Lot
44 
James Madison, 1751-1836, 4th President of the United States 1809-17. Clear free frank "James Madison" as President on 1814 folded cover to Thomas Morris, New York City, brown "Wash. City Aug. 11" cds and matching "Free" handstamp, flap with "1814 Ans: Mr Madison" docketing, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE JAMES MADISON FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT IN THIS CHOICE CONDITION.
Although Madison franked mail in several capacities, his Presidential frank is extremely scarce. It is interesting to note that as President, Madison did not sign "Free" as he does in the several other capacities.
Realized: $2,200
Lot
45
Steamer El Passo, boxed magenta handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "St. Louis Oct. 3d 1850" folded letter to Major John Dougherty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, letter reads "…We are shipping the goods for Ft. Kearny on the St. Ange as the El Passo cannot take them and we think the prospect is quite as good for them reaching you as soon - She is to leave on Saturday…", Very Fine and choice. Milgram No. 404 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE STEAM EL PASSO FRAMED STEAMBOAT HANDSTAMP.
We have never offered this steamer handstamp. This is the illustration example for no. 404 in Milgram. This letter was carried privately on the Missouri River aboard the steamboat "El Passo" from St. Louis to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Territory.
Realized: $2,300
Lot
46
1850 (Apr. 26) New York N.Y. to Cognac, France, gray folded letter with New York pencil "21" prepaid rating and endorsed per "Steamer 'Atlantic' ", carried as endorsed by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Apr. 27th to Liverpool arriving May 10th, red London (5.11) transit backstamp and matching red "U.S. Pkt." handstamp, Calais (5.12) arrival datestamp and manuscript "16" décimes due rating, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A CHOICE USE WITH THE RARE "U.S. PKT" HANDSTAMP CARRIED ON THE FIRST AMERICAN PACKET SAILING OF THE COLLINS LINE.
This letter was treated as an unpaid double-weight letter with "16" décimes due in France.
Lot
47
1860 (Sep. 15) Jaffa, Syria to West Chester Pa., orange buff cover with "Jaffa, Syrie, 15 Sept. 60" origin cds and blue French Post Office Jerusalem cross circular handstamp, endorsed "Via French & British Mails / Jerusalem, Sepr. 13th 1860." at top left, reverse with number of French transits including "Alexandrie, Egypte" (9.30) and Paris a Calais (10.11) cds, red framed "Am Serv." handstamp, bold strike of "Boston '60' Oct 29" integral-due cds, original letter datelined "Mount Lion 9 Mo. 13th 1860" from Warder Cresson, accompanied by long bio and commentary on him, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE ONLY TRANSATLANTIC COVER THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEARING THE JERUSALEM CROSS.
Warder Cresson was the first U.S. Consul to Jerusalem, appointed in 1844, but was almost immediately recalled. He would become the subject of intense notoriety throughout the United States when, in 1852, his family would lodge a charge of lunacy against him, resulting in a Sheriff's Jury rendering a verdict of insanity. The charge was that Warder, a Christian, had voluntarily converted to Judaism and been circumcised. The verdict would be appealed, contesting the idea that determining one's religious preference was not a right of free choice in America. The accompanying letter was sent less than two months prior to his death, replying to a friend concerning a variety of mutually shared religious interests.
Lot
48
1863 (Sep. 10) Guadaloupe to New York, N.Y., blue folded letter bearing France Eagle 5c green and 40c orange, strip of three, the former with margins touching at top, latter in at left, tied by lozenge cancels, endorsed "per Steamer via Havana", Pointe a Pitre (9.10) departure cds, British "Guadaloupe, SP11, 1863" double-arc backstamp and matching black "Paid at Guadaloupe" crowned circle (SG CC1, £2,000) with red "1/-" shilling credit rating ties 5c green, partial St. Thomas transit cds, bold strike of New York "Steamship 10" in circle applied at top, F.-V.F. and scarce use. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Lot
49
1868 (Aug. 1) Belize, British Honduras to Pocasset, Mass. via New Orleans, clear strike of red British Post Office "Belize, Paid, AU 1, 68" cds and red crayon "4" pence rating on all-over gray shaded ad cover of E.R. Poole, Commissioner Merchant, New Orleans, "Agent for the Charleston & Savannah Line of Packets", carried by Steamship Trade Wind direct from Belize to New Orleans arriving Aug. 7th, entered U.S. mails with "New Orleans La., Aug 8" duplex and matching sharp "Steamship 10" circular due handstamp as loose incoming steamship letter; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE INCOMING STEAMSHIP COVER CARRIED BY DIRECT STEAMSHIP PACKET "TRADE WIND" FROM BELIZE TO NEW ORLEANS.
The Steamship "Trade Wind" operated packet service between New Orleans and British Honduras for about two years, from May 1867 to Sept. 24th 1869 when she sank off the coast of Mississippi. She was owned by Spofford & Tiletson of Charleston S.C., a partnership formed by Paul N. Spofford and Thomas Tileston in 1819 as commission agents, later becoming agents for a line of sloops operating New York-Boston and then charterers and finally owners, being involved in the first two coastwise steamships "Southerner" and "Northerner" as part of the New York and Charleston Steam Ship Line that operated from 1848 to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. This route was initially listed as Contract 3197 with weekly service carrying the great Southern mail. They started a Liverpool Line in 1852 and up until 1860 they had a mail contract to Charleston, Savannah, Key West and Havana.