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United States Postal History and Confederate States continued...

Early Boston Postal History: 1769-1777, Straighlines
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
2038 c Image(Boston, Mar. 13, ca 1769) "BOSTON". Clear strike of violet straightline handstamp with "13/MR" Franklin mark on backflap of folded cover to Newport R.I., manuscript "2-" (dwt) rate for a letter sent between 60-100 miles, second strike of Franklin mark on other backflap which is torn, Very Fine early strike of the Boston Parliamentary Post straightline and scarce in violet, this color is reported used only between February 2 and July 24, 1769 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1769]

E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction
2039 c Image(Boston, Mar. 24, ca. 1769) "BOSTON". Clear strike of large straightline handstamp in red with matching "24/MA" (Mar. 24, ca. 1769) Franklin mark on back of folded cover to Newport R.I., manuscript "2 Dwt" rate, part of back panels removed and faint waterstain, still Very Fine, nice strike of the Boston straightline during British Parliamentary Post period, ex Carson and Hahn (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1769]

E. $ 200-300

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2040 c Image(Boston, Oct. 8, 1770) "BOSTON". Partly clear strike of red straightline handstamp with lightly struck "8/OC" Franklin mark on front of folded cover from London, England to Newport R.I. via Boston, manuscript "6.16" (6 dwt, 16gr) rate for a triple letter sent between 60-100 miles, plus 16gr for the ship fee, manuscript ship name directive at bottom for the London (Calef, master), Fine and desirable Boston Parliamentary Post straightline struck on the front of a cover (they were usually struck on the back), red is reported used between September 21, 1769 and June 6, 1771 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1770]

E. $ 400-500

SOLD for $225.00
Will close during Public Auction
2041 c Image(Boston, June 7, 1771) "BOSTON". Partly clear strike of red straightline handstamp with "26/AV" Franklin mark on back of folded letter from London, England to Newport R.I. via Boston, manuscript "2.16" (2 dwt 16gr) rate for a letter sent between 60-100 miles, plus 16gr for the ship fee, manuscript directive at bottom for Capt. Jarvis, Very Fine (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1771]

E. $ 300-400

SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction
2042 c Image(Boston, Dec. 13, 1773) "BOSTON". Boldly struck magenta straightline handstamp with equally bold "13/DE" Franklin mark on backflap of folded letter from Leeds, England to Philadelphia via Boston, manuscript "4.16" (4 dwt 16gr) rate for a single letter sent between 300-400 miles, plus 16gr for the ship fee, upon arrival at Philadelphia postage was restated "2/2" in local currency (4dwt 16gr = 14p x 1.67 inflation factor = 23.38p plus 2p carrier fee = 25.38p or 2sh2p), very minor overall toning and part of top of letter is missing but dateline is readable and no markings are affected, Very Fine strike, magenta is reported used between April 12, 1770 and October 10, 1774 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1773]

E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction
2043 c Image(Boston, Oct. 6, 1774) "BOSTON". Clear strike of magenta straightline handstamp with boldly struck "10/OC" Franklin mark on front of folded letter to Norwich Conn., manuscript "2.16" (2 dwt 16gr) rate, slight soiling, still Fine and desirable Boston Parliamentary Post straightline struck on the front of a cover (they were usually struck on the back), magenta is reported used between April 12, 1770 and October 10, 1774 -- this is the last day of that period (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1774]

E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $275.00
Will close during Public Auction
2044 c Image(Boston, Mar. 2, 1775) "BOSTON". Beautifully clear strike of smaller 27.5 x 4.5mm red straightline handstamp with equally clear matching "2/MR" Franklin mark on backflap of folded cover to New York, docketed "Anthony Farrington Boston the 2 March 1775, Received the 9th do. 1775", manuscript "3.8" (3dwt 8 gr) rate for distance between 200-300 miles, black "8/MR" Franklin mark struck on arrival in New York and rate restated in local currency as "1/8" (1sh8p, which is exactly double the proper conversion of 10p -- perhaps this was treated in New York as a double letter), slightly aged file fold does not cross any postal markings, Extremely Fine strike of the last handstamp of the British Colonial Post Office at Boston, used by the Crown post office during the early months of "open rebellion", reported as used only between February 20 and June 4, 1775 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1775]

E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
2045 c Image(Boston, Mar. 20, 1775) "BOSTON". Clear strike of smaller 27.5 x 4.5mm red straightline handstamp with matching bold "20/MR" Franklin mark on backflap of folded cover to Newport R.I., manuscript "2 dwt" rate, file fold crosses straightline marking, Very Fine strike of the last handstamp of the British Colonial Post Office at Boston, used by the Crown post office during the early months of "open rebellion", reported as used only between February 20 and June 4, 1775 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston Straightline 1775]

E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction
2046   ImageAn Act of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress to establish the Massachusetts Provisional Post, May 13, 1775. Original three-page hand-written act signed by Joseph Warren, President of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, the act establishes a Massachusetts independent post and lays out postal zones and rates "to be paid in the lawful money of this Colony", the rates are quoted in shillings and pence based on distance, lots of other content in the document including appointments, exceptionally choice condition with just a few minor toned spots

EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL HAND-WRITTEN REVOLUTIONARY WAR ACT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS PROVINCIAL CONGRESS, ESTABLISHING THE MASSACHUSETTS PROVISIONAL POST OFFICE. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED COPIES AND THE ONLY COPY IN PRIVATE HANDS.

By May of 1775 the Port of Boston had been closed to general commerce by the British and the Revolutionary War had begun the previous month at Lexington and Concord. The Boston Committee of Safety recommended that the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts address the problem of the colony's postal service. On May 13, 1775 the Congress authorized an independent post with the main office at Cambridge (Boston being occupied by the British). The act provided service to 13 other key towns across the state and established rates based on shillings and pence. The post lasted only a few months and by November 1775, rates were again expressed in pennyweights and grains of silver, based on the September 30 act of the Continental Congress.

Only two copies of this hand-written act are recorded. The other example is in the permanent archives of the State of Rhode Island (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Mass. Provisional Post 17]

E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $22,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2047 c Image(Boston, Aug. 15, 1777) "BOSTON". Bold smaller 27.5 x 4.5mm style straightline handstamp struck in red on back of August 15, 1777 folded letter to Portsmouth N.H., matching "21/AV" (Aug. 21) Franklin mark, manuscript "2" dwt rate, written by John Williams to John Langdon about paying for repairs to a ship, docketed on back with clear yeardate

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "BOSTON" STRAIGHTLINE MARKING, STRUCK IN 1777 FOLLOWING THE BRITISH EVACUATION OF THE CITY.

Until the discovery of archival examples of the Boston straightline, no postal markings were known from Boston in 1776 and 1777, during the period following the British evacuation. The earliest reported use of a Confederation-period straightline is not until 1782. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States Boston to Portsmouth 1777]

E. $ 5,000-7,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

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