Sale 51: United States Postal History

Lot 1646    

Fernandina/July 13th, type II manuscript postmark and "50" rate on 1827 folded letter to Tallahassee requesting funds to compensate election officials; some internal tape reinforcement and aging, Fine, One of six recorded type II Fernandina manuscript postmarks and the illustrated example in FSPH, ex Meroni, Light.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Fernandina was the third post office established in Florida, September 22, 1821.

Realized: $500

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Lot 1647    

Fernandina/Fl^a/Jan 23, 1862, clear cds with "Paid 5" handstamp on Confederate cover to Cedar Bluff, Ala.; minor edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $550

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Lot 1648    

[Fort Armstrong/Fort King], 1837 folded letter postmarked red Brattleboro Vt cds, Mar 15 with manuscript. "25" rate, addressed to Lt. John W. Phelps, 4th U.S. Artillery, Ft. Armstrong, Florida, missent to St. Augustine, postmarked Apr 6 with a St. Augustine cds and forwarded to Fort King, Fine and unusual.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Fort Armstrong was built in 1836 after the so-called Dade Massacre, one of the bloodiest battles of the Second Seminole War. It had no postal facilities, hence the delivery to nearby Fort King.

John Wolcott Phelps was an officer in several U.S. Wars and was an 1880 candidate for U.S. President from the Anti-Masonic Party/American Party.

Realized: $140

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Lot 1649    

[Fort Heileman/Garey's Ferry], 1838 folded letter postmarked red New York cds, Nov 6 with ms. "25" rate changed to "18¾", also postmarked red "Savannah Geo., Nov 25" cds, addressed to Lt. J.W. Phelps, U.S.A(rmy), Fort Heileman, East Florida and re-addressed to Garey's Ferry c/o Q.R. Norton, postmarked Apr 6 with a St. Augustine cds and forwarded to Fort King, Fine and unusual.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Fort Heileman, located at Garey's Ferry in Duval County, served as a U.S. Army supply depot during the Second Seminole War, 1835-1842. Though primarily an administrative fort, its military presence gave the local populace great psychological comfort.

John Wolcott Phelps was an officer in several American Wars and was an 1880 candidate for U.S. President from the Anti-Masonic Party/American Party.

Realized: $150

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Lot 1650    

Fort Marion, E. Fla., dateline on Oct 11, 1825 folded letter to Adj. Genl., Col. R. Jones in Washington, D.C., red "St. Augustine E. Flo." type VIII oval postmark and matching type c "Free" handstamp, some splitting with reinforcement on folds, Fine, ex Light.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Fort Marion was built by the Spaniards during their occupation of Florida and was used by the United States from 1825 until 1828. The letter mentions the discharge of a minor by the court and originally enclosed muster rolls for company A.

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Lot 1651    

Fort Meade, E. Fla., May 17th 1850, dateline on folded letter postmarked red type IV "Tampa/Flor./May 20" cds with matching type a "Free", to Maj. Gen. N. Towson, Paymaster Gen. in Washington, endorsed "On Official Business"; the sender, a Lt. Col. H. Bainbridge, requests that his pay be made available to his family in Boston, Very Fine, ex Light.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

The Post Office at Fort Meade was not established until March of 1860, but as early as 1849, according to FSPH, mail was carried weekly along an Indian trail to Tampa for posting.

Realized: $220

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Lot 1652    

Fort Pickens, Fla./December 10, 1845, military origin docketing (type I) on fresh folded letter to Houlton, Me., officially entered the mails with "Pensacola, Flor., Dec 13" cds and manuscript "10" rate; Very Fine, The only known manuscript 'postmark' from Fort Pickens, ex Thompson.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Realized: $725

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Lot 1653    

Fort Taylor/Oct th. 8./Florida, type I manuscript postmark with manuscript "Free, R.D. Bradley P.M." frank on fresh 1851 folded letter datelined Hernando County to Tallahassee, Very Fine and choice, One of only four recorded Fort Taylor manuscript postmarks and a previously unrecorded type with the state name spelled out.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $1,800

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Lot 1654    

Garey's Ferry, Flo/ March 26- 44, type I manuscript postmark and "Free, A. Coy, Postmaster, Garey's Ferry, Flo" frank on folded letter to Washington D.C.; light file folds, Very Fine, The earliest of four recorded territorial usages from Garey's Ferry. A Remarkable Postal History Item From Garey's Ferry's First Postmaster.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

The letter mentions that "The (post) office at Whitesville (Fla.) has been discontinued, and the one at this place substituted therefor." The Whitesville Post Office was closed on July 18, 1843 with the Garey's Ferry Office being opened the same day.

Realized: $1,500

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Lot 1655    

Ghentsville, Flo/Aug. 23, type I manuscript postmark and "Paid 5" on 1851 folded letter to Tallahassee, Very Fine, The Only Recorded Example of a Ghentsville Manuscript Postmark, ex Ferrell, Thompson.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $575

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