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Sale 89: The John Barwis Collection of Philadelphia Postal History

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Philadelphia Foreign Mail: 1784-1807 Post-War Period

Lots 3035-3044 Lots 3045-3054 Lots 3055-3057

Lot 3035    

1785 (Dec. 3) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter with London "7/DE" bishop mark backstamp and red "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with prepaid "1/6" 1sh6d rating for 6d inland plus 1sh packet, "204 LIVER/POOL" postmark for 204 miles Liverpool-London, carried by Packet Shelburn from Falmouth Dec. 16th to New York Feb. 4th, New York manuscript "2" dwt inland postage due, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

After the American Revolution, British authorities asked Benjamin Franklin to reinstate the New York packets under the old terms, including that no U.S. ship fees were to be charged on incoming packet letters. Anxious to restart commercial relations, the American government agreed.

Realized: $230

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Lot 3036    

1786 (Feb. 2) London England to Philadelphia Pa. via New York, datelined folded letter endorsed "Via New York / Feby Pacquet", London "2/FE" bishop mark backstamp and matching "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "1oz" and "p 4/-" prepaid rating for four-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Speedy from Falmouth Feb. 14th to New York arriving Apr. 18th, New York manuscript "8" dwt rating for inland postage (4x 2dwt for 60-100 miles), Philadelphia manuscript "3/6" 3s6d due rating in local currency (8dwt = 24d sterling, so: 24d x 1.67 = 40d local + 2d delivery = 3s6d), docketed "Recd 21 August 86"; some edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE PREPAID QUADRUPLE RATE PACKET LETTER.

Realized: $2,700

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Lot 3037    

1786 (Dec. 6) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter with London "7/DE" bishop mark backstamp and matching "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "P 1/-" rating, carried by Packet Lord Hyde from Falmouth Dec. 17th to New York arriving Feb. 5th, New York manuscript "2" dwt due rating for 60-100 miles, Philadelphia manuscript "1/" due rating in local currency (2dwt = 6d stg. x 1.67 = 10d local + 2d delivery = 12d = 1sh); file fold reinforced, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $160

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Lot 3038    

1787 (Jun. 30) Ostende, Belgium to Philadelphia Pa. via London, datelined folded letter carried privately to London, reverse with brownish London "JY, 4, 87" cds and matching "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "P 2/" rating for two-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Dashwood from Falmouth Jul. 8th to New York arriving Aug. 30th, New York manuscript "4" dwt due rating for two-times the 2dwt rate for 60-100 miles; light fold toning, F.-V.F. and scarce use from Ostende, One of the earliest uses from Belgium to the United States.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 3039    

1787 (Aug. 21) Philadelphia Pa. to Cork, Ireland, datelined folded letter with partial "New-York Sep 5" straightline and manuscript "1/-" due rating for 1sh packet fee, carried by Falmouth packet Grantham from New York Sep. 8th to Falmouth arriving Oct. 2nd, London (10.3) backstamp and manuscript "1/6" due rating, Cork rerated "1/10" due for 1s packet fee plus 10d inland postage; small stain spot, F.-V.F., ex-Feldman.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 3040    

1788 (Nov. 28) Anvers, Belgium to Philadelphia Pa. via London, datelined folded letter carried privately to London, flap with brownish London "DE, 3, 88" cds and matching partial "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "P 2/" rating for two-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Queen Charlotte from Falmouth Dec. 9th to New York arriving Feb. 13th, New York manuscript "2" dwt due rating for inland postage, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 3041    

1790 (Jan. 19) Liverpool, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter endorsed "Pr favour Nereus, Capt Thompson" at bottom left, carried as endorsed by Ship Nereus from Liverpool Jan. 20th to New York arriving Mar. 20th, entered mails with "New-York * march*20" straightline and manuscript "Sh 2" rating for 2d stg. ship fee, Philadelphia "1/-" due in local currency ([2d stg. ship plus 4d stg. inland] x 1.67 inflation = 10d; 10d plus 2d delivery = 1/-); some separation at top, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $170

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Lot 3042    

1790 (Feb. 26) Antwerp, Belgium to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter, brownish London "MR, 3, 90" transit cds and matching "POST/PAID" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "P 2/-" prepaid rating for two-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Queen Charlotte from Falmouth Mar. 6th to New York arriving Apr. 26th, New York "2 16" 2dwt 16gr due rating for two-times the 1dwt 8gr single rate of 60-100 miles, Philadelphia "1/4" due rating in local currency, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

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Lot 3043    

1791 (Dec. 20) St. Croix, DWI to Philadelphia Pa., granite folded letter endorsed "p Brig Hannah, Capt Thos Kenney, DDC" at bottom left and manuscript "2d." (16 grains) at top right for ship fee; accompanied by 1843 ship letter from St. Croix to Newark N.J. with red Philadelphia cds and "Ship" handstamp, Very Fine pair.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $210

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Lot 3044    

1793 (Aug. 3) Berne, Switzerland to Philadelphia Pa., docketed folded cover endorsed "p The Pigou" in red manuscript at lower right, carried privately to London, then by private ship Pigou from London Sep. 2nd to Philadelphia arriving Oct. 31st, entered mails with bold strike of Philadelphia "4" cents due 12mm handstamp for port of arrival ship letter, fresh and Extremely Fine, a scarce use from Switzerland.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

The Philadelphia 12mm "4" rating handstamp is recorded from 1792-1799 with only fifteen recorded examples.


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Realized: $270

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Lots 3035-3044 Lots 3045-3054 Lots 3055-3057

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