Lot
1 
[Alabama] Huntsville, Al., blue cds's on two separate fresh 1846 folded letters, one with matching fancy negative "5" in star & the other with matching fancy negative "10" in circle, Extremely Fine and choice, a beautiful matched pair. Estimate $500 - 750.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (4.5MB)
Realized: $2,100
Lot
2
Sitka, A.T., Nov. 29, '68. Manuscript postmark on legal size linen cover with "Official Business, H.H. McIntyre, Special Agent, Teas'y Dept." free frank, addressed to "Hon. Justin S. Morrill, U.S. Senate, Washington D.C.", with two 4-page enclosures from correspondence, one letter being with the First Federal Report on Alaska Territory; the first letter datelined "San Francisco, California, October 19, 1868" written in route to Alaska regarding the newly-appointed Collector of Customs, Hiram Ketchum Jr., recommending his position not to be confirmed by the Senate since Ketchum has proven himself thus far on the trip to be a drunkard and ignorant of his duty among other inadequacies (Ketchum had been appointed on August 20), second letter (original to cover) datelined "Sitka, Alaska, November 27, 1868" details Sitka, it's inhabitants, local government and a need for a official civil governing body, collecting revenue especially regarding the fur trade, manner of hunting and recommends only Aleuts be allowed to hunt, monopolizing the fur trade mentioning the attempt by Hutchinson, Kohl & Co. to exercise the same rights as the Russian American Co. over the trade, letter concludes with his intention to travel to the Sitkine, Kodak and the Berhing's Sea, Very Fine, a wonderful and historically important early Alaska Territory cover and enclosures. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
After the acquisition of Alaska in 1867, the first legislation dealing with the territory to pass Congress was the Customs Act of July 1868. McIntyre, along with Captain Charles Bryant, was appointed Special Agent to the Treasury Department to proceed to Alaska to report on resources and economic conditions there. They left from New York to Alaska on September, 16, 1868, arriving in Sitka in November. His first printed report to the Treasury Department is dated November 30, 1869 - a year after the above letter was written (see HR 41st Cong, 2nd Sess. Ex. Doc. No. 36 [Washington D.C. Jan 13, 1870 - copy included with letters]), though a letter to the Treasury Department exists dated one day after the letter offered here. Justin Smith Morrill, author of the Land Grant Act of 1862, was intensely interested in the natural resources of the vast new territory and may have secretly commissioned McIntyre to report directly to him.
Realized: $22,000
Lot
3
Jacksonville, Cal. (Tuolumne). Town postmark (Williams TUO-830) with matching straight line "Paid" and "10" rate handstamps, on fresh buff Miner's illustrated envelope with "In A Tight Place" caption and Wide West publisher's imprint at left, partial backflap, Extremely Fine, choice example of this striking grizzly bear and miner design. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $3,750
Lot
4
Lake Bigler, Cal. Bold manuscript postmark on small cover to Massachusetts franked with 1861 10¢ green (s.e. at right somewhat into design) with manuscript cancel, Very Fine, one of the rarest postmarks of California. Scott No. 68 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lake Bigler was the controversial name given to Lake Tahoe in 1854. Named after John Bigler, the third Governor of California (1852-56), by admiring Democrats, but later in part because of his secessionist views, the Indian name came into use during the Civil War, even though the legislature did not make the change official until 1945. There are no official Postal Records for Lake Bigler and there is some question as to whether the site was in California or Nevada.
