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Stampless Stories: A Postal History of America continued...

War of Independence continued...
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
41 c ImageThomas Bradford. Folded cover addressed to Thomas Bradford Esqr., Commissary of Prisnr. at Philadelphia” with Jos. Holmes D.C.G. of P. for Virginia” and On Public Service” endorsements, no date, paper affixed to bottom panel, slightly toned, still Very Fine, Joseph Holmes was the Deputy Commissary of Prisoners for Virginia, this possibly dates from January 1781 when Holmes corresponded with Bradford regarding prisoners captured at the Battle of the Cowpens (Image)

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 E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
42 c ImageThomas Bradford. Folded cover addressed To Thomas Bradford Esq., Commissary of Prisoners, American Camp” with On the Publick Service” endorsement and honored by Lady Stirling”, receipt docketing Elias Boudinot, Baskenridge Jan. 3&4 1778”, paper affixed along bottom panel, minor repairs to flap opening, lightly soiled and small toned spots, still Fine, a rare cover from Elias Boudinot, the Commissary General of Prisoners, to Thomas Bradford (of the famous Bradford family in Philadelphia), the Deputy Commissary General, who was then located at Washington’s winter camp in Valley Forge; Lady Stirling” is the wife of William Alexander, the so-called Earl of Stirling, who was a prominent American officer during the Revolutionary War; Lord and Lady Stirling owned a large estate in Basking Ridge N.J. (Image)

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 E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction
43 c ImageThomas Bradford. Two folded covers addressed to Thomas Bradford Esquire, Commissary Prisoners, Philadelphia”, first with sender’s directive favd by Captn. Welsh” and endorsed John Adam, D.C. Prisrs.”, paper across bottom, slightly reduced, still Very Fine, John Adam (also Adams”) was the Deputy Commissary of Prisoners at Elizabethtown N.J.; second with sender’s directive pr Capt. Scott with a Party of Marine Prisoners”, paper across bottom and reinforced folds, slight wear and soiling around edges, otherwise Very Fine, an extremely rare reference to captives as part of the address (Image)

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 E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
44 c ImageWilliam Bradford. Folded cover addressed to Major William Bradford, Depy. Comy. Genl. of Prisoners at Head Quarters” with sender’s notation (carried by) Miss Kitty Wright” (Catherine Wright), receipt docketing Anthony Butler, Reading Feby. 20, 1778”, paper affixed to edge of bottom panel, lightly toned along file folds, Very Fine, William Bradford (1755-95, of the famous Philadelphia family) and his brother Thomas both served in the war, William was a Deputy Muster General (this cover may have been addressed in error) (Image)

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 E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $170.00
Will close during Public Auction
45 c ImageAbraham Skinner. A. Skinner CGP” and On public service” endorsements on folded cover addressed in his hand to Thomas Bradford Esquire, D. Comy. Prisoners, Philadelphia”, no date, with paper affixed to bottom panel and reinforced along folds, minor soiling, Fine, Abraham Skinner succeeded John Beatty as Commissary General of Prisoners in March 1780, covers with this endorsement are extremely rare (Image)

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 E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction
46 c ImageJonathan Potts Esquire, Director of the General Hospital, in the Northern Department, at Fort George or Ticonderoga”, 1777. Address on undated folded cover, docketed Dr. McHenry”, slightly toned, minor repair where wax seal removed, Fine, covers to or from Revolutionary War military hospitals are rarely seen; Dr. Jonathan Potts was appointed in April 1777 the Medical Director General of the Northern Department, and joined the army at Albany, in November 1777 he returned to Reading, having been furloughed, and was appointed by Congress the Director General of the hospitals of the Middle Department (reference: Physician of the American Revolution: Jonathan Potts by Richard L. Blanco) (Image)

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 E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $1,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
47 c ImageThomas Pots Esqr., Deputy Director Genl. of the Military Hospitals, Middle Department, Reading”, circa 1777. Address on undated folded cover, sender’s directive favd. by Doctr. Cutting, Apothecary General”, small repair at top where wax seal removed, otherwise Very Fine, very rare war-period cover to a military hospital, Thomas Potts was the brother of Jonathan Potts (Image)

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 E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction
48 c ImageNew York to Oxford, England, via Falmouth-New York Packet, 1777, American Blockade Run. Folded letter datelined New York Mar. 12, 1777, from Captain John Montresor to Reverend Doctor Miles Cooper, Queens College, London, manuscript 1N” packet rate, carried by Falmouth-New York Packet Earl of Sandwich on July 17, arriving Falmouth August 21, bold 25/AV” (Aug. 25) Bishop’s receiving mark on flap, forwarded to Oxford with manuscript 3” due, 6/NO” (Nov. 6) Bishop’s receiving mark

VERY FINE BLOCKADE-RUN LETTER FROM A CAPTAIN IN THE BRITISH OCCUPATION FORCE AT NEW YORK, SENT BY PACKET TO ENGLAND THROUGH THE AMERICAN PRIVATEER BLOCKADE.

