Sale 78: The Westpex Sale

Lot 1334    

Quincy Flo., "Decr 5", clear strike of red oval postmark with manuscript date and matching "18¾" rating to Montgomery Ala., good domestic contents with much reference to sickness, selling negroes, and getting 'fat and saucy' in Florida; trivial edge wear, Very Fine, an attractive example of this marking usually found almost always weak or incomplete.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $160

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Lot 1335    

Seminole Agency, 25 July (18)28, manuscript postmark at left on folded letter to Brig. Gen. George Gibson in Washington D.C., manuscript "Free" and "On Service, Geo. M. Brooke"; slight staining, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THE EARLIEST KNOWN USAGE FROM SEMINOLE AGENCY.

Seminole Agency, established on May 3rd, 1828, was located in Alachua County near Fort King. It was on the main military and post road connecting Micanopy and Tampa Bay.

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Realized: $2,900

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Lot 1336    

"Shell Point Florida, Septr. 30th 1835", dateline on folded letter with "Tallahassee, Flo, Tco 7" oval datestamp (Oct month slug wrong letter order) and manuscript "50" rating addressed to The Governor of New Jersey, Trenton, original broadside enclosure 19.5"x11.5" accompanies headed The Shell Point Meeting starting, "In pursuance of public notice, a very large meeting of the citizens of Shell Point took place on the 19th inst. to express themselves upon the question which has created such universal excitement throughout the slave holding States."; letter tape stained and separated folds, broadside split at center and fold separations, Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A HISTORICAL LETTER AND DOCUMENT SHOWING THE PRO-SLAVERY SENTIMENTS IN FLORIDA TERRITORY.

The Shell Point Meeting broadside is apparently a statement by the pro-slavery populace of Shell Point, residents of a village near Tallahassee in the Florida Territory. The impetus for the meeting was probably a reaction to the mailing of thousands of copies of tracts issued by the American Anti-Slavery Society to individuals in the Southern states. After an indignant mob removed a mass of these papers from the post office at Charleston, S.C., in July, 1835, and burned them, Postmaster-General Amos Kendall wrote postmasters in the South sanctioning their removal of such literature. Feelings grew bitter throughout the country and violent means were used to silence unwelcome opinions.

The resolutions passed at the Shell Point, Florida Territory meeting are indicative of the bitter fears that the federal government was not going to entirely protect the Southern states' slave-holding rights. In part: "Resolved, that we ever look upon this as the GREAT SPLITTING QUESTION among the States; that most political questions are subordinate, and many others owe their existence to it; all of which has ever appeared to us a political absurdity. For, why should this interest create opposition from any quarter, when it is known that products of the 'slave labor' balances the trade of the whole republic, and squares accounts with all other nations."

The immediate target of the wrath of the citizens of Shell point was Arthur Tappan, a leading founder of the American Anti-Slavery Society. Referring to a Louisiana law making a capital offense of aiding or abetting the circulation of incendiary abolition papers, the resolves call for the governor of New York to give up "such conspicuous person or persons as are known to be foremost in this work of crime and sedition, so that the question may be fairly tried as to their liability under the law …such is our pity, scorn, and contempt of Arthur Tappan and his coadjutors…that we heartily approve of the conduct of the citizens of New Orleans, Charleston, Macon, and elsewhere, in offering a premium for said Tappan, and we will be pleased to pay a pro-rata amount for his delivery." The proceedings of the meeting were to be published in all newspapers in the U. S. Especially mentioned are particular papers in Florida, Washington, Richmond, Charleston, Nashville, New Orleans and Mississippi.

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Realized: $800

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Lot 1337    

St. Augustine, "8 Jany" (American Military Government Period), straightline postmark with manuscript date and matching "Free" rating on 1822 folded letter to James Gadsden, Adjutant & Inspector General, Washington D.C., contents concern the desire of the military sutler at St. Augustine to supply troops at Savannah; some separations along file folds, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED HANDSTAMPED MARKING OF THIS OFFICE DURING THE AMERICAN MILITARY GOVERNMENT PERIOD.

Current Opening Bid: $650

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Lot 1338    

St. Augustine, 30 April 1822., double strike of two-line postmark and manuscript "Free" rating on folded letter to Gen. Danl. Parker, Paymaster General, Washington D.C.; fold staining, Fine, a very early territorial use.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Realized: $325

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Lot 1339    

St. Augustine, / 18 June 1822., sharp complete strike of two-line postmark on folded cover to William Reynolds, Legislature Council, Pensacola, docketed that originally contained a petition of sundry inhabitants of St. Augustine paying a limitation to contracts not under seal; central file fold, clean and Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $350

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Lot 1340    

St. Augustine, E. Flo., Mar 24, bold strike of oval datestamp as forwarding postmark (type XII) on folded letter with manuscript "Middleburgh N.Y., March 3d 1831" origin postmark and matching "Free" rating to Postmaster originally at St. Augustine and forwarded to Jacksonville, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $180

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Lot 1341    

St. Marks, Florida, usual strike of segmented circular postmark on 1832 folded letter to Tallahassee, matching small "Ship" handstamp and light "14¼" rating alongside, contents with a detailed listing of parts & components of a shipment of machinery for assembly of a very large steam engine from West Point, N.Y. to Tallahassee, F.-V.F., a rare St. Marks usage bearing the small "Ship" handstamp, with only two strikes recorded.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $450

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Lot 1342    

Tallahassee, Fl^A, July 15, bold oval postmark (type IVa) and manuscript postmark on 1829 folded letter to Washington D.C.; reinforce fold splitting, a Very Fine choice strike, ex-Meroni.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $100

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Lot 1343    

Tampa, Florida, November 15th, 1841, exceptional strike of rimless circular postmark with manuscript day, on folded letter to Washington D.C., matching "free" rating, an Extremely Fine strike.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $950

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