Realized: $900
Lot
5
San Andreas, Nov. (Calaveras). Straight line postmark with manuscript "2" date, at left on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire to San Francisco, second strike of postmark cancelling indicia, Wells, Fargo & Co. company frank at top, Extremely Fine, an exceptional example of this elusive Calaveras county postmarks and the rarest of all the California straight line postmarks. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
6
San Francisco, Cal. (San Francisco). illustrated building corner card of "Little & Co." on cover to Boston franked with 1855 10¢ green, type II tied by "San Francisco, Cal." cds, cover with hint of edge wear, Very Fine, a rare early illustrated California cover. Scott No. 14 Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $500
Lot
7
[Maryland] Pleasant Grove, Md. Perfect strike in red of cds with matching "P.O. Business" straight line & arced "Free" with free frank signature of "E.S. Zevely P.M.", addressed to the Postmaster of Vershire, Vt., letter from Zevely confirming receipt of $1 for set of five handstamps with impressions of datestamp, "5" & "10" rates handstamps "Paid" & "Free", all in red at the top of the letter sheet, "Your covering $1 for stamps came to hand by my last mail & with this I send your stamps - being sent as I am constantly sending to all parts of the country by special authority & approval of the Dept. The date will be added with a few, tho I furnish full sets of changes to match the one set (for dates) for one dollar extra, 23 pieces & screw. Ink is not sent - you will use vermilion with linseed oil applied with a buckskin ball or have a cushion on your table saturated with the above. Hoping stamps will reach you safely & give you satisfaction. See impressions above - 5 stamps for $1", Extremely Fine and choice, a fascinating look into the workings of this famous Postmaster. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A number of handstamp makers catered to the needs of the postmasters, the best known being E.S. Zevely of Pleasant Grove and Cumberland, Maryland. Zevely, himself a Postmaster, and brother of A. N. Zevely, Third Assistant Postmaster General of the United States from 1859 to 1869, commenced his handstamp manufacturing in 1850. At the time, Post Office Department policy called for the supply of town marking and rating stamps in metal only to those offices collecting postage totalling $300 or more per year, and handstamps of wood were furnished to offices collecting postage of at least $200 per year. Postmasters of offices collecting less than $200 per year were to fend for themselves, and many chose to purchase from Zevely, or other handstamp makers, wood engraved town marks, rate marks, etc., at $1 to $3 per set.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
8
[Maryland] Pleasant Grove, Alleg'y Co, Md. Bold orange-red handstamp in large double circle with "Free" and "Post Office Stamps Made Here" with manuscript "E.S. Zevely, PM" free frank on 1851 cover, with original enclosure to a family member in Salem, N.C. which mentions fitting a workshop with a lathe for engraving purposes, hint of toning affecting postmark, flap tear, Extremely Fine, a lovely example of this rare advertising handstamp. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,400
Lot
9
[Maryland] Pleasant Grove/Allegany County/Maryland. Beautiful red printed combined townmarking and advertising corner card for the "Wood Type, Proof Presses for Stamps etc.", with woodcut whale and ribbons on a cover addressed to a family member in North Carolina, handstamped in black circular "Free, Feb 5, 1863" with manuscript Zevely Free Frank, with original enclosure, cover with minor flap tear and corner wear, Very Fine and choice, a wonderful rarity. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,300
Lot
10
[Pennsylvania] Phila. Red octagonal postmark on 1834 folded cover from Lima (Peru) with beautiful strike of Full Rigged Sailing Ship in red with manuscript notation "pr Brig Navarre" & magenta "14½" rate (12½¢ postage + 2¢ ship fee) for letters 80 to 150 miles, letter datelined July 20th 1834, from George MacDonald, an officer of the U.S. Pacific Squadron, to his brother Col. Selwyn MacDonald at White Plains, N.Y.; interesting contents describe rather liquid 4th of July party hosted by the American colony in Lima, with British officers of HRM Ship "Samarang" as guests (both navies were trying to prevent war between Peru & Chile, which erupted a few years later as the first Chilean War), Extremely Fine and choice, an outstanding example of this rare marking. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The letter mentions a pending departure for Valparaiso, "…touching in our way at the Island of Juan Fernandez, celebrated for being the residence of [Alexander] Selkirk whose history gave rise to the story of Robinson Crusoe of whom we both have read.".
Realized: $2,500