Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History continued...

Presidents' Signatures and Free Franks

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

1961

George Washington. One-page letter signed "G. Washington", datelined "Morristown May 19, 1777", reads "Sir, This will be delivered you by Monsieur Colerus, who is to fill a Majority on Colonel Hazen's Regiment, under your immediate command. This gentleman's conduct, I think, will promote the service and do honor to himself. Monseur Colerus' rank is to be governed by the date of his commission, and the rules for adjusting rank in American Army. I am Sir, Your most obdt. sevt.", docketed on back, expertly silked

A RARE REVOLUTIONARY WAR LETTER SIGNED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY.

The Papers of George Washington (Revolutionary War Series, 9, pp. 320 and 470-471) available at http://www.consource.org , contain two letters relating to Monsieur Colerus. The first, dated May 1, 1777, is from Colerus who states: "It is very unhappy, that with the sincerest desire to be useful to my Country, I see myself so forgotten. I am neglected. the whole world knows your equity, how will they Judge of me?...Please to grant me the testimony that I deserve, since I am in the Continental service." A second letter in the correspondence to Monsieur Colerus, with the same date as the one offered here, states: "It has always been my wish and design, that you should be provided for, so soon as you acquired a competent knowledge of our language, to make you fit for Command, and Circumstances would admit. When you were here last, I told you, I should try to place you in some Corps, as you seemed uneasy at your situation, and expressed a desire of being immediately in Service....There is now a vacant majority in Colo: Hazen’s Regiment at Princeton under the command of Lieutt Colo. Antill, which you may have immediately by repairing to it, and which you will do. Should this appointment, be not equal to your views, I have no other in my power; And I would further observe, that if you will take a calm, dispassionate view of things, you cannot expect more, upon any principle of reason or justice. I might add, without any disparagement to your merit, that there are many good Officers in the Service and who have been in it, from the commencement of the War, who have not received such Honorable marks of favor and distinction." (Image)

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E. $ 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $15,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1962

George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" as Commanding General of the Continental Army on folded cover addressed in another hand to "Brigadier General Irvine, Fort Pitt", no date (ca. 1782), neatly reinforced along folds

VERY FINE. A WONDERFULLY BOLD FRANKING SIGNATURE BY GEORGE WASHINGTON AS COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM IRVINE AT FORT PITT.

William Irvine was promoted to Brigadier-General on May 12, 1779. On March 8, 1782, upon Washington's recommendation, Irvine was given command of Fort Pitt until the end of the war.

From the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Archives (deacccession). (Image)

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E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $9,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1963

James Madison. Three free franked covers, each addressed to James Madison, one dated from 1790s as "Member of House of Representatives" in Philadelphia, one as "Ex Pres U. States" in Montpelier Va. from Philadelphia and one with printed "Free" to Orange County, one docketed in his hand, couple with minor fold reinforcements, Very Fine (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

1964

Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Joseph Burnett & Co. in Boston, single 1c Blue (63) tied by red "U.S. Mail City Delivery" carrier datestamp, back of cover with "Held for Postage" straightline and "New-York May 6" duplex datestamp and target, same duplex (May 8) ties 1c Blue (63) pair that was added after post office notified sender, small stamp flaws, sealed tear to the right of stamps, otherwise Very Fine, Van Buren died in July 1862, the stamps were issued in August 1861, so this May 8 cover was mailed in 1862 and the frank was refused in error, ex Cole and Dr. Robertson (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

1965

Martin Van Buren. Free frank "Free M Van Buren" as ex-President on cover to Ithaca N.Y., 1c Blue (63) tied by "New-York May 9" duplex datestamp and target, small edge tear at upper right, still Very Fine, rare use of 1c 1861 to pay carrier fee on cover franked by an ex-President (franking privilege did not apply to carrier fees), ex Cole and Dr. Robertson (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction

1966

William H. Harrison. Document signed "Wm H. Harrison Adc" as ensign in Indian Wars, quartermaster's order for "Nine gills of whiskey" datelined "Greenville February 26, 1795", Very Fine and scarce, signed during Harrison's service as aide-de-camp to General Anthony Wayne (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

1967

James K. Polk. 1847 cover addressed to "His Excellency James K. Polk, President of the U. States, Washington City", blue "Louisville Ky. Sep 22" circular datestamp and "5" rate, turned and readdressed to Louisville in President Polk's hand, no postal markings on readdressed side, light file folds, Very Fine and scarce (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $225.00
Will close during Public Auction

1968

Andrew Johnson. Two items, first autograph endorsement "From the Pres" as President in pencil on cover to the Commissioner of Pensions, trivial soiling, Very Fine, Johnson used pencil most of the time when signing his free frank as President, this was carried outside of the mails, ex Hessel and Dr. Robertson, second is signature as Governor of Tennessee on part of military appointment, dated May 6, 1863, also signed by Secretary of State, few light file folds, Very Fine, Johnson would be President less than two years later (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

1969

Frances Folsom Cleveland. Eight free franks and two contents (letters signed), used between 1911-45, incl. two attractive early uses from 1911 on mourning covers, mostly sent from Princeton N.J. but one with "Jack. & St. Pete R.P.O. Apr. 15, 1937" postmark and two used from New Hampshire, fresh and Very Fine, a desirable group covering the wide period of her free franking privilege, lot also incl. autograph free frank "Lucretia R. Garfield" on mourning cover to Cleveland O., neat "West Mentor Ohio Jun. 21, 1906" postmark, receiving backstamp, fresh and Very Fine, all ex Dr. Robertson (Image)

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E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $160.00
Will close during Public Auction

1970

Edith Bolling Wilson. Five items: first is TLS dated March 7, 1924 which reads "My dear Mr. Postmaster General: Accept my thanks for your very kind letter of March fifth informing me that Congress has enacted a law granting me free transmission in the mails of matter sent by me under my written autograph signature..." and signed, second item is mourning cover with "Edith Bolling Wilson" free frank used on March 19, 1924 in Washington D.C. and addressed to the Postmaster General, third item is original contents which contains TLS reading "Admiral Grayson delivered to me on yesterday your very kind message that it would be acceptable to the Post Office Department for me to use a fac-simile signature, made with rubber stamp, for franking letters. As I was under the impression that there had been a ruling to the contrary, I have thought it best to write you before doing this." and signed, fourth item is a small cover dated Oct. 17, 1928 with a facsimile free frank, final item is autograph free frank on mourning cover to New York, contents with printed "Mrs Woodrow Wilson desires to express her deep appreciation of your kind sympathy", very early use (Woodrow Wilson passed away on Feb. 3, 1924), Very Fine, an historically important assemblage, Edith Bolling Wilson was the first presidential widow to use a facsimile, most others following also did so (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

1971

Herbert Hoover. Complete set -1/2c-10c Washington Bicentennial (704-715) on Planty #7 multicolored printed cacheted business-size cover, typed address to "The Honorable Herbert Hoover" and signed Herbert Hoover, with "Washington D.C. Jan. 1 (1932)" circular datestamp on the first day of issue, Very Fine, few are known with the signature of then-President Herbert Hoover, a wonderful exhibit item (Image)

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E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $700.00
Will close during Public Auction