "Free" handstamp, Very Fine (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States John Quincy Adams]

E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction
2122 c ImageAndrew Jackson. Large bold "Free Andrew Jackson" free frank as President on folded cover addressed in his hand to Portsmouth, N.H., red "Concord, N.H. Jul 2" oval datestamp and matching "FREE" in serrated oval, June 30, 1833 docketing and back with notation "Andrew Jackson at Concord, N.H. in reply to my letter of invitation by the Democrats of Portsmouth," trifle heavy vertical file fold through the frank, still Very Fine and desirable Andrew Jackson presidential free frank (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Andrew Jackson]

E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2123   ImageAndrew Jackson. Bold signature "Andrew Jackson" as President on vellum land grant dated November 1, 1830, also signed by Commissioner Elijah Hayward, file fold affects first letter of signature, Very Fine (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Andrew Jackson]

E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

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