Captain Montresor was a British military engineer and cartographer. He served in the 48th Regiment of Foot in North America from 1754 to 1779, including in the French and Indian War. The recipient of his letter, Myles Cooper, served as president of King’s College (Columbia University) in New York from 1763-75 and was a fierce loyalist. He was apparently difficult to locate as it took more time for the letter to get from London to Oxford (2.5 months) than it did to cross the Atlantic.

Accompanied by transcript of letter and background information on Montresor and Cooper. Ex Walske (Image)

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 E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,800.00
Will close during Public Auction
49 c ImageNew York to Kilhenny, via Cork, Ireland, 1778, American Blockade Run. Folded letter datelined New York Thursday 22 of October 1778” from John Colles, a portrait artist and newly-arrived Irish immigrant, to his brother in Kilhenny, Ireland, sender’s instructions on flap To be left in the post office of Cork”, carried by ship through American privateer blockade and posted as instructed, CORK/SHIP LETTER” two-line handstamp and manuscript 9” rate

VERY FINE. AN ARTICULATE LETTER FROM AN IRISH IMMIGRANT IN NEW YORK CITY DURING THE BRITISH OCCUPATION, PROVIDING A CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF WAR-TIME EVENTS, AND CARRIED ON A VESSEL TO THE PORT OF CORK IN IRELAND.

This letter was written by John Colles, a portrait artist who had just arrived from Ireland. An advertisement for his services was published in The New York Gazette and the Weekly Mercury (November 9, 1778), which states: Miniature Profiles. No. 20, Golden-Hill, opposite the sign of the Unicorn: J. Colles, Having had the honour of taking off the Profiles of many of the Nobility in England and Ireland, begs leave to inform the ladies and gentlemen in New York, that he takes the most Striking Likeness in Miniature Profile, of any Size, at so low a price as Two Dollars each, framed and glazed.”

This 2-1/2 page letter provides details of the writer’s eleven-week journey with a squadron of Fourteen Sail of Armed Vitalers under the command of Capt. James Hunter...”, referring to the annual journey of the Great Cork Fleet, which carried essential provisions to the British in New York City. He describes how the French fleet had been harassing Lord Howe’s fleet at New York, while 2000 Americans at the Back of the tropes” were also threatening the city. When the squadron with which the writer had sailed arrived at New York, the French fleet thought fit to go to Boston.” Colles describes deplorable conditions in the city after three years of British occupation, The Tropes have evacuated Boston and the Rebels is in possession of it. Everything hear is in the utmost confusion and so dear that there is no such thing as living. Business is not thought of by anyone, nor can I get any... everyone is thinking of quitting this [place]... as to the town [of New York] it is allmost burned... the first people who once lived in the greatest opulence is reduced to the greatest begory.” Finally, the writer states P.S. ... there was 4 English frigets of 32 Guns lying off Long Island which the English quit and burnt... the Americans will not listen to anything but Independence.”

Ex Dr. Martin. (Image)

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 E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
50 c ImageNew York to London, 1778, American Blockade Run. Folded letter docketed New York, Feb. 7, 1778, sent to London, carried by merchant ship through the American privateer blockade, clear strike of SHIP LRE” straightline handstamp, manuscript 1N4” rate indicating Falmouth-New York Packet service, but also marked 7” pence due for 1p ship fee plus 6p inland postage, part of March Bishop’s mark on flap, some edgewear and file folds, otherwise Very Fine, an enigmatic blockade-run cover, ex Walske (Image)

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 E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction
51 c ImageNew York to Inveraray, Scotland, via Falmouth-New York Packet, 1778, American Blockade Run. Folded letter datelined N.Y. Novr 4th 78” from Charles Campbell to his father, Patrick Campbell, in Inveraray, Scotland, manuscript 1N” packet rate crossed out, handstamped In all” and manuscript 1N6” rate, carried by the Falmouth-New York Packet Swallow, which departed New York on November 20 and arrived in Falmouth on December 15, backstamped 21/DE” (Dec. 21) Bishop’s mark, the writer begins We are under orders, and embarked on an expedition...”, then asks his father for more money, explaining that prices are double those of home, Very Fine, scarce letter carried by Falmouth-New-York Packet through the American privateer blockade, ex Dr. Robertson and Walske (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

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