United States Postal History including The Angel Collection

**Presidential Free Franks & Other Documents**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
501		George Washington. Free frank "G Washington" as ex-President on folded cover addressed in the hand of his secretary, Tobias Lear, to "Miss Frances D. Henley, Pinegrove, near Williamsburg", neat "Alex. 18 June" manuscript postmark and "Free", minor edgewear VERY FINE. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON'S FREE FRANK. This cover is addressed to Martha Washington's niece, who was Tobias Lear's third wife. His first wife died of yellow fever in 1793, his second of tuberculosis in 1796. He married Frances Henley in 1803, four years after Washington's death and just after his appointment by President Jefferson to the post of Consul General of the North African Coast, where he negotiated the end of the First Barbary War. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States George Washington]	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $7,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
502		Thomas Jefferson. Free frank "free Th. Jefferson Pr. US" as President perfectly written on folded cover addressed in his hand to James Dinsmore at Monticello, red "Washington City, Jun. 26" circular datestamp and matching "FREE" handstamp, few inconsequential small age spots but overall fully intact and very nice condition VERY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK. THIS IS THE MOST DESIRABLE FORM OF JEFFERSON'S FRANK. The addressee, James Dinsmore (1771-1830) was an Irish master carpenter known for his elegant work done at Jefferson's home, Monticello. He later went on to work with James Madison on his Montpelier plantation and on several buildings for the University of Virginia, which was founded by Jefferson and opened in 1825. 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 of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States Thomas Jefferson]	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $6,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
503		Magnetic Telegraph Co., Vice President Millard Fillmore to President Zachary Taylor. President Taylor's autograph initialed endorsement *"Referred to Mr. Meredith to be acted on as he may think best. Respectfully Z.T."* on buff cover addressed to "The President", circular bronze on black glazed seal of "Magnetic Telegraph Company/Office/Cor. Louisiana/avanue [sic] & Six St./Washington", with original enclosure on printed New York & Washington Telegraph form, received at Washington D.C. office, datelined "Buffalo May 23d 1849" from Vice President Fillmore to President Taylor, expressing his surprise at the appointment of a collector and using influence to have the appointment withdrawn until Fillmore's colleagues reach the capital, Fillmore's name is written in the telegraph operator's hand at bottom EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING PRESIDENTIAL AUTOGRAPH ON A MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY COVER DURING THE EARLIEST YEARS OF THE TELEGRAPH. Zachary Taylor died only two years after assuming office. His presidential documents are scarce in any form. This telegraph related use, from Vice President and future President Millard Fillmore, is an outstanding combination of American history and telegraph postal history. Ex Born. With 2015 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States Zachary Taylor]	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $3,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
504		John Quincy Adams. Free frank as Secretary of State "J. Q. Adams" with "Dept. of State" endorsement on folded cover addressed to the principal of the University of Providence in Rhode Island, brownish-black "Washn. City Feb. 14" circular datestamp and "FREE" handstamp, 1829 docketing on back, Very Fine, ex Dr. Brandon (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States John Quincy Adams]	E. $ 300-400 SOLD for $375.00 Will close during Public Auction
505		PT. Isabel MCH 24 1847. Clear strike of two-line datestamp on folded cover addressed to *"Hon. James K. Polk, Washington City D.C.", matching "10" handstamp crossed out as this qualified to be sent free to Polk who was President at the time, vertical file fold, Very Fine use from Port Isabel Tex., which is where Fort Polk was established in 1846, becoming a strategic location during the Mexican-American War (it was abandoned in 1850) (Image)* Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States PT. Isabel]	E. $ 200-300 SOLD for $160.00 Will close during Public Auction
506		Franklin Pierce. Free frank "Franklin Pierce" as President on legal-size cover addressed in his hand to Pierce Butler "For Miss Fanny Butler" in Philadelphia, "Washington City D.C. Oct. 29, 1856" circular datestamp, minor soiling at left, Very Fine, this cover is addressed to the anti-slavery wife of wealthy slave owner Pierce Butler, Fanny Butler published Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation, described as "the closest, most-detailed look at plantation slavery ever recorded by a white northern abolitionist" (see www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1569.html ), Butler and his wife Fanny divorced in 1849, this communication from President Pierce must have reached her thru her ex-husband, ex Historical Society of Pennsylvania (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States Franklin Pierce]	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $950.00 Will close during Public Auction
507		James Buchanan. Red "Lancaster Pa. Nov. 27" circular datestamp with matching "FREE" on folded letter to Secretary of the Navy James K. Paulding in Washington D.C., letter datelined "Lancaster 26 November 1840" and signed *"from your friend, very respectfully, James Buchanan,"* contains recommendations for an assistant surgeon position and was sent when Buchanan was serving as a United States Senator, couple edge splits and toned fold on front, otherwise Very Fine (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States James Buchanan]	E. $ 300-400 SOLD for $170.00 Will close during Public Auction
508		Richard M. Johnson. Free frank as Vice President on very unusual 1837 folded letter containing an integral letterpress copy of a 2pp letter headed Batavia, Java, signed I. J. Roberts, on the third page is a printed notice and a second letter from Roberts (in manuscript) regarding the addressee's interest in missionary work among the Western Indians and suggesting instead "these eastern heathen", cover addressed to College Hill, D.C., "Lexington Ky. Jul. 6" circular datestamp, small paper loss at corners, not affecting text or appearance, still Fine, rare and very unusual use; during the War of 1812 Johnson raised a battalion of Kentuckians to fight the British and Indians; at the battle of Thames he killed the great Indian chief Tecumseh, ex Dr. Robertson and Schwartz (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States Richard Johnson]	E. $ 300-400 SOLD for $450.00 Will close during Public Auction
509		Abraham Lincoln. Full signature on vellum Presidential Military Appointment of Horace Jewett as First Lieutenant of the 15th Regiment of Infantry, dated May 14, 1861, also signed by Simon Cameron as Secretary of War, docketed at top left where recorded by Adjutant General's office, usual file folds and minor tape stains on top and bottom edges VERY FINE. A SCARCE FULL SIGNATURE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN AS PRESIDENT AND SIMON CAMERON AS SECRETARY OF WAR ON A PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT. These military appointments are scarce with Cameron as the Secretary of War, as he only served from March 5, 1861, until January 14, 1862, when he was forced out of office. Most have Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War, who served for more than six years. The appointee, Horace Jewett (1834-1897), served throughout the Civil War and was actively engaged in the Indian Wars, before retiring as Commander of the 21st Infantry. With 1988 Kenneth Laurence certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States Abraham Lincoln]	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $3,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
510		Postmasters General Collection, 1777-1970s. Extensive collection of more than 80 items, including signed letters, documents, covers and some pictures from 1777 through mid-20th Century, all or mostly all relating to Postmasters General, highlights include 1777 signed letter from Richard Bache to Philip J. Schuyler, three separate signed letters from New York Postmaster and Postmaster General Ebenezer Hazard, Jonathan Meigs signed territorial document, 1814 printed report of the Postmaster General on unproductive post roads, certificate signed by Walter G. Gresham, signed letter from James Batterson, signed letter from George B. Cortelyou, Edward Day, many others, extensive 20th Century material including some signed stamped covers with lots of James Farley signed letters, somewhat mixed condition on the early material, but overall a fascinating collection worth careful review -- if combined with additional covers from Postmasters General and USPOD correspondence, this could become an award-winning exhibit (Image) View PDF of contents of this lot Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com [Get Market Data for United States Postmasters' General]	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $900.00 Will close during Public Auction